Biggest sources of immigrants to Columbia
Nearly 14% of the United States population is composed of immigrants. But in reality, the vast majority of Americans today are here because of relatives who immigrated from other countries some time in the last several hundred years.
And while the distinctive American culture and spirit is the result of blending many diverse cultures and histories, the United States has for centuries had an up-and-down relationship with immigration.
Each era of immigration has been met with reductive ideas and resistance, whether the backlash was directed toward the Chinese, Irish, Italians, or Mexicans. Immigration laws have targeted specific groups at various times, stoking intolerance and preventing people from truly joining American society. Over time, however, as laws changed to be more equitable and immigrants found their footings, we have reaped the rewards of innovation in business, music, art, literature, dance, food, societal norms, entertainment, and sports—all while realizing a greater understanding of and respect for different cultures, religions, and ideas.
Stacker compiled a list of the countries most immigrants to Columbia come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Columbia as of 2019's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
#50. Egypt
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 121
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 191,452
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #40 most common country of origin
#49. Bolivia
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 78,927
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #72 most common country of origin
#48. Costa Rica
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 132
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 88,084
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #66 most common country of origin
#47. Lebanon
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 143
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 121,697
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #52 most common country of origin
#46. Italy
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 146
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 332,857
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #30 most common country of origin
#45. Netherlands
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 147
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 85,161
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #69 most common country of origin
#44. Turkey
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 150
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 119,380
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #54 most common country of origin
#43. Poland
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 162
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 410,841
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin
#42. Spain
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 183
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 115,113
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #55 most common country of origin
#41. Peru
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 185
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 451,076
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #18 most common country of origin
#40. Kazakhstan
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 188
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 30,388
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #107 most common country of origin
#39. Venezuela
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 189
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 349,720
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #27 most common country of origin
#38. Senegal
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 192
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 26,122
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #112 most common country of origin
#37. Romania
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 193
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 162,046
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #45 most common country of origin
#36. France
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 196
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 181,554
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #41 most common country of origin
#35. Trinidad and Tobago
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 219
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 230,035
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #37 most common country of origin
#34. Iraq
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 222
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 225,038
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #38 most common country of origin
#32 (tie). Ukraine
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 228
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 345,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin
#32 (tie). South Africa
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 228
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 104,022
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #56 most common country of origin
#31. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 233
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 103,938
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #57 most common country of origin
#30. Ecuador
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 247
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 438,474
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #19 most common country of origin
#29. Taiwan
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 249
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 381,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #24 most common country of origin
#28. Dominican Republic
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 263
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 1,118,147
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
- #8 most common country of origin
#27. Kenya
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 276
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 141,751
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #48 most common country of origin
#26. Haiti
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 291
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 672,655
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #15 most common country of origin
#25. Iran
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 306
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 382,260
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #23 most common country of origin
#24. El Salvador
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 316
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#23. Brazil
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 317
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin
#22. Liberia
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 330
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 87,991
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #67 most common country of origin
#21. Japan
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 331
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 345,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #29 most common country of origin
#20. Nigeria
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 365
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 350,272
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #26 most common country of origin
#19. Cuba
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 373
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 1,289,875
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.9%
- #7 most common country of origin
#18. Burma
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 384
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 147,573
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #47 most common country of origin
#17. Ethiopia
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 407
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 249,777
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin
#16. Panama
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 525
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 103,299
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #58 most common country of origin
#15. Thailand
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 569
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
- Number of residents: 255,345
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #32 most common country of origin
#14. Russia
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 626
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin
#13. Colombia
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 884
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.1%
National
- Number of residents: 761,374
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #12 most common country of origin
#12. Jamaica
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 896
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
National
- Number of residents: 741,386
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #13 most common country of origin
#11. United Kingdom
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,025
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin
#10. Canada
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,094
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.6%
National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin
#9. Vietnam
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,156
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.8%
National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin
#8. Guatemala
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,567
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.8%
National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#7. South Korea
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,622
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.9%
National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin
#6. Germany
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,740
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.2%
National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin
#5. Philippines
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,799
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.3%
National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#4. Honduras
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,810
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.4%
National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin
#3. China
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,937
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.7%
National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
#2. India
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,439
- Percent of foreign born residents: 8.3%
National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin
#1. Mexico
Columbia, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 9,173
- Percent of foreign born residents: 22.1%
National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin