Biggest sources of immigrants to Des Moines
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 Des Moines come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Des Moines as of 2019's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
#50. Dominican Republic
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 102
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 1,118,147
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
- #8 most common country of origin
#49. Kuwait
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 104
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 33,788
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #102 most common country of origin
#48. Latvia
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 118
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 23,372
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #115 most common country of origin
#47. Poland
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 119
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 410,841
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin
#46. Argentina
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 129
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 194,435
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #39 most common country of origin
#45. Peru
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 130
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 451,076
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #18 most common country of origin
#44. Sierra Leone
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 135
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 40,991
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #94 most common country of origin
#42 (tie). Morocco
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 136
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 78,439
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #73 most common country of origin
#42 (tie). Spain
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 136
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 115,113
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #55 most common country of origin
#41. Uganda
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 139
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 31,366
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #105 most common country of origin
#40. Pakistan
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 153
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 376,127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin
#39. Nicaragua
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 182
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 251,913
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #33 most common country of origin
#38. Italy
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 196
- 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
#37. Nigeria
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 197
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 350,272
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #26 most common country of origin
#36. Croatia
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 208
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 37,176
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #97 most common country of origin
#35. Ghana
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 209
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 178,388
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #43 most common country of origin
#34. Egypt
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 212
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 191,452
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #40 most common country of origin
#33. Brazil
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 217
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin
#32. Colombia
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 229
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 761,374
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #12 most common country of origin
#31. Ecuador
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 272
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 438,474
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #19 most common country of origin
#30. Eritrea
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 289
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 45,119
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #90 most common country of origin
#29. Ukraine
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 293
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 345,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin
#28. Democratic Republic of Congo
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 304
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 43,723
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #91 most common country of origin
#27. Ethiopia
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 308
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 249,777
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin
#26. United Kingdom
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 343
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin
#25. Russia
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 351
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin
#24. Cambodia
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 367
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 151,066
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #46 most common country of origin
#23. Malaysia
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 431
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 76,521
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #74 most common country of origin
#22. Somalia
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 449
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 98,966
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #60 most common country of origin
#21. Nepal
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 485
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 140,904
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #49 most common country of origin
#20. Congo
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 558
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 30,496
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #106 most common country of origin
#19. Canada
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 610
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin
#18. Germany
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 657
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin
#17. Honduras
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 665
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin
#16. Kenya
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 773
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
- Number of residents: 141,751
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #48 most common country of origin
#15. South Korea
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 918
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin
#14. Sudan
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 921
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
National
- Number of residents: 46,716
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #87 most common country of origin
#13. Guatemala
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 994
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#12. Thailand
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,013
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
National
- Number of residents: 255,345
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #32 most common country of origin
#11. China
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,018
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
#10. Iraq
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,299
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
National
- Number of residents: 225,038
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #38 most common country of origin
#9. Liberia
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,366
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.6%
National
- Number of residents: 87,991
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #67 most common country of origin
#8. Philippines
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,486
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.8%
National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#7. Laos
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,639
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
National
- Number of residents: 181,546
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #42 most common country of origin
#6. El Salvador
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,674
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.2%
National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#5. Burma
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,486
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.7%
National
- Number of residents: 147,573
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #47 most common country of origin
#4. Vietnam
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,094
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.9%
National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin
#3. India
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,949
- Percent of foreign born residents: 7.5%
National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin
#2. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,490
- Percent of foreign born residents: 8.6%
National
- Number of residents: 103,938
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #57 most common country of origin
#1. Mexico
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,254
- Percent of foreign born residents: 19.6%
National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin
