Biggest sources of immigrants to Memphis
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 Memphis come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Memphis as of 2019's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
#50. Dominica
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 158
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 34,308
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #100 most common country of origin
#49. Peru
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 164
- 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
#48. Panama
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 168
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 103,299
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #58 most common country of origin
#47. Ukraine
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 172
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 345,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin
#46. Belize
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 176
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 48,869
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #84 most common country of origin
#45. Thailand
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 178
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 255,345
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #32 most common country of origin
#43 (tie). Sri Lanka
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 186
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 52,439
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #83 most common country of origin
#43 (tie). South Africa
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 186
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 104,022
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #56 most common country of origin
#42. Sierra Leone
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 194
- 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
#41. Laos
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 223
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 181,546
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #42 most common country of origin
#40. Brazil
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 238
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin
#39. Iraq
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 241
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 225,038
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #38 most common country of origin
#38. Argentina
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 244
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 194,435
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #39 most common country of origin
#37. Italy
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 253
- 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
#36. Lebanon
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 293
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 121,697
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #52 most common country of origin
#35. France
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 303
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 181,554
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #41 most common country of origin
#34. Saudi Arabia
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 308
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 85,000
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #70 most common country of origin
#33. Senegal
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 333
- 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
#32. Sudan
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 337
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 46,716
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #87 most common country of origin
#31. Dominican Republic
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 351
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 1,118,147
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
- #8 most common country of origin
#30. Jordan
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 365
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 81,155
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #71 most common country of origin
#29. Poland
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 391
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 410,841
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin
#28. Yemen
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 406
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 54,152
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #82 most common country of origin
#27. Somalia
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 417
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 98,966
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #60 most common country of origin
#26. Jamaica
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 461
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 741,386
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #13 most common country of origin
#25. Egypt
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 481
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 191,452
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #40 most common country of origin
#24. Russia
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 488
- 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
#23. Cambodia
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 493
- 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
#22. Kenya
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 516
- 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
#21. Taiwan
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 534
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 381,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #24 most common country of origin
#20. Colombia
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 593
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 761,374
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #12 most common country of origin
#19. Iran
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 624
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 382,260
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #23 most common country of origin
#18. Japan
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 652
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 345,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #29 most common country of origin
#17. Pakistan
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 733
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 376,127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin
#16. El Salvador
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 937
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#14 (tie). Cuba
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 992
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
- Number of residents: 1,289,875
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.9%
- #7 most common country of origin
#14 (tie). Venezuela
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 992
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
- Number of residents: 349,720
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #27 most common country of origin
#13. Germany
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,082
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin
#12. United Kingdom
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,114
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin
#11. Canada
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,132
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin
#10. Nigeria
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,179
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
- Number of residents: 350,272
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #26 most common country of origin
#9. South Korea
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,201
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin
#8. Ethiopia
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,345
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
National
- Number of residents: 249,777
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin
#7. Philippines
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,048
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.9%
National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#6. Honduras
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,681
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.7%
National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin
#5. Guatemala
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,058
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.3%
National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#4. China
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,455
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.8%
National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
#3. Vietnam
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,880
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.4%
National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin
#2. India
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,805
- Percent of foreign born residents: 8.1%
National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin
#1. Mexico
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
- Number of residents: 22,053
- Percent of foreign born residents: 30.8%
National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin
