Biggest sources of immigrants to Raleigh
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 Raleigh come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Raleigh as of 2019's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
#50. Hong Kong
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 477
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 231,275
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #36 most common country of origin
#49. Ghana
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 512
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 178,388
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #43 most common country of origin
#48. Chile
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 514
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 98,945
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #61 most common country of origin
#47. Democratic Republic of Congo
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 550
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 43,723
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #91 most common country of origin
#46. Romania
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 559
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 162,046
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #45 most common country of origin
#45. Trinidad and Tobago
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 624
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 230,035
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #37 most common country of origin
#44. Nicaragua
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 644
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 251,913
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #33 most common country of origin
#43. Argentina
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 661
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 194,435
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #39 most common country of origin
#42. Ecuador
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 667
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 438,474
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #19 most common country of origin
#41. Panama
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 677
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 103,299
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #58 most common country of origin
#40. Turkey
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 694
- 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
#39. Sierra Leone
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 773
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 40,991
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #94 most common country of origin
#38. Italy
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 808
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 332,857
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #30 most common country of origin
#37. Japan
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 809
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 345,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #29 most common country of origin
#36. Bangladesh
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 812
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 237,288
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #35 most common country of origin
#35. France
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 815
- 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
#34. Haiti
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 824
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 672,655
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #15 most common country of origin
#33. South Africa
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 832
- 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
#32. Peru
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 899
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 451,076
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #18 most common country of origin
#31. Ukraine
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 912
- 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
#30. Poland
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 928
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 410,841
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin
#29. Ethiopia
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 932
- 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
#28. Brazil
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 950
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin
#27. Morocco
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,033
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 78,439
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #73 most common country of origin
#26. Cuba
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,242
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 1,289,875
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.9%
- #7 most common country of origin
#25. Congo
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,244
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 30,496
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #106 most common country of origin
#24. Taiwan
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,247
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 381,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #24 most common country of origin
#23. Pakistan
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,322
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 376,127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin
#22. Iran
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,409
- 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
#21. Egypt
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,424
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 191,452
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #40 most common country of origin
#20. Nepal
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,500
- 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
#19. Venezuela
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,569
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 349,720
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #27 most common country of origin
#18. Kenya
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,638
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 141,751
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #48 most common country of origin
#17. Jamaica
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,685
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 741,386
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #13 most common country of origin
#16. Russia
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,807
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin
#15. Guatemala
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,813
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#14. Colombia
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,118
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 761,374
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #12 most common country of origin
#13. Germany
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,243
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin
#12. Dominican Republic
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,537
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
- Number of residents: 1,118,147
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
- #8 most common country of origin
#11. Nigeria
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,615
- 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
#10. South Korea
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,858
- 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
#9. Philippines
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,425
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.1%
National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#8. United Kingdom
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,262
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.6%
National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin
#7. Vietnam
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,589
- 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
#6. Canada
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,707
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.9%
National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin
#5. Honduras
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,891
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin
#4. El Salvador
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,515
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.4%
National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#3. China
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,420
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
#2. India
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 26,925
- Percent of foreign born residents: 16.5%
National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin
#1. Mexico
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 34,526
- Percent of foreign born residents: 21.1%
National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin
