Biggest sources of immigrants to San Francisco

Written by:
April 21, 2022
Canva

Biggest sources of immigrants to San Francisco

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 San Francisco come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in San Francisco as of 2019's five-year estimates.

Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.

You may also like: Here's how unemployment in San Francisco, California compares

#50. Romania

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,099
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 162,046
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #45 most common country of origin

#49. Eritrea

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,129
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 45,119
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #90 most common country of origin

#48. Portugal

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,136
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 171,118
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #44 most common country of origin

#47. South Africa

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,201
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 104,022
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #56 most common country of origin

#46. Yemen

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,277
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 54,152
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #82 most common country of origin

You may also like: Highest-rated Southern restaurants in San Francisco by diners

#45. Singapore

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,459
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 34,014
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #101 most common country of origin

#44. Spain

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,632
- 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

#43. Turkey

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,633
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 119,380
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #54 most common country of origin

#42. Poland

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,875
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 410,841
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin

#41. Egypt

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,925
- 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

You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in San Francisco

#40. Cambodia

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 151,066
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #46 most common country of origin

#39. Nigeria

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,377
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 350,272
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #26 most common country of origin

#38. Malaysia

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,419
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 76,521
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #74 most common country of origin

#37. Israel

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,484
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 135,672
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #50 most common country of origin

#36. Argentina

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,519
- 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

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in San Francisco that don't require a college degree

#35. Laos

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,716
- 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

#34. Australia

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,068
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 92,483
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #64 most common country of origin

#33. Colombia

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,193
- 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

#32. Ethiopia

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,259
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 249,777
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin

#31. Honduras

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,426
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin

You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in San Francisco

#30. Nepal

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,856
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 140,904
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #49 most common country of origin

#29. Ireland

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,933
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 121,469
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #53 most common country of origin

#28. Indonesia

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,373
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 96,229
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #62 most common country of origin

#27. Italy

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,697
- 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

#26. Thailand

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 8,227
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%

National
- Number of residents: 255,345
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #32 most common country of origin

You may also like: Top 25 songs in San Francisco on Shazam in the past week

#25. Ukraine

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 9,688
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%

National
- Number of residents: 345,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin

#24. Pakistan

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,289
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%

National
- Number of residents: 376,127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin

#23. Fiji

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,615
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%

National
- Number of residents: 47,004
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #86 most common country of origin

#22. Afghanistan

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,714
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%

National
- Number of residents: 101,548
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #59 most common country of origin

#21. Burma

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 11,097
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%

National
- Number of residents: 147,573
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #47 most common country of origin

You may also like: Highest paying jobs in San Francisco that require a bachelor's degree

#20. France

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 11,396
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%

National
- Number of residents: 181,554
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #41 most common country of origin

#19. Brazil

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 12,784
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%

National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin

#18. Germany

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 14,893
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%

National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin

#17. Russia

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 14,983
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%

National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin

#16. Peru

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 15,028
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%

National
- Number of residents: 451,076
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #18 most common country of origin

You may also like: What are the most common degrees in San Francisco?

#15. Japan

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 15,872
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%

National
- Number of residents: 345,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #29 most common country of origin

#14. Iran

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 17,298
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%

National
- Number of residents: 382,260
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #23 most common country of origin

#13. Nicaragua

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 19,072
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%

National
- Number of residents: 251,913
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #33 most common country of origin

#12. Canada

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 21,513
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%

National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin

#11. United Kingdom

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 25,231
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%

National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin

You may also like: Highest-rated Italian restaurants in San Francisco by diners

#10. Taiwan

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 30,324
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.1%

National
- Number of residents: 381,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #24 most common country of origin

#9. South Korea

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 30,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.1%

National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin

#8. Guatemala

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 33,589
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.3%

National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin

#7. Hong Kong

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 45,149
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%

National
- Number of residents: 231,275
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #36 most common country of origin

#6. El Salvador

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 56,375
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.9%

National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin

You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the San Francisco metro area

#5. Vietnam

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 60,583
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.2%

National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin

#4. India

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 135,591
- Percent of foreign born residents: 9.4%

National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin

#3. Philippines

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 160,908
- Percent of foreign born residents: 11.1%

National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin

#2. China

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 224,854
- Percent of foreign born residents: 15.6%

National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin

#1. Mexico

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 230,302
- Percent of foreign born residents: 16.0%

National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin

You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in San Francisco by diners

Trending Now