Biggest sources of immigrants to Chicago

·Stacker

saiko3p // Shutterstock
saiko3p // Shutterstock

Over 15% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Metro Area come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Metro Area as of 2023's five-year estimates.

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

You may also like: The highest-value homes in Chicago

#50. Turkey

Olena Tur // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Turkey

- Number of residents: 4,404
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.26%

#49. Belize

photosounds // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Belize

- Number of residents: 4,530
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.26%

#48. Ethiopia

Artush // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Ethiopia

- Number of residents: 4,532
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.26%

#47. Hong Kong

Canva

4 / 50

#47. Hong Kong

- Number of residents: 4,768
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.28%

#45. Israel

John Theodor // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Israel

- Number of residents: 5,000
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.29%

#44. Egypt

Prin Adulyatham // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Egypt

- Number of residents: 5,196
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

#43. Moldova

Serghei Starus // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Moldova

- Number of residents: 5,285
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.31%

#42. France

Tupungato // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. France

- Number of residents: 5,682
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.33%

#40. Belarus

karp5 // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Belarus

- Number of residents: 6,199
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.36%

#39. Iran

Andrew V Marcus // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Iran

- Number of residents: 6,405
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.37%

#38. Albania

RossHelen // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Albania

- Number of residents: 6,608
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.39%

#37. Ireland

Canva

14 / 50

#37. Ireland

- Number of residents: 6,628
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.39%

#35. Cuba

Canva

16 / 50

#35. Cuba

- Number of residents: 7,101
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.42%

#34. Brazil

Catarina Belova // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Brazil

- Number of residents: 7,446
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.44%

#33. Jamaica

byvalet // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Jamaica

- Number of residents: 7,527
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.44%

#32. Taiwan

Canva

19 / 50

#32. Taiwan

- Number of residents: 7,556
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.44%

#31. Ghana

Canva

20 / 50

#31. Ghana

- Number of residents: 7,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.45%

You may also like: Coat drives near Chicago

#30. Serbia

Nataliya Nazarova // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Serbia

- Number of residents: 8,575
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%

#29. Peru

Christian Vinces // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Peru

- Number of residents: 8,618
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%

#28. Jordan

Sergei25 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Jordan

- Number of residents: 8,904
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.52%

#27. Japan

Canva

24 / 50

#27. Japan

- Number of residents: 8,965
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.52%

#25. Greece

Canva

26 / 50

#25. Greece

- Number of residents: 9,937
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.58%

#24. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Lucertolone // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Bosnia and Herzegovina

- Number of residents: 10,532
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.62%

#23. El Salvador

Canva

28 / 50

#23. El Salvador

- Number of residents: 10,561
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.62%

#22. Iraq

Focus and Blur // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Iraq

- Number of residents: 12,003
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%

#20. Venezuela

Canva

31 / 50

#20. Venezuela

- Number of residents: 13,814
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.81%

#19. Romania

Augustin Lazaroiu // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Romania

- Number of residents: 13,866
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.81%

#18. Bulgaria

Valentin Valkov // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Bulgaria

- Number of residents: 14,535
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.85%

#17. Italy

Canva

34 / 50

#17. Italy

- Number of residents: 14,968
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.88%

#15. Germany

Canva

36 / 50

#15. Germany

- Number of residents: 15,693
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.92%

#14. Canada

Canva

37 / 50

#14. Canada

- Number of residents: 15,698
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.92%

#13. United Kingdom (inc. Crown Dependencies)

Nataliya Hora // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. United Kingdom (inc. Crown Dependencies)

- Number of residents: 16,373
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.96%

#12. Colombia

Alexander Canas Arango // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Colombia

- Number of residents: 17,827
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.04%

#10. Vietnam

Canva

41 / 50

#10. Vietnam

- Number of residents: 18,157
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.06%

#9. Nigeria

Canva

42 / 50

#9. Nigeria

- Number of residents: 20,914
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.22%

#8. Guatemala

Kobby Dagan // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Guatemala

- Number of residents: 22,401
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.31%

#7. Pakistan

Saqib Rizvi // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Pakistan

- Number of residents: 29,877
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.75%

#5. China

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. China

- Number of residents: 75,390
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.41%

#4. Philippines

Joseph Oropel // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Philippines

- Number of residents: 86,314
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.05%

#3. Poland

Nahlik // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Poland

- Number of residents: 120,108
- Percent of foreign born residents: 7.02%

#2. India

Kriangkrai Thitimakorn // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. India

- Number of residents: 148,341
- Percent of foreign born residents: 8.67%