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1 / 50#50. Sri Lanka
- Number of residents: 131
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.21%
Biggest sources of immigrants to Des Moines
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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area as of 2023's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
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2 / 50#49. Peru
- Number of residents: 132
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.21%
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3 / 50#48. Uruguay
- Number of residents: 138
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.22%
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4 / 50#47. Poland
- Number of residents: 149
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.24%
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5 / 50#46. Nicaragua
- Number of residents: 153
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.25%
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6 / 50#45. Sierra Leone
- Number of residents: 155
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.25%
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7 / 50#44. Cambodia
- Number of residents: 159
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.26%
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8 / 50#43. Jordan
- Number of residents: 165
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.27%
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9 / 50#41. Croatia (tie)
- Number of residents: 173
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.28%
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10 / 50#41. Spain (tie)
- Number of residents: 173
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.28%
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11 / 50#40. South Africa
- Number of residents: 184
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
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12 / 50#39. Japan
- Number of residents: 193
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.31%
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13 / 50#38. Australia
- Number of residents: 199
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.32%
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14 / 50#37. Cameroon
- Number of residents: 210
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.34%
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15 / 50#36. Afghanistan
- Number of residents: 230
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.37%
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16 / 50#35. Dominican Republic
- Number of residents: 244
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.39%
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17 / 50#34. Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
- Number of residents: 255
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.41%
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18 / 50#33. Ghana
- Number of residents: 271
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.44%
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19 / 50#32. Eritrea
- Number of residents: 324
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.52%
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20 / 50#31. Ecuador
- Number of residents: 327
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.53%
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21 / 50#30. Brazil
- Number of residents: 339
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.55%
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22 / 50#29. Ukraine
- Number of residents: 352
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.57%
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23 / 50#28. Nigeria
- Number of residents: 356
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.57%
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24 / 50#27. United Kingdom (inc. Crown Dependencies)
- Number of residents: 431
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.69%
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25 / 50#26. Tanzania
- Number of residents: 478
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.77%
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26 / 50#25. Germany
- Number of residents: 480
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.77%
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27 / 50#24. Canada
- Number of residents: 526
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.85%
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28 / 50#23. Kenya
- Number of residents: 527
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.85%
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29 / 50#22. Russia
- Number of residents: 598
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.96%
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30 / 50#21. Nepal
- Number of residents: 604
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.97%
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31 / 50#20. Malaysia
- Number of residents: 612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.99%
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32 / 50#19. Colombia
- Number of residents: 614
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.99%
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33 / 50#18. Somalia
- Number of residents: 628
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.01%
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34 / 50#17. Ethiopia
- Number of residents: 662
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.07%
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35 / 50#16. Iraq
- Number of residents: 686
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.11%
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36 / 50#15. Egypt
- Number of residents: 706
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.14%
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37 / 50#14. Philippines
- Number of residents: 740
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.19%
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38 / 50#13. Bhutan
- Number of residents: 1,012
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.63%
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39 / 50#12. Guatemala
- Number of residents: 1,147
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.85%
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40 / 50#11. Honduras
- Number of residents: 1,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.01%
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41 / 50#10. Thailand
- Number of residents: 1,262
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.03%
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42 / 50#9. China
- Number of residents: 1,609
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.59%
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43 / 50#8. Sudan
- Number of residents: 1,627
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.62%
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44 / 50#7. Laos
- Number of residents: 1,817
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.93%
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45 / 50#6. Liberia
- Number of residents: 1,821
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.93%
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46 / 50#5. El Salvador
- Number of residents: 3,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.06%
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47 / 50#4. Vietnam
- Number of residents: 3,320
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.35%
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48 / 50#3. Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Number of residents: 3,438
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.54%
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49 / 50#2. India
- Number of residents: 4,959
- Percent of foreign born residents: 7.99%
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50 / 50#1. Mexico
- Number of residents: 11,831
- Percent of foreign born residents: 19.07%
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