Biggest sources of immigrants to Houston
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 Houston come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Houston as of 2019's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
#50. Malaysia
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,019
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 76,521
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #74 most common country of origin
#49. South Africa
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,121
- 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
#48. Nepal
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,223
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 140,904
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #49 most common country of origin
#47. Panama
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,253
- 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
#46. Jordan
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,335
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 81,155
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #71 most common country of origin
#45. Spain
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,359
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 115,113
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #55 most common country of origin
#44. Indonesia
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,425
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 96,229
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #62 most common country of origin
#43. Australia
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,459
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 92,483
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #64 most common country of origin
#42. Cameroon
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,582
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 60,120
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #80 most common country of origin
#41. Turkey
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,618
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 119,380
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #54 most common country of origin
#40. Thailand
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,688
- 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
#39. Ecuador
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,698
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 438,474
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #19 most common country of origin
#38. Saudi Arabia
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,976
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 85,000
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #70 most common country of origin
#37. Cambodia
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,162
- 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
#36. France
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,244
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 181,554
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #41 most common country of origin
#35. Kenya
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,284
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 141,751
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #48 most common country of origin
#34. Hong Kong
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,391
- 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
#33. Dominican Republic
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,538
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 1,118,147
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
- #8 most common country of origin
#32. Bangladesh
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,645
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 237,288
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #35 most common country of origin
#31. Japan
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,889
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 345,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #29 most common country of origin
#30. Argentina
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,913
- 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
#29. Lebanon
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,078
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 121,697
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #52 most common country of origin
#28. Egypt
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,289
- 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
#27. Ethiopia
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,971
- 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
#26. Russia
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,106
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin
#25. Trinidad and Tobago
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,400
- 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
#24. Peru
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,522
- 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
#23. Brazil
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,615
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin
#22. Germany
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 8,046
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin
#21. Iraq
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 8,309
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 225,038
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #38 most common country of origin
#20. Jamaica
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 8,591
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 741,386
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #13 most common country of origin
#19. Nicaragua
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 8,721
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 251,913
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #33 most common country of origin
#18. Iran
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,282
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 382,260
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #23 most common country of origin
#17. South Korea
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 11,495
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin
#16. Taiwan
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 13,230
- 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
#15. Canada
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 18,015
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin
#14. United Kingdom
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 20,349
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin
#13. Venezuela
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 27,632
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
- Number of residents: 349,720
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #27 most common country of origin
#12. Colombia
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 28,104
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
- Number of residents: 761,374
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #12 most common country of origin
#11. Cuba
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 28,902
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
National
- Number of residents: 1,289,875
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.9%
- #7 most common country of origin
#10. Pakistan
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 30,729
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
National
- Number of residents: 376,127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin
#9. Philippines
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 39,544
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#8. Guatemala
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 41,586
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.6%
National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#7. Nigeria
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 43,924
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.7%
National
- Number of residents: 350,272
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #26 most common country of origin
#6. China
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 50,352
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
#5. Honduras
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 69,383
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.3%
National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin
#4. Vietnam
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 90,627
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.6%
National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin
#3. India
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 90,794
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.6%
National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin
#2. El Salvador
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 123,387
- Percent of foreign born residents: 7.6%
National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#1. Mexico
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
- Number of residents: 612,515
- Percent of foreign born residents: 38.0%
National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin