Biggest sources of immigrants to Seattle
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 Seattle come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Seattle as of 2019's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
#50. Chile
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,715
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 98,945
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #61 most common country of origin
#49. Netherlands
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,781
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 85,161
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #69 most common country of origin
#48. Ireland
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,804
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 121,469
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #53 most common country of origin
#47. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,810
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 103,938
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #57 most common country of origin
#46. Saudi Arabia
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,868
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 85,000
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #70 most common country of origin
#45. Nepal
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,035
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 140,904
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #49 most common country of origin
#44. Turkey
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,076
- 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
#43. South Africa
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,246
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 104,022
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #56 most common country of origin
#42. Belarus
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,363
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 63,642
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #78 most common country of origin
#41. Malaysia
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,364
- 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
#40. Egypt
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,378
- 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
#39. Fiji
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,435
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 47,004
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #86 most common country of origin
#38. Afghanistan
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,539
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 101,548
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #59 most common country of origin
#37. Israel
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,821
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 135,672
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #50 most common country of origin
#36. Colombia
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,834
- 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
#35. Honduras
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,275
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin
#34. Indonesia
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,323
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 96,229
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #62 most common country of origin
#33. France
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,374
- 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
#32. Moldova
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,396
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 45,661
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #89 most common country of origin
#31. Australia
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,441
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 92,483
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #64 most common country of origin
#30. Iraq
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,563
- 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
#29. Peru
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,606
- 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
#28. Poland
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,640
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 410,841
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin
#27. Eritrea
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,116
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 45,119
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #90 most common country of origin
#26. Romania
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,719
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 162,046
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #45 most common country of origin
#25. Laos
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,922
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 181,546
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #42 most common country of origin
#24. Brazil
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,025
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin
#23. Pakistan
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,045
- 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
#22. Guatemala
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,722
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#21. Iran
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,811
- 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
#20. Kenya
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,113
- 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
#19. Thailand
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,279
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 255,345
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #32 most common country of origin
#18. Somalia
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,299
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 98,966
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #60 most common country of origin
#17. El Salvador
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 8,028
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#16. Hong Kong
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 8,115
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 231,275
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #36 most common country of origin
#15. Cambodia
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 9,643
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 151,066
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #46 most common country of origin
#14. Germany
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 11,373
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin
#13. Taiwan
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 12,849
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
National
- Number of residents: 381,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #24 most common country of origin
#12. Russia
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 13,106
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin
#11. Japan
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 13,782
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
National
- Number of residents: 345,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #29 most common country of origin
#10. United Kingdom
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 14,981
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.1%
National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin
#9. Ethiopia
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 18,580
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.6%
National
- Number of residents: 249,777
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin
#8. Ukraine
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 20,513
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.8%
National
- Number of residents: 345,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin
#7. Canada
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 26,659
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.7%
National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin
#6. South Korea
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 39,047
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.4%
National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin
#5. Vietnam
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 48,336
- Percent of foreign born residents: 6.7%
National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin
#4. Philippines
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 52,237
- Percent of foreign born residents: 7.2%
National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#3. China
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 63,803
- Percent of foreign born residents: 8.8%
National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
#2. India
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 74,459
- Percent of foreign born residents: 10.3%
National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin
#1. Mexico
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 93,037
- Percent of foreign born residents: 12.9%
National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin
