Biggest sources of immigrants to West Virginia

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August 22, 2022
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Biggest sources of immigrants to West Virginia

Over 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 biggest sources of immigrants to West Virginia using data from the "U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by the highest number of residents according to 2020 5-year estimates. Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home state.

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#50. Ukraine

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 115
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 358,823
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #27 most common country of origin

#49. Panama

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 116
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 101,520
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #61 most common country of origin

#48. Cameroon

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 116
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 70,639
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #77 most common country of origin

#47. Chile

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 117
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 100,875
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #62 most common country of origin

#46. Iraq

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 120
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 229,309
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #39 most common country of origin

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#45. Belgium

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 120
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 34,824
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #101 most common country of origin

#44. Austria

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 41,973
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #95 most common country of origin

#43. Venezuela

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 134
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 394,365
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin

#42. Greece

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 138
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 124,428
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #54 most common country of origin

#41. Brazil

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 148
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 474,723
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
- #17 most common country of origin

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#40. Thailand

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 149
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 256,436
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin

#39. Argentina

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 150
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 193,056
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #41 most common country of origin

#38. Spain

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 169
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 118,177
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #56 most common country of origin

#37. Trinidad and Tobago

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 174
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 233,024
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #37 most common country of origin

#36. Turkey

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 178
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 126,351
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #53 most common country of origin

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#35. Lebanon

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 178
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 127,239
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #52 most common country of origin

#34. Dominican Republic

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 184
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 1,125,208
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.6%
- #8 most common country of origin

#33. Costa Rica

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 194
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 89,462
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #69 most common country of origin

#32. Australia

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 208
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 96,235
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #65 most common country of origin

#31. Ethiopia

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 213
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 260,577
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #33 most common country of origin

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#30. Ghana

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 226
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 180,675
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #43 most common country of origin

#29. Taiwan

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 230
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 378,942
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin

#28. France

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 231
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 181,242
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #42 most common country of origin

#27. Cuba

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 234
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 1,314,570
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #7 most common country of origin

#26. Bangladesh

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 256
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 240,365
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #36 most common country of origin

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#25. Egypt

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 272
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 202,049
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #40 most common country of origin

#24. Honduras

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 299
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 649,209
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #15 most common country of origin

#23. Russia

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 301
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 397,214
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin

#22. Guatemala

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 317
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 964,528
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin

#21. Colombia

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 332
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 792,579
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #12 most common country of origin

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#20. Saudi Arabia

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 345
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 76,837
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #74 most common country of origin

#19. Peru

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 353
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 451,666
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #18 most common country of origin

#18. Iran

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 356
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 389,383
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #23 most common country of origin

#17. Pakistan

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 356
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 385,873
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #24 most common country of origin

#16. Nepal

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 370
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 142,749
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #50 most common country of origin

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#15. Syria

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 379
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 102,884
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #60 most common country of origin

#14. Kuwait

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 420
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
- Number of residents: 33,602
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #105 most common country of origin

#13. Nigeria

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 455
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
- Number of residents: 366,534
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #26 most common country of origin

#12. Jamaica

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 478
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
- Number of residents: 760,486
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #13 most common country of origin

#11. Italy

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 615
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.1%
National
- Number of residents: 326,407
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
- #30 most common country of origin

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#10. Japan

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 679
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.3%
National
- Number of residents: 346,149
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin

#9. Vietnam

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 692
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.3%
National
- Number of residents: 1,354,391
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #6 most common country of origin

#8. El Salvador

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 726
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
National
- Number of residents: 1,370,579
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin

#7. South Korea

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 989
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.3%
National
- Number of residents: 1,048,588
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin

#6. Germany

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 1,214
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.1%
National
- Number of residents: 549,073
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
- #16 most common country of origin

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#5. Canada

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 1,300
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.4%
National
- Number of residents: 817,885
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
- #11 most common country of origin

#4. Mexico

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 1,942
- Percent of foreign born residents: 6.6%
National
- Number of residents: 10,924,662
- Percent of foreign born residents: 24.8%
- #1 most common country of origin

#3. China

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 2,239
- Percent of foreign born residents: 7.6%
National
- Number of residents: 2,184,189
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin

#2. Philippines

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 2,392
- Percent of foreign born residents: 8.1%
National
- Number of residents: 1,967,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin

#1. India

West Virginia
- Number of residents: 2,451
- Percent of foreign born residents: 8.3%
National
- Number of residents: 2,618,558
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.9%
- #2 most common country of origin

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