How high is current immigration to the United States, in historical perspective?
Using long-run census data to understand the scale of recent US migration trends, and how these compare to previous centuries..
Immigration is a recurring topic of debate in the United States, often ranking among the top concerns for Americans. It influences political discussions and public opinion, especially during election periods. To understand current immigration levels, it is helpful to compare them with historical trends. The article examines data from the US Census Bureau, which tracks the foreign-born population—people living in the US who were not US citizens at birth. This includes both legal and undocumented immigrants, as well as naturalized citizens. The Census Bureau’s definition excludes individuals born abroad to US citizen parents. The data spans from 1850 to 2024, providing a long-term perspective on immigration patterns.
To assess immigration, the article uses two key metrics: the absolute number of foreign-born residents and their share of the total US population. The absolute number reflects the total immigrant population, while the share indicates their proportion relative to the entire population. This dual approach accounts for the fact that a larger country can have more immigrants without them representing a larger percentage of the population. For example, in 2024, 50 million foreign-born individuals lived in the US, the highest number recorded since 1850. However, the US population has also grown significantly over time, so the share of immigrants in 2024 was around 15%, similar to levels seen in the late 19th century.
Immigration to the US has fluctuated over time. From 1850 to 1930, the foreign-born population grew steadily, reaching 10 million by 1900. It then declined for four decades, hitting a low in 1970. After 1970, immigration rose again, reaching 50 million by 2024. The share of immigrants in the population followed a similar pattern: it peaked at 13% to 15% in the late 1800s, dropped to under 5% by 1970, and then rose back to 15% by 2024. This shows that while the absolute number of immigrants is at a historic high, their share of the population is comparable to levels seen in the 19th century.
The countries of origin for immigrants in the US have shifted dramatically over time. In 1900, most immigrants came from Europe, with Germany, Ireland, and Italy among the top countries. By 2024, the largest groups of foreign-born residents were from Mexico, India, and China. Latin America and Asia now account for much larger shares of the immigrant population compared to the early 20th century. This shift reflects changes in global migration patterns, economic opportunities, and US immigration policies. The article highlights these regional differences to provide context for the evolving composition of the foreign-born population.
In 2024, the US had 50 million foreign-born residents, the highest number ever recorded. However, when adjusted for the total population, the share of immigrants (15%) was similar to the peak levels of the late 1800s. This means that while immigration is at a historic high in absolute terms, it is not unprecedented when compared to historical shares. The article emphasizes that migration patterns have changed in other ways, such as the regions of origin, but the overall proportion of immigrants remains comparable to past periods. The data comes from the US Census Bureau and the American Community Survey, which include both legal and undocumented immigrants.
