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The Top Countries of Origin for People in America

The Flag of United States on the World Map.

The Top Countries of Origin for People in America

When you consider the history of immigration to the United States, it’s a part of the very fiber of this country. Many people immigrate here for a fresh start for many different reasons, such as family, education, or the American dream. The real question isn’t why many people are coming here but where they are coming from. 

Better yet, can large groups of people in America claim ancestral ties back to countries like Canada, Mexico, and Germany? With these questions in mind, we can look at data from the Migration Policy Institute and find our answer. Using data through 2022, we can determine the top diaspora groups in the United States.

20. Russia

surprising number of time zones
Russia offers the 20th largest diaspora in the United States.
©Reidl/Shutterstock.com
  • Total diaspora: 2,224,00
  • Born in origin country: 399,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 1,825,000

19. Vietnam

People of Vietnamese backgrounds are looking to immigrate to the United States regularly.
©iStock.com/Balate Dorin
  • Total diaspora: 2,415,000
  • Born in origin country: 1,340,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 1,075,000

18. Dominican Republic

Aerial view of the Santo Domingo, Capital Of Dominican Republic, its beautiful streets and buildings, la Fuente Centro de los Heroes, the Pabellón de las Naciones
The Dominican Republic offers a large number of immigrants to the US.
©Gianfranco Vivi/Shutterstock.com
  • Total diaspora: 2,666,000
  • Born in origin country: 1,286,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 1,380,000

17. Cuba

La Habana skyline, Havana, Cuba, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America
Cuban residents have long tried to immigrate to the United States.
©Robert Harding Video/Shutterstock.com
  • Total diaspora: 2,719,000
  • Born in origin country: 1,314,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 1,405,000

16. Canada

Many Canadians are moving to the United States or are born from those who have already moved here.
©Gabe Shakour/Shutterstock.com
  • Total diaspora: 2,727,000
  • Born in origin country: 819,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 1,908,000

15. El Salvador

Beautiful aerial view of the City of San Salvador, capital of El Salvador - Its cathedrals and buildings
El Salvador residents often look to the United States for more opportunities.
©Gianfranco Vivi/Shutterstock.com
  • Total diaspora: 2,831,000
  • Born in origin country: 1,415,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 1,416,000

14. Netherlands

The Netherlands is beautiful, but residents still look to the US for more opportunity.
©Yasonya/Shutterstock.com
  • Total diaspora: 3,029,000
  • Born in origin country: 80,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 2,949,000

13. Sweden

Sweden offers the 13th largest diaspora in the United States.
  • Total diaspora: 3,339,000
  • Born in origin country: 42,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 3,297,000

12. Norway

While Norway might offer incredible scenery, its residents show signs of moving to the US.
  • Total diaspora: 3,966,000
  • Born in origin country: 20,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 3,946,000

11. Philippines

There are large populations of Phillipino residents moving to or have already moved to the United States.
©KieferPix/Shutterstock.com
  • Total diaspora: 4,562,000
  • Born in origin country: 2,011,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 2,552,000

10. India

Many Indian families migrate to the US for greater opportunities.
©iStock.com/Sean3810
  • Total diaspora: 5,190,000
  • Born in origin country: 2,831,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 2,359,000

9. China

China has long had a large number of immigrants come to the US.
©iStock.com/charactery
  • Total diaspora: 5,581,000
  • Born in origin country: 2,477,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 3,103,000

8. France

There is a large number of people in the US who claim French ancestory.
©iStock.com/Sean3810
  • Total diaspora: 6,362,000
  • Born in origin country: 184,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 6,178,000

7. Puerto Rico

Puerto Rican residents are coming to the United States in large numbers.
©Martin Wheeler III/Shutterstock.com
  • Total diaspora: 6,521,000
  • Born in origin country: 1,847,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 4,674,000

6. Poland

Poland is the sixth-largest diaspora in the United States.
  • Total diaspora: 8,320,000
  • Born in origin country: 373,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 7,947,000

5. Italy

Italian residents have looked to the US for opportunities and education for decades.
©iStock.com/Aliaksandr Antanovich
  • Total diaspora: 16,058,000
  • Born in origin country: 298,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 15,760,000

4. Ireland

Millions of people of Irish descent were born in the US.
©iStock.com/romrodinka
  • Total diaspora: 32,687,000
  • Born in origin country: 123,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 32,564,000

3. United Kingdom

United Kingdom descendants have long been in the US, some for hundreds of years.
  • Total diaspora: 37,895,000
  • Born in origin country: 674,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 37,222,000

2. Mexico

Mexican families have been a part of the US population for decades.
  • Total diaspora: 38,787,000
  • Born in origin country: 10,638,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 28,148,000

1. Germany

German families and their descendants are the largest diaspora in the US.
©Oleksiy Mark/Shutterstock.com
  • Total diaspora: 41,6330,00
  • Born in origin country: 538,000
  • Born in U.S./elsewhere: 41,095,000

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