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Biggest sources of immigrants to California

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Published 3:38 PM


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Biggest sources of immigrants to California

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 California using data from the


Patrick Foto // Shutterstock

#50. Malaysia

California
– Number of residents: 17,352
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
– Number of residents: 78,179
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #73 most common country of origin


Yasonya // Shutterstock

#49. Netherlands

California
– Number of residents: 18,107
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
– Number of residents: 83,275
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #71 most common country of origin


Olena Tur // Shutterstock

#48. Turkey

California
– Number of residents: 18,817
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
– Number of residents: 126,351
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #53 most common country of origin


HandmadePictures // Shutterstock

#47. South Africa

California
– Number of residents: 18,998
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
– Number of residents: 108,650
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #58 most common country of origin


Canva

#46. Ecuador

California
– Number of residents: 20,640
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
– Number of residents: 440,337
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
– #19 most common country of origin


Nahlik // Shutterstock

#45. Poland

California
– Number of residents: 21,957
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
– Number of residents: 411,750
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #20 most common country of origin


Augustin Lazaroiu // Shutterstock

#44. Romania

California
– Number of residents: 22,688
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
– Number of residents: 163,817
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #46 most common country of origin


Taras Vyshnya // Shutterstock

#43. Australia

California
– Number of residents: 22,969
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
– Number of residents: 96,235
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #65 most common country of origin


Artush // Shutterstock

#42. Ethiopia

California
– Number of residents: 24,861
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
– Number of residents: 260,577
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
– #33 most common country of origin


ESB Professional // Shutterstock

#41. Portugal

California
– Number of residents: 25,914
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
– Number of residents: 172,739
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #45 most common country of origin


Canva

#40. Burma

California
– Number of residents: 26,302
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 147,834
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #48 most common country of origin


hanohiki // Shutterstock

#39. Syria

California
– Number of residents: 28,980
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 102,884
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #60 most common country of origin


Canva

#38. Nigeria

California
– Number of residents: 30,787
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 366,534
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #26 most common country of origin


Canva

#37. Italy

California
– Number of residents: 31,491
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 326,407
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
– #30 most common country of origin


diplomedia // Shutterstock

#36. Lebanon

California
– Number of residents: 32,066
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 127,239
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #52 most common country of origin


Canva

#35. Cuba

California
– Number of residents: 32,675
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 1,314,570
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
– #7 most common country of origin


Evgeniya Uvarova // Shutterstock

#34. Argentina

California
– Number of residents: 33,626
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 193,056
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #41 most common country of origin


John Theodor // Shutterstock

#33. Israel

California
– Number of residents: 33,684
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 139,083
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #51 most common country of origin


Martin Valigursky // Shutterstock

#32. Fiji

California
– Number of residents: 37,117
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 46,663
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #92 most common country of origin


Prin Adulyatham // Shutterstock

#31. Egypt

California
– Number of residents: 39,607
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 202,049
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
– #40 most common country of origin


Creativa Images // Shutterstock

#30. Indonesia

California
– Number of residents: 40,602
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 96,337
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #64 most common country of origin


Tupungato // Shutterstock

#29. France

California
– Number of residents: 40,776
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 181,242
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #42 most common country of origin


Focus and Blur // Shutterstock

#28. Iraq

California
– Number of residents: 41,445
– 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


Michal Knitl // Shutterstock

#27. Afghanistan

California
– Number of residents: 44,876
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 111,234
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #57 most common country of origin


Catarina Belova // Shutterstock

#26. Brazil

California
– Number of residents: 48,766
– 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


Nathapon Triratanachat // Shutterstock

#25. Laos

California
– Number of residents: 49,716
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 179,004
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #44 most common country of origin


Alexander Canas Arango // Shutterstock

#24. Colombia

California
– Number of residents: 49,841
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 792,579
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
– #12 most common country of origin


Saqib Rizvi // Shutterstock

#23. Pakistan

California
– Number of residents: 50,967
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 385,873
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #24 most common country of origin


aleksander hunta // Shutterstock

#22. Cambodia

California
– Number of residents: 52,895
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 149,486
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #47 most common country of origin


Ruslan Lytvyn // Shutterstock

#21. Ukraine

California
– Number of residents: 57,234
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 358,823
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #27 most common country of origin


Elena Simona Craciun // Shutterstock

#20. Nicaragua

California
– Number of residents: 59,354
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 244,405
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
– #35 most common country of origin


Marek Poplawski // Shutterstock

#19. Honduras

California
– Number of residents: 61,318
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 649,209
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
– #15 most common country of origin


Jack Bkk // Shutterstock

#18. Thailand

California
– Number of residents: 66,879
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 256,436
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
– #34 most common country of origin


Viacheslav Lopatin // Shutterstock

#17. Russia

California
– Number of residents: 68,782
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 397,214
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #21 most common country of origin


Christian Vinces // Shutterstock

#16. Peru

California
– Number of residents: 72,772
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 451,666
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
– #18 most common country of origin


Canva

#15. Germany

California
– Number of residents: 75,435
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 549,073
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
– #16 most common country of origin


Sebastian Castelier // Shutterstock

#14. Armenia

California
– Number of residents: 76,453
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 92,893
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #67 most common country of origin


Canva

#13. Hong Kong

California
– Number of residents: 103,123
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
– Number of residents: 232,202
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
– #38 most common country of origin


Canva

#12. Japan

California
– Number of residents: 104,624
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
– Number of residents: 346,149
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #28 most common country of origin


Canva

#11. Canada

California
– Number of residents: 128,977
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
– Number of residents: 817,885
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
– #11 most common country of origin


Canva

#10. Taiwan

California
– Number of residents: 179,758
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
– Number of residents: 378,942
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #25 most common country of origin


Andrew V Marcus // Shutterstock

#9. Iran

California
– Number of residents: 207,975
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.0%
National
– Number of residents: 389,383
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #23 most common country of origin


Kobby Dagan // Shutterstock

#8. Guatemala

California
– Number of residents: 277,326
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.7%
National
– Number of residents: 964,528
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
– #10 most common country of origin


Kampon // Shutterstock

#7. South Korea

California
– Number of residents: 317,873
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
National
– Number of residents: 1,048,588
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
– #9 most common country of origin


Kellys Portillo/APHOTOGRAFIA //Getty Images

#6. El Salvador

California
– Number of residents: 435,265
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.2%
National
– Number of residents: 1,370,579
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
– #5 most common country of origin


Kriangkrai Thitimakorn // Shutterstock

#5. India

California
– Number of residents: 513,459
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
National
– Number of residents: 2,618,558
– Percent of foreign born residents: 5.9%
– #2 most common country of origin


Canva

#4. Vietnam

California
– Number of residents: 523,580
– Percent of foreign born residents: 5.0%
National
– Number of residents: 1,354,391
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
– #6 most common country of origin


Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#3. China

California
– Number of residents: 677,052
– Percent of foreign born residents: 6.5%
National
– Number of residents: 2,184,189
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
– #3 most common country of origin


Joseph Oropel // Shutterstock

#2. Philippines

California
– Number of residents: 830,929
– Percent of foreign born residents: 7.9%
National
– Number of residents: 1,967,140
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
– #4 most common country of origin


Aleksandar Todorovic // Shutterstock

#1. Mexico

California
– Number of residents: 3,962,910
– Percent of foreign born residents: 37.9%
National
– Number of residents: 10,924,662
– Percent of foreign born residents: 24.8%
– #1 most common country of origin

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