Washington, D.C. (October 27, 2022) - The total foreign-born or immigrant population (legal and illegal) in the U.S. hit 47.9 million in September of 2022 — a record high in American history — up 2.9 million since January of 2021. The figures come from an analysis of the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey by the Center for Immigration Studies. More than half the growth is estimated to come from illegal immigration.

One in seven U.S. residents is now foreign born, and in less than a year, if present trends continue, the immigrant share will surpass the all-time high reached more than a century ago. These new numbers have important implications for everything from our schools and physical infrastructure, to our hospitals and civic culture. 

“The new data paints an extraordinary picture in terms of the size and rapid increase in the foreign born,” said Steven Camarota the Center’s Director of Research and coauthor of the new report.  He added, “In a very real sense, America is headed into uncharted territory when it comes to immigration, driven to a significant extent by illegal immigration.”

Among the Findings:

• The 47.9 million foreign-born residents (legal and illegal) in September 2022 is the largest number ever recorded in any U.S. government survey or census; and 2.9 million larger than in January 2021 when President Biden took office.
• Immigrants from Latin American countries other than Mexico account for 60 percent of the increase in the foreign-born population since January 2021.
• We preliminarily estimate that illegal immigrants (from all countries) accounted for 61 percent, or about 1.8 million, of the growth in the foreign-born population since January 2021.
• As a share of the total population, the foreign-born now account for 14.6 percent of the population, or one in seven U.S. residents — the highest percentage in 112 years. As recently as 1990 they were one in 13 U.S. residents.
• If present trends continue, the foreign-born share of the population will reach 14.9 percent of the U.S. population in August next year, surpassing the all-time highs reached in 1910 (14.7 percent) and 1890 (14.8 percent).
• In addition to the immigrants themselves, there are also 17.2 million U.S.-born children (under age 18) with an immigrant parent — immigrants and their children now account for one in five U.S. residents (65 million).
• Initially, the dramatic increase in the foreign-born population in recent months could be seen as a return to the long-term growth trend over the last decade that was disrupted by Covid-19. Now, the 47.9 million immigrants in September exceeds the trend line by 1.1 million.
• At 143,000, the average monthly growth in the foreign-born population since President Biden took office is also significantly higher than the 76,000 per month in Obama’s second term, and the 42,000 per month under Trump before Covid-19 hit.
• Of the 47.9 million immigrants in the country in September, 29.4 million were employed — two million more than in September 2019 before Covid-19.
• While a large share of the recent increase in the total foreign-born population is due to illegal immigration, those in the country legally still account for three-fourths of all foreign-born residents.