Whether pursuing economic opportunities, family reunification, or refuge from hardship, these individuals choose to build new lives across the U.S., settling into its various states.
This visualization shows the migration flows of those who lived in a foreign country one year ago and now reside in a U.S. state or Puerto Rico in 2023, with the top 20 states’ with the most total new residents from foreign countries highlighted at the bottom.
State-by-state migration flow data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau and is updated as of August 2024.
| State | Total number of new residents who lived in a foreign country one year ago |
|---|---|
| California | 313,560 |
| Florida | 289,829 |
| Texas | 264,501 |
| New York | 163,636 |
| Illinois | 96,508 |
| New Jersey | 92,955 |
| Pennsylvania | 70,342 |
| Massachusetts | 67,287 |
| Washington | 67,190 |
| North Carolina | 63,852 |
In 2023, 2.4 million people who lived in a different country in the previous year moved to the United States.
Larger states typically see higher migration inflows, such as California, Florida, Texas, and New York. These top four states are home to some of the largest cities and metropolitan areas in the U.S, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami.
These major cities often act as hubs for migrants due to job opportunities and established immigrant communities.
New York City in particular has long been known as the “gateway” to America.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ellis Island, situated in New York Harbor, served as the primary entry point for millions of immigrants arriving by ship.
Today, the city continues to be the premier destination for immigration. The New York City metropolitan area was home to the most immigrants (around 5.9 million) as of the 2018-2022 period.
Methodology
The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey collects data on whether respondents aged one year and older lived in the same residence one year ago. For individuals who lived in a different residence, the location of their previous residence is collected, including foreign countries, Puerto Rico, and U.S. island territories.
The figures in this visualization includes immigrants (those moving to a country with the intention of permanently settling there) and migrants (general term for someone who moves away from their place of usual residence). The survey does not capture the intention of the people who moved.
For example, a California resident who lived in France in 2022, and moved back to California in 2023 would be captured in this visualization.
Credit: Visual Capitalist
