More than half of the US population of foreign origin lives in 4 states

More than half of the foreign-born population of the United States lives in just four states—California, Texas, Florida and New York—and their numbers have increased in age and educational level in the last 12 years, according to a new report released Tuesday by the US Census Bureau.

In 2022, the foreign-born population was estimated at 46.2 million people, or nearly 14% of the U.S. population, and most states have seen double-digit percentage increases in last 12 years, according to figures from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

In California, New Jersey, New York, and Florida, foreign-born individuals represented more than 20% of each state's population. Instead, they made up 1.8% of West Virginia's population, the smallest proportion in the United States.

Half of the foreign-born residents of the United States were from Latin America, although their composition has changed in the last dozen years: Those from Mexico have decreased by nearly 1 million people and those from Central and South America have decreased. increased by 2.1 million people.

The number of inhabitants from Asia rose from more than a quarter to less than a third during that period, while the proportion of those born in Africa rose from 4% to 6%.

The report was released as migration has become one of the major issues in the 2024 presidential race, and as the federal government struggles to cope with an unprecedented influx of migrants at the country's southwest border. Migration is influencing the election in a way that could determine control of Congress, as Democrats try to outflank Republicans and convince voters they can address problems on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Figures show that more than half of foreign-born residents have become naturalized Americans, and that Europeans and Asians lead the naturalization rates, with about two-thirds of their numbers. About two-thirds of the foreign-born population arrived in the United States before 2010.

The foreign-born population has aged over the past dozen years, a reflection of the longevity of some members in the United States, and the average age has increased five years to 46.7 years. They have also increased their level of education from 2010 to 2022, and the rate of foreign-born people who have at least a high school degree has gone from more than two-thirds to three-quarters of the population.

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