US foreign-born population grew 15 percent in 12 years

The U.S. foreign-born population has grown by 15 percent in 12 years, per a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau released Tuesday. 

The foreign-born population in the country was around 40 million in 2010, making up 12.9 percent of the total population. The number jumped to 46.2 million in 12 years, with now making up 13.9 percent of the total population. 

People who are part of the foreign-born population are those living in the country who are not U.S. citizens at birth, lawful permanent residents, foreign students, refugees and unauthorized migrants. 

The median age of the foreign-born population went up more than the native population from 2010 to 2022.  

The foreign-born population went up by five years, going from a median age of 41.4 to 46.7 years old, while the native population increased slightly, from 35.9 to 36.9 years old. 

North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Delaware saw their foreign-born populace increase by over 40 percent. 

The percentage of foreign-born individuals went up by close to five points, going from 68.3 percent in 2010 to 75.1 percent in 2022, according to the report. 

Half of the country’s foreign-born populace was from South America. 

New Jersey, California, Florida and New York are four states where immigrants make up more than one-fifth of the state’s population. California led the way with 26.5 percent, New Jersey was second with 23.2 percent, New York had 22.6 percent and Florida was fourth with 21.1 percent. 

Close to 50 percent of all immigrants came into the country before 2000. 

The data was based on one-year estimates and came from The American Community Survey (ACS).