Population

How many immigrants are in California?

About 10.5M in 2021. This represents approximately 26.5% of the population, or about 4 in 15 residents. Immigrants include foreign-born residents, those who have become US citizens, those authorized to enter the US, and undocumented residents.
Showing data for
In 2021

10.5M

California residents were foreign-born
In 2021

4 in 15

California residents were foreign-born
The number of foreign-born residents in California increased from 10M in 2011 to 10.5M in 2021. This rise occurred alongside changes in the native-born population due to births, deaths, and migration. Analyzing the foreign-born share of the total population provides a clearer understanding of these demographics. In 2021, the foreign-born population in California was 26.5%, higher than the overall US rate of 13.6%, and lower than the 27.2% recorded in the state in 2011.

Foreign-born share of the population in California

Variations in immigrant populations reflect changes in both local and national population landscapes. The largest immigrant populations are found in major metro areas. Metro areas in California, Texas, Florida, and parts of the Northeast generally have a higher share of foreign-born residents.

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In 2021, the metro areas in the US with the highest and lowest shares of foreign-born populations were Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL at 41.2% (highest) and Beckley, WV at 0.8% (lowest). In California, the highest and lowest were San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at 39.3% and Redding at 5.6%, respectively.

On average, 8.2% of the population in metro areas was foreign-born in 2021

Foreign-born share of the population (2021)

Foreign-born share of the population (2021)

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