How many immigrants are in West Virginia?
About 28.9K in 2021. This represents roughly 1.6% of the population, or about 1 in 60 residents. Immigrants include foreign-born residents, those who have become US citizens, those authorized to work in the US, and undocumented residents.
Showing data for
In 2021
28.9K
West Virginia residents were foreign-born
In 2021
1 in 60
West Virginia residents were foreign-born
The number of foreign-born residents in West Virginia increased from 24.3K in 2011 to 28.9K in 2021. This growth 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 West Virginia was 1.6%, which was lower than the national average of 13.6%, up from 1.3% in 2011.
Foreign-born share of the population in West Virginia
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). The highest and lowest among metro areas in West Virginia were: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at 22.9% (highest) and Beckley, WV at 0.8% (lowest).
On average, 8.2% of the population in metro areas was foreign-born in 2021
Foreign-born share of the population (2021)
| 1. | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metro Area | 22.9% |
| 2. | Winchester, VA-WV Metro Area | 7.1% |
| 3. | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metro Area | 4.6% |
| 4. | Morgantown, WV Metro Area | 4.1% |
| 5. | Cumberland, MD-WV Metro Area | 1.6% |
| 6. | Charleston, WV Metro Area | 1.5% |
| 7. | Wheeling, WV-OH Metro Area | 1.3% |
| 8. | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metro Area | 1.3% |
| 9. | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metro Area | 1.2% |
| 10. | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV Metro Area | 1% |
