Population

How many immigrants get green cards every year?

Updates published monthly
About 1.17 million during fiscal year (FY) 2023, 15.2% more than the previous year. That’s the number of people who became lawful permanent residents (LPR) of the U.S., commonly known as green card holders. Green cards grant immigrants the right to live and work permanently in the US with a path toward citizenship. The total includes individuals who obtained green cards through family sponsorship, employment, refugee or asylum status, and other avenues.
During the first three quarters of FY 2024, 980,100 green cards have been issued.

1.17M

green cards issued (FY 2023)

15.2%

increase over previous fiscal year (FY 2022 to FY 2023)
Historically, shifts in the number of people receiving green cards have often followed changes in immigration policy or significant world events. The number of green cards peaked at 1.8 million in FY 1991, or 35.8% more than those issued in FY 2023, after the Immigration Reform and Control Act provided a pathway to legal status for unauthorized immigrants already in the country. In FY 2020, the number of new LPRs hit a 17-year low of 707,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

35.8% fewer green cards were issued in FY 2023 compared with the all-time high in FY 1991.

Lawful Permanent Resident status granted, FY 1820 to FY 2023

Green cards are administered by US Citizenship and Immigration which gauges eligibility based on specific categories, each with its own criteria and application procedures. The categories are:
  • Family-sponsored (accounted for 64.6% of green cards issued in FY 2023): Available to immediate relatives of U.S. citizens — spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents — as well as extended family members.
  • Employment-based (16.7%): For individuals with job offers in the US, those possessing extraordinary abilities, advanced degrees, or investors meeting specific capital requirements.
  • Refugees and asylees (8.5%): Individuals granted refugee or asylum status due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution in their home countries.
  • Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (5.7%): An annual lottery providing 55,000 visas to individuals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S.
  • Other categories (4.6%): Includes special immigrants like religious workers, certain international organization employees, and individuals who have resided continuously in the U.S. since before January 1, 1972.

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Since FY 2014, 11.1M green cards were issued. 64.5% were family-sponsored.

Proportion of Lawful Permanent Resident status granted by category, FY 2014 to FY 2024 (Q1-Q3)

In FY 2023, new green card holders came from at least 199 different countries, territories, or dependencies of birth. There were 180,500 green cards issued to those born in Mexico, which accounted for the largest share at 15.4%. Four other countries of origin each contributed at least 5% to the total: Cuba, India, Dominican Republic, and China.

In FY 2023, 180,500 people born in Mexico were granted green cards.

Lawful Permanent Resident status granted by country of birth (FY 2023)

Green cards are issued to immigrants who are new arrivals to the US as well as those who receive an adjustment of status while they were already in the country. Adjustment of status may occur if the immigrant was already in the US on a temporary visa or has been granted asylum or refugee status.
In FY 2021, new arrivals accounted for 30.7% of new green cards, its lowest level since FY 2014. New arrivals last accounted for the majority of new green cards in FY 2017. Through the first three quarters of FY 2024, new arrivals accounted for 41.9% of green cards.

In FY 2023, immigrants already in the US accounted for more new green cards than new arrivals.

Lawful Permanent Resident status granted by status, FY 2014 to FY 2024 (Q1–Q3)

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

  • Office of Homeland Security Statistics

    Legal Immigration and Adjustment of Status Report and Immigration Yearbook