Biggest sources of immigrants to Washington, D.C.

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August 27, 2025
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Biggest sources of immigrants to Washington, D.C.

Over 15% of the . But in reality, the vast majority of Americans today are here because of relatives who immigrated from other countries some time in the last several hundred years.

And while the distinctive American culture and spirit is the result of blending many diverse cultures and histories, the United States has for centuries had an up-and-down relationship with immigration.

Each has been met with reductive ideas and resistance, whether the backlash was directed toward the Chinese, Irish, Italians, or Mexicans. Immigration laws have targeted specific groups at various times, stoking intolerance and preventing people from truly joining American society. Over time, however, as and immigrants found their footings, we have reaped the rewards of innovation in business, music, art, literature, dance, food, societal norms, entertainment, and sports鈥攁ll while realizing a greater understanding of and respect for different cultures, religions, and ideas.

compiled a list of the countries most immigrants to Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metro Area come from, using data from the . Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metro Area as of 2023's five-year estimates.

Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.

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#50. Lebanon

- Number of residents: 5,565
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.37%

#49. Liberia

- Number of residents: 5,580
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.37%

#48. Italy

- Number of residents: 5,687
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.38%

#47. Chile

- Number of residents: 5,840
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.39%

#46. Eritrea

- Number of residents: 6,216
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.41%

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#45. Kenya

- Number of residents: 6,296
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.42%

#44. Ukraine

- Number of residents: 6,460
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.43%

#43. Iraq

- Number of residents: 6,922
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.46%

#42. Guyana

- Number of residents: 7,258
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.48%

#41. Thailand

- Number of residents: 7,401
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.49%

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#40. Haiti

- Number of residents: 7,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.51%

#39. France

- Number of residents: 7,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.53%

#38. Turkey

- Number of residents: 8,310
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.55%

#37. Argentina

- Number of residents: 8,684
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.58%

#36. Ecuador

- Number of residents: 9,163
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.61%

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#35. Morocco

- Number of residents: 9,186
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.61%

#34. Trinidad and Tobago

- Number of residents: 9,413
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.63%

#33. Egypt

- Number of residents: 9,445
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.63%

#32. Japan

- Number of residents: 9,447
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.63%

#31. Venezuela

- Number of residents: 9,680
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.64%

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#30. Nicaragua

- Number of residents: 11,266
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.75%

#29. Taiwan

- Number of residents: 11,282
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.75%

#28. Canada

- Number of residents: 11,656
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.78%

#27. Russia

- Number of residents: 11,990
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%

#26. Nepal

- Number of residents: 12,767
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.85%

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#25. Brazil

- Number of residents: 13,744
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.92%

#24. Sierra Leone

- Number of residents: 14,125
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.94%

#23. Germany

- Number of residents: 14,228
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.95%

#22. Dominican Republic

- Number of residents: 14,339
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.95%

#21. Bangladesh

- Number of residents: 14,648
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.98%

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#20. United Kingdom (inc. Crown Dependencies)

- Number of residents: 18,985
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.26%

#19. Afghanistan

- Number of residents: 21,044
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%

#18. Colombia

- Number of residents: 21,955
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.46%

#17. Iran

- Number of residents: 22,863
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.52%

#16. Cameroon

- Number of residents: 23,845
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.59%

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#15. Jamaica

- Number of residents: 25,074
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.67%

#14. Ghana

- Number of residents: 26,346
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.75%

#13. Nigeria

- Number of residents: 29,096
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.94%

#12. Pakistan

- Number of residents: 31,149
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.07%

#11. Bolivia

- Number of residents: 32,097
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.14%

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#10. Peru

- Number of residents: 42,009
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.8%

#9. Honduras

- Number of residents: 44,184
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.94%

#8. Philippines

- Number of residents: 44,466
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.96%

#7. Vietnam

- Number of residents: 47,723
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.18%

#6. Mexico

- Number of residents: 54,007
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.6%

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#5. Ethiopia

- Number of residents: 59,107
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.94%

#4. Guatemala

- Number of residents: 62,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.17%

#3. China

- Number of residents: 75,079
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.0%

#2. India

- Number of residents: 109,200
- Percent of foreign born residents: 7.27%

#1. El Salvador

- Number of residents: 200,074
- Percent of foreign born residents: 13.32%

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