- President James Madison
Immigrant Percent of US Population: Facts & Numbers
It is obvious that immigrants are major contributors to the economic, social and political status of the United States. They compose an increasingly essential proportion of our workforce and overall society and will continue to do so into the twenty-first century.
However, what may not be so obvious are the proportions between US natives and immigrants. Below are numbers reflecting the large increase in US population, from the late 1700’s to the early twenty-first century. Also below, is a graph reflecting the continual immigrant population below that of 10%. Although there was a large increase in immigrants throughout the mid 1800’s to early 1900’s, the population increase was never so much to threaten that of US natives, as many believe.
Year Population Year Population
1790 - 4,000,000 1930 - 123,000,000
1800 - 5,000,000 1940 - 132,000,000
1810 - 7,000,000 1950 - 151,000,000
1820 - 10,000,000 1960 - 179,000,000
1830 - 13,000,000 1970 - 203,000,000
1840 - 17,000,000 1980 - 227,000,000
1850 - 23,000,000 1990 - 248,000,000
1860 - 31,000,000 2000 - 281,000,000
1870 - 39,000,000 2010 - (309,000,000, est)
1880 - 50,000,000
1890 - 63,000,000
1900 - 76,000,000
1910 - 92,000,000
1920 - 106,000,000
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The graph above shows the continual decrease of the entry of immigrants to this country. Contrary to popular belief, for the last 20 or so years, a period in time which many Americans feel immigrants have started to out number them, the rate of entry has greatly decreased. This is due in large part to the heightened border control and stricter immigration laws being enforced.
Click here for a time line of different events in history, acts and laws passed explaining the increases and decreases in immigration rates as mentioned above.
Read more about the impact immigrants have on the U.S. economy.
