Nearly 14% of the United States population is composed of immigrants. 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 era of immigration 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 laws changed to be more equitable and immigrants found their footings, we have reaped the rewards of innovation in business, music, art, literature, dance, food, societal norms, entertainment, and sports—all while realizing a greater understanding of and respect for different cultures, religions, and ideas.
Stacker compiled a list of the countries most immigrants to Columbus come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Columbus as of 2019’s five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
Creativa Images // Shutterstock
#50. Indonesia
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 572
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 96,229
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #62 most common country of origin
Unsplash
#49. Lebanon
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 574
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 121,697
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #52 most common country of origin
Bernard Gagnon // Wikimedia Commons
#48. Syria
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 580
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 95,802
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #63 most common country of origin
Diego Delso // Wikimedia Commons
#47. Hong Kong
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 621
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 231,275
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
– #36 most common country of origin
Pixabay
#46. Turkey
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 627
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 119,380
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #54 most common country of origin
ExplorerBob // Pixabay
#45. North Macedonia (Macedonia)
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 632
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 26,292
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #111 most common country of origin
agchinook // Shutterstock
#44. Venezuela
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 639
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 349,720
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #27 most common country of origin
Denys Yelmanov // Shutterstock
#43. Bangladesh
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 760
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 237,288
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
– #35 most common country of origin
Ninara // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Iran
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 848
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 382,260
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #23 most common country of origin
Alexander Canas Arango // Shutterstock
#41. Colombia
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 902
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 761,374
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
– #12 most common country of origin
Kendra Helmer // Wikimedia Commons
#40. Haiti
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 910
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 672,655
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
– #15 most common country of origin
Lena Ha // Shutterstock
#39. Senegal
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 963
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 26,122
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #112 most common country of origin
byvalet // Shutterstock
#38. Jamaica
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 974
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 741,386
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
– #13 most common country of origin
Pixabay
#37. Italy
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 991
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 332,857
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #30 most common country of origin
Jack Bkk // Shutterstock
#36. Thailand
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,024
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 255,345
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
– #32 most common country of origin
Prin Adulyatham // Shutterstock
#35. Egypt
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,048
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 191,452
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #40 most common country of origin
Catarina Belova // Shutterstock
#34. Brazil
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,076
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 433,479
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
– #20 most common country of origin
Dave Primov // Shutterstock
#33. Eritrea
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,225
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 45,119
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #90 most common country of origin
Pascal Müller // Unsplash
#32. Laos
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,227
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 181,546
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #42 most common country of origin
Kobby Dagan // Shutterstock
#31. Guatemala
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,308
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
– Number of residents: 979,098
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
– #10 most common country of origin
Unsplash
#30. Ukraine
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,359
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
– Number of residents: 345,250
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #28 most common country of origin
Dorymam // Cameroon
#29. Cameroon
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,384
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
– Number of residents: 60,120
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #80 most common country of origin
Marek Poplawski // Shutterstock
#28. Honduras
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,392
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
– Number of residents: 651,123
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
– #16 most common country of origin
PIxabay
#27. Taiwan
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,425
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
– Number of residents: 381,098
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #24 most common country of origin
Sergei25 // Shutterstock
#26. Jordan
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,441
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
– Number of residents: 81,155
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #71 most common country of origin
Saqib Rizvi // Shutterstock
#25. Pakistan
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,469
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
– Number of residents: 376,127
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #25 most common country of origin
Vannrith Va // Unsplash
#24. Cambodia
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,492
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
– Number of residents: 151,066
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #46 most common country of origin
USACE HQ , JIM GORDAN, CIV, USACE // Wikicommons
#23. Iraq
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,531
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
– Number of residents: 225,038
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
– #38 most common country of origin
blk24ga // Wikicommons
#22. Liberia
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,532
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
– Number of residents: 87,991
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #67 most common country of origin
robertonencini // Shutterstock
#21. Sierra Leone
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,573
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
– Number of residents: 40,991
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #94 most common country of origin
Adam Jones, Ph.D. // Wikicommons
#20. Morocco
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,613
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
– Number of residents: 78,439
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #73 most common country of origin
OpenUpEd // Flickr
#19. Nigeria
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,970
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
– Number of residents: 350,272
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #26 most common country of origin
Viacheslav Lopatin // Shutterstock
#18. Russia
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,023
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
– Number of residents: 391,641
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #22 most common country of origin
Max Pixel
#17. Germany
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,155
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
– Number of residents: 560,368
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
– #17 most common country of origin
Pixabay
#16. Dominican Republic
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,475
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
– Number of residents: 1,118,147
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
– #8 most common country of origin
Photos By Beks // Unsplash
#15. Kenya
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,590
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
– Number of residents: 141,751
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #48 most common country of origin
Unsplash
#14. Japan
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,697
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
– Number of residents: 345,140
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #29 most common country of origin
Unsplash
#13. Canada
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,781
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
– Number of residents: 808,566
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
– #11 most common country of origin
Vixit // Shutterstock
#12. Nepal
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,802
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
– Number of residents: 140,904
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #49 most common country of origin
User:Colin // Wikimedia Commons
#11. United Kingdom
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,838
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
– Number of residents: 698,612
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
– #14 most common country of origin
Joseph Oropel // Shutterstock
#10. Philippines
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 3,130
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
National
– Number of residents: 1,983,939
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
– #4 most common country of origin
JMRAFFi // Wikimedia Commons
#9. El Salvador
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 3,147
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
National
– Number of residents: 1,381,008
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
– #5 most common country of origin
Quangpraha // Pixabay
#8. Vietnam
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 3,401
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.0%
National
– Number of residents: 1,336,988
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
– #6 most common country of origin
Kys951 // Wikimedia Commons
#7. South Korea
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 4,004
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.3%
National
– Number of residents: 1,044,634
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
– #9 most common country of origin
neiljs // Flickr
#6. Ethiopia
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 5,171
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
National
– Number of residents: 249,777
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
– #34 most common country of origin
Rjruiziii // Wikicommons
#5. Ghana
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 6,900
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.0%
National
– Number of residents: 178,388
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #43 most common country of origin
MDOGAN // Shutterstock
#4. Somalia
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 10,031
– Percent of foreign born residents: 5.9%
National
– Number of residents: 98,966
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #60 most common country of origin
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#3. China
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 10,823
– Percent of foreign born residents: 6.3%
National
– Number of residents: 2,162,395
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
– #3 most common country of origin
Jakub Hejtmánek // Wikicommons
#2. Mexico
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 14,702
– Percent of foreign born residents: 8.6%
National
– Number of residents: 11,250,541
– Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
– #1 most common country of origin
Kriangkrai Thitimakorn // Shutterstock
#1. India
Columbus, OH Metro Area
– Number of residents: 23,765
– Percent of foreign born residents: 13.9%
National
– Number of residents: 2,561,906
– Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
– #2 most common country of origin
