Columbus’ Foreign-Born Population Origins




foreign-born population origins

Columbus’s foreign-born population origins are much more varied, and the overall population larger, than what one might expect. As of 2017, they made up 12% of the city’s population, the highest in more than 100 years. I’ve looked at such numbers before, but I wanted to update for the most recent available numbers.

Top 25 Origin Nations for the Existing Foreign-Born Population
2010—————————————2017
1. Mexico: 13620———————1. Mexico: 12214
2. India: 7790————————–2. India: 10095
3. Somalia: 6799———————3. Somalia: 8143
4. China: 3881————————-4. China: 6475
5. Ghana: 2381————————5. Ghana: 5229
6. Korea: 2246————————-6. Ethiopia: 2428
7. El Salvador: 1542—————–7. Kenya: 2131
8. Japan: 1518————————8. El Salvador: 2057
9. Vietnam: 1496———————-9. Vietnam: 1992
10. Ethiopia: 1457——————-10. Nepal: 1914
11. Kenya: 1391———————-11. Korea: 1564
12. Sierra Leone: 1222————-12. Iraq: 1407
13. Haiti: 1091————————13. Sierra Leone: 1399
14. Canada: 1086——————–14. Dominican Republic: 1292
15. Philippines: 1054—————-15. Japan: 1292
16. Germany: 1017——————-16. Cambodia: 1165
17. United Kingdom: 970———–17. Russia: 1142
18. Cambodia: 962——————-18. Philippines: 1135
19. Taiwan: 940———————–19. Morocco: 1134
20. Liberia: 852———————–20. Nigeria: 1029
21. Guatemala: 832——————21. Cameroon: 1018
22. Dominican Republic: 804——22. Taiwan: 982
23. Russia: 800———————–23. United Kingdom: 951
24. Ukraine: 716———————-24. Ukraine: 868
25. Nigeria: 701———————–25. Pakistan: 861

Since 2010, there has been somewhat of a shift away from Europe and Latin America, and more and more into Asia and Africa.

Here were the 10 biggest gainers and losers 2010-2017
Gainers————————————-Losers
1. Ghana: 2848———————-1. Mexico: -1406
2. China: 2594———————–2. Korea: -682
3. India: 2105————————3. Haiti: -647
4. Nepal: 1766———————–4. Germany: -280
5. Somalia: 1344——————–5. Liberia: -268
6. Iraq: 1108————————–6. Belarus: -228
7. Ethiopia: 971———————-7. Canada: -247
8. Morocco: 873———————8. Japan: -226
9. Cameroon: 819——————9. Bosnia/Herzegovina: -215
10. Kenya: 740———————-10. Guatemala: -210

Keep in mind that these are just estimates and can therefore have wide margins of error.

Both the Demographics and Population pages and the US Census offer additional data to explore.



Foreign-Born Population Comparison




Given that the 2017 demographic information was released yesterday by the US Census, it’s time to revisit this Columbus foreign-born population comparison and update it with the new data.

First up, let’s take a look at total foreign-born populations. I have looked at this topic some in the past, but I have never done a full-scale comparison for this topic.

Total Foreign-Born Population Rank by City 2000, 2010 and 2017
2000—————————————-2010———————————-2017

1. Chicago, IL: 628,903———–1. Chicago: 557,674—————1. Chicago: 563,688
2. San Jose, CA: 329,750——–2. San Jose: 366,194————-2. San Jose: 417,148
3. San Antonio, TX: 133,675—-3. San Antonio: 192,741———-3. San Antonio: 212,109
4. Austin, TX: 109,006————4. Austin: 148,431——————4. Austin: 177,844
5. Las Vegas, NV: 90,656——-5. Las Vegas: 130,503————-5. Charlotte: 147,074
6. Sacramento, CA: 82,616—–6. Chalotte: 106,047—————6. Las Vegas: 139,790
7. Portland, OR: 68,976———7. Sacramento: 96,105————-7. Sacramento: 111,904
8. Charlotte, NC: 59,849——–8. Columbus: 86,663—————-8. Columbus: 105,826
9. Minneapolis, MN: 55,475—–9. Portland: 83,026—————–9. Indianapolis: 89,465
10. Columbus: 47,713———–10. Indianapolis: 74,407———–10. Portland: 89,050
11. Milwaukee, WI: 46,122—–11. Nashville: 73,327—————11. Nashville: 86,271
12. Detroit, MI: 45,541———–12. Minneapolis: 57,846———–12. Minneapolis: 69,567
13. Providence, RI: 43,947—–13. Milwaukee: 57,222————-13. Orlando: 68,811
14. St. Paul, MN: 41,138——-14. Providence: 52,920————14. St. Paul: 64,056
15. Nashville, TN: 38,936——-15. St. Paul: 50,366—————-15. Milwaukee: 59,443
16. Indianapolis, IN: 36,067—-16. Orlando: 43,747—————-16. Providence: 54,520
17. Virginia Beach, VA: 28,276–17. Virginia Beach: 40,756—–17. Omaha: 51,041
18. Wichita, KS: 27,938———18. Omaha: 39,288—————18. Virginia Beach: 42,319
19. Orlando, FL: 26,741——–19. Wichita: 39,128—————–19. Detroit: 41,374
20. Omaha, NE: 25,687———-20. Kansas City: 35,532———20. Wichita: 40,427
21. Kansas City, MO: 25,632—21. Detroit: 34,307—————-21. Kansas City: 37,833
22. Cleveland: 21,372————22. Madison: 24,929————–22. Madison: 32,066
23. Grand Rapids, MI: 20,814—23. St. Louis: 23,011————23. Des Moines: 29,876
24. St Louis, MO: 19,542——–24. Lincoln: 22,214—————24. Pittsburgh:26,504
25. Pittsburgh, PA: 18,874——-25. Des Moines: 20,798——–25. Grand Rapids: 26,014
26. Madison, WI: 18,792———26. Pittsburgh: 18,698———–26. Lincoln: 25,689
27. Des Moines, IA: 15,713—–27. Cleveland: 17,739————27. St. Louis: 23,659
28. Lincoln, NE: 13,246———-28. Grand Rapids: 16,615——-28. Fort Wayne: 22,186
29. Cincinnati: 12,461————29. Cincinnati: 16,531————29. Cleveland: 21,992
30. Fort Wayne, IN: 10,187—–30. Fort Wayne: 15,286———30. Cincinnati: 19,085
31. Toledo: 9,475——————31. Toledo: 11,159—————31. Akron: 13,423
32. Akron: 6,911——————-32. Akron: 8,524——————-32. Toledo: 11,260
33. Dayton: 3,245—————–33. Dayton: 5,102——————33. Dayton: 6,743
34. Youngstown: 1,605———-34. Youngstown: 3,695———–34. Youngstown: 1,401

Here’s the 2000-2017 total change.
Columbus foreign-born population comparison
And the 2000-2017 change by %.

So Columbus has had above average total and % growth compared to its peers nationally since 2000. What about more recently?

Total change 2010-2017.

And the 2010-2017 change by %.

So now that we know how many foreign-born immigrants are arriving, let’s take a look at where they are coming from.

Total Foreign-Born Residents From Europe in 2000 and 2017
2000———————————————–2017

1. Chicago: 145,462———————1. Chicago: 96,656
2. San Jose: 21,904———————2. San Jose: 25,147
3. Portland: 17,572———————-3. Portland: 16,548
4. Las Vegas: 9,070———————4. Austin: 13,337
5. Cleveland: 8,796———————-5. Charlotte: 9,775
6. St. Louis: 8,543———————–6. Las Vegas: 8,536
7. San Antonio: 8,323——————7. San Antonio: 7,852
8. Sacramento: 8,204——————8. Virginia Beach: 7,368
9. Milwaukee: 7,841——————–9. Columbus: 6,860
10. Charlotte: 7,487——————–10. Indianapolis: 6,344
11. Austin: 7,474————————11. Sacramento: 6,008
12. Pittsburgh: 7,413——————-12. Nashville: 5,778
13. Columbus: 7,017——————-13. Orlando: 5,516
14. Indianapolis: 6,543—————-14. Minneapolis: 5,477
15. Virginia Beach: 6,333————-15. Milwaukee: 4,388
16. Detroit: 5,600————————16. Pittsburgh: 4,265
17. Minneapolis: 5,409—————–17. Providence: 4,022
18. Providence: 5,126——————18. Lincoln: 3,908
19. Nashville: 4,859——————–19. St. Louis: 3,680
20. Cincinnati: 3,851——————-20. Cincinnati: 3,556
21. Grand Rapids: 3,396————–21. Omaha: 3,483
22. Omaha: 3,320———————–22. Cleveland: 3,399
23. St. Paul: 3,255———————-23. Kansas City: 3,362
24. Des Moines: 3,216—————-24. Madison: 2,867
25. Kansas City: 2,985—————-25. St. Paul: 2,394
26. Madison: 2,871——————–26. Detroit: 2,393
27. Lincoln: 2,701———————-27. Fort Wayne: 2,388
28. Akron: 2,687———————–28. Des Moines: 2,156
29. Orlando: 2,509——————–29. Wichita: 1,660
30. Fort Wayne: 2,076—————30. Grand Rapids: 1,517
31. Toledo: 2,020———————31. Akron: 1,286
32. Wichita: 2,004———————32. Toledo: 1,242
33. Dayton: 901———————–33. Dayton: 877
34. Youngstown: 870—————-34. Youngstown: 173

Columbus had a high number of Europeans versus most peers, but almost all cities saw drops in this demographic between 2000 and 2017, some quite drastic. Columbus’ drop was relatively minor.

Total Foreign-born Population from Asia 2000 and 2017
2000————————————————–2017

1. San Jose: 182,712—————————1. San Jose: 262,208
2. Chicago: 112,932—————————-2. Chicago: 140,434
3. Sacramento: 40,253————————-3. Austin: 57,584
4. Portland: 26,271——————————4. Sacramento: 53,731
5. Austin: 25,036——————————–5. Charlotte: 46,698
6. St. Paul: 23,245——————————6. Columbus: 43,706
7. Columbus: 22,354—————————7. San Antonio: 40,642
8. Minneapolis: 17,376————————8. Portland: 38,224
9. Las Vegas: 17,062————————–9. Las Vegas: 35,087
10. San Antonio: 15,840———————-10. St. Paul: 34,678
11. Charlotte: 15,734————————–11. Nashville: 26,155
12. Virginia Beach: 15,176——————-12. Indianapolis: 23,934
13. Detroit: 15,114——————————13. Virginia Beach: 23,625
14. Nashville: 12,573—————————14. Madison: 18,795
15. Milwaukee: 12,114————————-15. Detroit: 18,681
16. Wichita: 10,826—————————–16. Milwaukee: 17,838
17. Madison: 9,736—————————–17. Minneapolis: 15,967
18. Indianapolis: 9,190————————-18. Pittsburgh: 15,873
19. Pittsburgh: 7,938—————————-19. Wichita: 15,466
20. Providence: 7,871————————–20. Omaha: 14,504
21. Kansas City: 7,312————————-21. Lincoln: 13,804
22. Lincoln: 6,691——————————-22. Kansas City: 12,043
23. St. Louis: 6,425—————————–23. Fort Wayne: 10,972
24. Omaha: 6,302——————————-24. Des Moines: 10,691
25. Cleveland: 6,213—————————25. St. Louis: 9,632
26. Des Moines: 5,239————————26. Orlando: 8,122
27. Orlando: 4,530—————————–27. Akron: 7,862
28. Cincinnati: 4,326————————–28. Cleveland: 7,450
29. Toledo: 3,847——————————29. Providence: 6,668
30. Grand Rapids: 3,206———————30. Grand Rapids: 6,585
31. Akron: 3,099——————————-31. Toledo: 6,196
32. Fort Wayne: 2,792————————32. Cincinnati: 6,002
33. Dayton: 903———————————33. Dayton: 1,614
34. Youngstown: 338————————–34. Youngstown: 448

Columbus ranks even higher with its foreign-born Asian population.

Total Foreign-born Population from Africa 2000 and 2017
2000—————————————————2017

1. Minneapolis: 12,765——————–1. Columbus: 33,607
2. Chicago: 12,613————————-2. Chicago: 26,995
3. Columbus: 9,530————————3. Minneapolis: 25,286
4. San Jose: 5,189————————-4. Nashville: 18,387
5. Charlotte: 4,722————————–5. Charlotte: 18,234
6. St. Paul: 4,697—————————-6. Indianapolis: 17,452
7. Nashville: 4,183————————–7. St. Paul: 15,926
8. Detroit: 3,249—————————–8. Omaha: 7,496
9. Providence: 3,138———————–9. San Jose: 7,400
10. Indianapolis: 2,650——————–10. Portland: 7,059
11. Portland: 2,430————————-11. Austin: 6,469
12. Austin: 2,263—————————-12. Des Moines: 6,124
13. Kansas City: 2,192——————–13. San Antonio: 5,718
14. Cincinnati: 1,781———————–14. Kansas City: 5,051
15. St. Louis: 1,500————————-15. St. Louis: 4,977
16. Omaha: 1,497—————————16. Providence: 4,697
17. San Antonio: 1,358——————–17. Milwaukee: 4,423
18. Milwaukee: 1,332———————-18. Cincinnati: 4,207
19. Cleveland: 1,075———————–19. Grand Rapids: 3,754
20. Sacramento: 1,051——————–20. Sacramento: 2,955
21. Des Moines: 1,038——————–21. Pittsburgh: 2,731
22. Madison: 991—————————22. Cleveland: 2,728
23. Orlando: 983—————————23. Orlando: 2,552
24. Wichita: 946—————————-24. Akron: 2,311
25. Las Vegas: 916———————–25. Madison: 2,180
26. Pittsburgh: 905————————26. Wichita: 2,142
27. Virginia Beach: 840——————27. Las Vegas: 1,846
28. Grand Rapids: 718——————-28. Lincoln: 1,680
29. Toledo: 638—————————-29. Dayton: 1,397
30. Lincoln: 637—————————30. Detroit: 1,082
31. Dayton: 522—————————-31. Virginia Beach: 847
32. Fort Wayne: 384———————-32. Fort Wayne: 628
33. Akron: 197—————————–33. Toledo: 615
34. Youngstown: 50———————-34. Youngstown: 0

Columbus has claimed the number 1 spot in its foreign-born African population, passing previous top city Minneapolis.

And finally, the total foreign-born population from the Americas in 2000 and 2017
2000—————————————————-2017

1. Chicago: 357,235————————–1. Chicago: 297,926
2. San Jose: 117,989————————2. San Antonio: 157,629
3. San Antonio: 107,906——————–3. San Jose: 120,657
4. Austin: 73,935——————————4. Austin: 99,482
5. Las Vegas: 63,277————————5. Las Vegas: 93,693
6. Charlotte: 31,625————————–6. Charlotte: 72,211
7. Sacramento: 28,927———————-7. Orlando: 52,421
8. Providence: 27,649———————–8. Sacramento: 42,632
9. Milwaukee: 24,781————————9. Indianapolis: 41,554
10. Detroit: 21,527—————————10. Providence: 39,093
11. Portland: 20,939————————-11. Nashville: 35,719
12. Minneapolis: 19,648——————–12. Milwaukee: 32,630
13. Orlando: 18,639————————-13. Portland: 25,417
14. Indianapolis: 17,530——————–14. Omaha: 25,385
15. Nashville: 17,125————————15. Minneapolis: 22,688
16. Omaha: 14,467————————–16. Columbus: 21,578
17. Wichita: 13,988—————————17. Wichita: 20,983
18. Grand Rapids: 13,477——————18. Detroit: 19,143
19. Kansas City: 12,948———————19. Kansas City: 17,377
20. St. Paul: 9,804—————————-20. Grand Rapids: 14,158
21. Columbus: 8,596————————21. St. Paul: 10,878
22. Des Moines: 6,201———————-22. Des Moines: 10,627
23. Virginia Beach: 5,754——————23. Virginia Beach: 10,415
24. Cleveland: 5,192————————24. Cleveland: 8,386
25. Madison: 5,080————————–25. Fort Wayne: 8,198
26. Fort Wayne: 4,930———————-26. Madison: 8,031
27. Lincoln: 3,106—————————-27. Lincoln: 6,190
28. St. Louis: 2,961————————–28. Cincinnati: 5,320
29. Toledo: 2,942—————————-29. St. Louis: 5,008
30. Pittsburgh: 2,463————————30. Pittsburgh: 3,443
31. Cincinnati: 2,432————————31. Toledo: 3,207
32. Dayton: 919——————————32. Dayton: 2,855
33. Akron: 891——————————-33. Akron: 1,699
34. Youngstown: 333———————–34. Youngstown: 780

Columbus does the worst with this group, but even here it moved up 5 spots in the rankings.

The rest of the foreign-born population is made up of small groups of people from Oceania- or basically island nations.