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Foreign-Born Population
Origins, Citizenship, Period of Entry
Los Angeles County

2021 Census Estimates*

International Flags, USC

International flags on display at USC. Los Angeles Almanac Photo.


Also see:
-- Same Numbers for 2020 and 2010
-- Place of Birth for Population of Los Angeles County - Native & Foreign-Born
-- Specific Country of Birth of Foreign-Born Population in Los Angeles County


About 33 percent of Los Angeles County residents are foreign-born, according to current U.S. Census estimates. Of these, 54% are naturalized U.S. Citizens and 85% entered the U.S. prior to the year 2010.



Foreign-Born in Los Angeles County:
Origin & Citizen Status

Except for "Percent of All Foreign-Born," percentages are that of foreign-born persons by region of origin.

Origin Total Foreign -Born Percent of All Foreign-Born Percent Naturalized U.S. Citizens Percent Not U.S. Citizens
Total 3,353,972 100.0% 53.8% 46.2%
Africa 62,706 1.9% 65.0% 35.0%
Asia 1,205,470 35.9% 69.2% 30.8%
Eastern Asia 461,064 13.7% 61.0% 39.0%
Central Asia 199,426 5.9% 69.9% 30.1%
Southeast Asia 403,572 12.0% 76.6% 23.4%
Western Asia 138,797 4.1% 74.3% 25.7%
Origin Total Foreign -Born Percent of All Foreign-Born Percent Naturalized U.S. Citizens Percent Not U.S. Citizens
Europe 168,829 5.0% 62.9% 37.1%
Northern & Western Europe 78,741 2.3% 53.7% 46.3%
Southern & Eastern Europe 89,620 2.7% 71.0% 29.0%
Origin Total Foreign -Born Percent of All Foreign-Born Percent Naturalized U.S. Citizens Percent Not U.S. Citizens
Latin America 1,872,687 55.8% 42.8% 57.2%
Mexico 1,218,517 36.3% 40.2% 59.8%
Central America 523,553 15.6% 43.4% 56.6%
Caribbean 31,035 0.9% 73.7% 26.3%
South America 99,582 3.0% 62.3% 37.7%
Origin Total Foreign -Born Percent of All Foreign-Born Percent Naturalized U.S. Citizens Percent Not U.S. Citizens
North America 28,392 0.8% 49.5% 50.5%
Oceania 15,883 0.5% 41.8% 58.2%

* American Community Survey, annually updated, estimated from data and surveys collected over the preceding five-year period.


Foreign-Born in Los Angeles County:
Origin, U.S. Citizenship Status & Period of Entry into the U.S.

Percentages are that of foreign-born persons by region of origin.

Origin Total Entered 2010 or Later Entered 2000-2009 Entered Before 2000
Naturalized Not U.S. Citizens Naturalized Not U.S. Citizens Naturalized Not U.S. Citizens
Total 3,353,972 2.4% 12.9% 7.9% 12.4% 43.5% 20.9%
Africa 62,706 7.0% 24.1% 16.8% 5.3% 41.1% 5.7%
Asia 1,205,470 4.0% 17.2% 13.9% 7.6% 51.4% 6.0%
Eastern Asia 461,064 2.7% 20.7% 10.5% 10.0% 47.7% 8.3%
Central Asia 199,426 5.4% 21.0% 17.3% 5.9% 47.3% 3.2%
Southeast Asia 403,572 4.1% 11.5% 15.6% 6.5% 56.9% 5.4%
Western Asia 138,797 5.8% 16.7% 15.2% 5.0% 53.2% 4.1%
Origin Total Entered 2010 or Later Entered 2000-2009 Entered Before 2000
Naturalized Not U.S. Citizens Naturalized Not U.S. Citizens Naturalized Not U.S. Citizens
Europe 168,829 3.3% 21.9% 10.2% 5.5% 49.4% 9.7%
Northern & Western Europe 78,741 2.4% 23.4% 7.2% 7.6% 44.1% 15.3%
Southern & Eastern Europe 89,620 4.2% 20.6% 12.7% 3.6% 54.1% 4.8%
Origin Total Entered 2010 or Later Entered 2000-2009 Entered Before 2000
Naturalized Not U.S. Citizens Naturalized Not U.S. Citizens Naturalized Not U.S. Citizens
Latin America 1,872,687 1.1% 8.6% 3.6% 16.5% 38.1% 32.1%
Mexico 1,218,517 0.9% 5.6% 2.8% 16.6% 36.5% 37.6%
Central America 523,553 1.3% 14.1% 4.1% 18.1% 37.9% 24.4%
Caribbean 31,035 1.8% 8.4% 7.8% 4.5% 64.2% 13.3%
South America 99,582 2.2% 16.3% 10.3% 9.7% 49.8% 11.7%
Origin Total Entered 2010 or Later Entered 2000-2009 Entered Before 2000
Naturalized Not U.S. Citizens Naturalized Not U.S. Citizens Naturalized Not U.S. Citizens
North America 28,392 2.1% 23.0% 5.9% 10.6% 41.5% 16.9%
Oceania 15,883 3.6% 35.5% 8.0% 8.9% 30.2% 13.8%

* American Community Survey, annually updated, estimated from data and surveys collected over the preceding five-year period.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau