California continues to lead the country with the largest percentage of foreign-born people. While the median is 12.5 percent for the U.S., California's population is 26.8 percent foreign-born, according to the American Community Survey.
| Rank | State | Percent of people who are foreign-born |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 26.8 |
| 2 | New York | 21.7 |
| 3 | New Jersey | 19.8 |
| 4 | Nevada | 18.9 |
| 5 | Florida | 18.5 |
| 6 | Hawaii | 17.8 |
| 7 | Texas | 16.0 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 14.4 |
| 9 | Arizona | 14.3 |
| 10 | Illinois | 13.8 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2008.
The American Community Survey (ACS) collects data every year on topics that include education, transportation, housing and ancestry. The information gleaned affects how more than $400 billion in federal and state funds get doled out each year. This ongoing survey of 3 million households a year eliminated the need for a separate long form census in 2010.
For more findings from the American Community Survey:
Census: The most highly educated population in the U.S. lives in D.C.
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