African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview
Immigrants from Africa constitute a highly diverse and rapidly growing group in the United States. As Census
data demonstrate, the African foreign-born population doubled in size between 2000 and 2010. Nearly half of
African immigrants are naturalized U.S. citizens, and seven-in-ten speak only English or speak it “very well.”
Just under three-quarters of African immigrants are black, while roughly one-fifth are white. The largest
numbers of African immigrants are found in California, New York, Texas, Maryland, and Virginia. The top
countries of origin for African immigrants are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, and Kenya. 1 Two-fifths of African
immigrants have at least a bachelor’s degree, and more than one-third work in professional jobs.
Between 2000 and 2010, the African foreign-born population doubled in size.

The number of African immigrants in the United States grew from 881,300 in 2000 to 1.6 million in 2010
{Figure 1}. 2
Figure 1: African Foreign-Born Population in the U.S., 2000 & 2010
1,800,000
1,606,914
1,600,000
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
881,300
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
2000
2010
Source: Census 2000 Special Tabulations (STP-159), Table FBP-1; 2010 American Community Survey, Table S0504.
African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview | American Immigration Council | June 2012

The number of male African immigrants increased from 484,790 to 845,237 between 2000 and 2010, while
the number of females increased from 396,510 to 761,677 {Figure 2}. 3
Figure 2: African Foreign-Born Population in the U.S. by Sex, 2000 & 2010
Male
Female
900,000
845,237
761,677
800,000
700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
484,790
396,510
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
2000
2010
Source: Census 2000 Special Tabulations (STP-159), Table FBP-1; 2010 American Community Survey, Table S0504.

In 2010, African immigrants comprised 4% of the foreign-born population {Figure 3}. 4
Figure 3: African Share of the Foreign-Born Population, 2010
African
4%
Non-African
96%
Source: 2010 American Community Survey, Table S0504: "Selected Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth: Africa,
Northern America, and Oceania."
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African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview | American Immigration Council | June 2012
Nearly half of African immigrants are naturalized U.S. citizens.

46.1% of African immigrants were naturalized U.S. citizens in 2010, compared to 43.7% of the foreign-born
population as a whole {Figure 4}. 5
Figure 4: African Foreign-Born Population by Citizenship, 2010
100%
90%
80%
46.1%
70%
Naturalized U.S.
citizens
60%
50%
Non-U.S.
citizens
40%
30%
53.9%
20%
10%
0%
Source: 2010 American Community Survey, Table S0504: "Selected Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth: Africa,
Northern America, and Oceania."
Nearly seven-in-ten African immigrants speak only English or speak it “very well.”

As of 2010, more than one-fifth (21.8%) of African immigrants spoke only English, while just under half
(49.1%) reported speaking it “very well” {Figure 5}. 6
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African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview | American Immigration Council | June 2012
Nearly three-quarters of immigrants from Africa are black, while one-fifth are white.
Figure 5: African Foreign-Born Population (Age 5 and Older) by English-Language Proficiency, 2010
100%
90%
21.8%
80%
Speak English Only
70%
60%
49.1%
50%
Speak English Very
Well
40%
30%
20%
29.1%
10%
Speak English Less
Than Very Well
0%
Source: 2010 American Community Survey, Table S0201: "Selected Population Profile in the United States."

As of 2010, 74.3% of African immigrants were black, while 20% were white and 2.7% Asian {Figure 6}. 7
Figure 6: African Foreign-Born Population by Race, 2010
Some other race,
1.0%
Two or more
races, 1.9%
Asian, 2.7%
White, 20.0%
Black, 74.3%
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African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview | American Immigration Council | June 2012
Source: 2010 American Community Survey, Table S0504: "Selected Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth: Africa,
Northern America, and Oceania."
The largest numbers of African immigrants are found in California, New York, Texas,
Maryland, and Virginia.

As of 2010, the largest African foreign-born populations were in California (158,953), New York (158,878),
Texas (136,112), Maryland (125,470), and Virginia (89,290) {Figure 7}.8
Figure 7: States With Largest African Foreign-Born Populations, 2010
160,000
158,953
158,878
136,112
140,000
125,470
120,000
100,000
89,290
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
California
New York
Texas
Maryland
Virginia
Source: 2010 American Community Survey, Table DP02: "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States."

Between 2000 and 2010, the African foreign-born population increased in size by 111.1% in Texas, 110% in
Virginia, 100.1% in Maryland, 40.3% in California, and 35.9% in New York {Figure 8}. 9
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African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview | American Immigration Council | June 2012
Increase in Size of African Foreign-Born
Population Between 2000 & 2010
Figure 8: Increase in African Foreign-Born Populations in Top-Five States, 2000-2010
120%
111.1%
110.0%
100.1%
100%
80%
60%
40.3%
40%
35.9%
20%
0%
Texas
Virginia
Maryland
California
New York
Source: Census 2000 Summary File 3, Table DP-2; 2010 American Community Survey, Table DP02.
Most African immigrants come from Western and Eastern Africa.

As of 2010, 573,791 African immigrants came from Western Africa and 475,832 from Eastern Africa {Figure
9}. 10
Figure 9: African Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth, 2010
Middle Africa, 88,711
Southern Africa,
79,914
Africa, n.e.c., 108,386
Western Africa,
573,791
Northern Africa,
280,280
Eastern Africa,
475,832
Source: 2010 American Community Survey, Table B05006: "Place of Birth for the Foreign-Born Population in the United States." n.e.c. = "not
elsewhere classified."
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African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview | American Immigration Council | June 2012
The numbers of immigrants from Middle Africa and Eastern Africa are growing the fastest.
Between 2000 and 2010, the number of immigrants from Middle Africa grew by 229.8% and the number

from Eastern Africa by 123.1% {Figure 10}.11
Figure 10: Growth of African Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth, 2000-2010
Increase in Size of Population Between 2000 & 2010
250%
229.8%
200%
150%
123.1%
100%
88.1%
75.7%
47.1%
50%
20.2%
0%
Middle Africa
Eastern Africa
Africa, n.e.c.
Western Africa Northern Africa Southern Africa
Source: Census 2000 Summary File 3, Table QT-P15; 2010 American Community Survey, Table B05006.
n.e.c. = "not elsewhere classified."
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African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview | American Immigration Council | June 2012

The African immigrant groups with the largest presence in the United States as of 2010 were Nigerians
(219,309), Ethiopians (173,592), Egyptians (137,799), Ghanaians (124,696), and Kenyans (88,519) {Figure
11}. 12
Figure 11: Top Countries of Origin for African Foreign-Born Population, 2010
250,000
219,309
200,000
173,592
137,799
150,000
124,696
88,519
100,000
50,000
0
Nigeria
Ethiopia
Egypt
Ghana
Kenya
Source: 2010 American Community Survey, Table B05006: "Place of Birth for the Foreign-Born Population in the United States."
Two-fifths of African immigrants have a bachelor’s degree or more education.

Just under one-fifth (16.1%) of African immigrants age 25 and older had a graduate degree (in addition to
a bachelor’s degree) in 2010. 13 In comparison, 10.4% of the U.S. population as a whole age 25 and over had
a graduate degree in 2010 {Figure 12}. 14

Nearly one-quarter (24.2%) of African immigrants age 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree only in 2010.15
In comparison, 17.7% of the U.S. population as a whole age 25 and over had a bachelor’s degree only in
2010 {Figure 12}. 16
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African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview | American Immigration Council | June 2012
Figure 12: Educational Attainment of African Foreign-Born Population & Total U.S. Population,
Age 25 & Over, 2010
100%
90%
10.4%
16.1%
17.7%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
10%
0%
Bachelor's degree only
28.9%
Some college
27.7%
30%
20%
Graduate degree
24.2%
High-school diploma
28.5%
20.0%
No high-school diploma
12.1%
14.4%
African Foreign-Born Population
Total U.S. Population
Source: 2010 American Community Survey, Table S0504: "Selected Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth: Africa,
Northern America, and Oceania"; Table DP02: "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States."
More than one-third of African immigrants work in professional jobs.

37.7% of employed African immigrants age 16 and over worked in management, business, science, and
arts occupations in 2010 {Figure 13}.17

One-quarter (24.8%) of employed African immigrants age 16 and over worked in service occupations in
2010, while one-fifth (19.8%) worked in sales and office occupations {Figure 13}. 18
Figure 13: Occupations of African Foreign-Born Workers Age 16 & Over, 2010
Production &
Transportation, 14.4%
Construction &
Maintenance, 3.3%
Management,
Business & Science,
37.7%
Sales & Office, 19.8%
Service, 24.8%
Source: 2010 American Community Survey, Table S0504: "Selected Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth: Africa,
Northern America, and Oceania."
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African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview | American Immigration Council | June 2012
Endnotes
1.
Eastern Africa includes Ethiopia, Eritria, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe. Middle Africa includes Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Gabon, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Northern Africa includes
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Sudan. Southern Africa includes Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Western Africa includes Cape
Verde, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. For a complete listing, see
“American Community Survey: Foreign-Born Regions, Subregions, and Country Code List,” June 23, 2010.
2.
Census 2000 Special Tabulations (STP-159), Table FBP-1: “Profile of Selected Demographic and Social Characteristics: 2000”; 2010 American
Community Survey, Table S0504: “Selected Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth: Africa, Northern America, and
Oceania.”
3.
Ibid.
4.
2010 American Community Survey, Table S0504: “Selected Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth: Africa,
Northern America, and Oceania.”
5.
Ibid.
6.
2010 American Community Survey, Table S0201: “Selected Population Profile in the United States.”
7.
2010 American Community Survey, Table S0504: “Selected Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth: Africa,
Northern America, and Oceania.”
8.
2010 American Community Survey, Table DP02: “Selected Social Characteristics in the United States.”
9.
Census 2000 Summary File 3, Table DP-2: “Selected Social Characteristics in the United States”; 2010 American Community Survey, Table
DP02: “Selected Social Characteristics in the United States.”
10.
2010 American Community Survey, Table B05006: “Place of Birth for the Foreign-Born Population in the United States.”
11.
Census 2000 Summary File 3, Table QT-P15: “Region and Country or Area of Birth of the Foreign-Born Population”; 2010 American
Community Survey, Table B05006: “Place of Birth for the Foreign-Born Population in the United States.”
12.
2010 American Community Survey, Table B05006: “Place of Birth for the Foreign-Born Population in the United States.”
13.
2010 American Community Survey, Table S0504: “Selected Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth: Africa,
Northern America, and Oceania.”
14.
2010 American Community Survey, Table DP02: “Selected Social Characteristics in the United States.”
15.
2010 American Community Survey, Table S0504: “Selected Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth: Africa,
Northern America, and Oceania.”
16.
2010 American Community Survey, Table DP02: “Selected Social Characteristics in the United States.”
17.
2010 American Community Survey, Table S0504: “Selected Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth: Africa,
Northern America, and Oceania.”
18.
Ibid.
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