Historical Immigration Statistics in the United States

Historical immigration statistics proved that naturalization increased from an annual average of less than 120,000 during the 1950s to 210,000 during the 1980s. Naturalization rose sharply in the 1990s, due to the naturalization of nearly 1 million of the 2.7 million undocumented immigrants legalized under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. There were also legislative actions to restrict public benefits for non-citizens, which caused more people to apply for naturalization, and there was a program that required replacement of permanent resident cards, causing many permanent residents to naturalize.

Most of the people naturalizing until the 1970s were from European countries. Naturalization numbers shifted to Asia when increased legal immigration occurred, along with the arrival of Indochinese refugees in the 1970s and the historically higher rate of naturalization for Asian immigrants.

Asia the Leading Region

Annual immigration statistics show that since 1976 Asia has been the leading region of origin of naturalized Americans, except between 1996 and 2000 when the Immigration Reform and Control Act led to widespread naturalization of individuals already living in the United States.

Thirty-nine per cent of those naturalized in 2005 were from Asia. Thirty per cent were from North American countries and 16 per cent were from Europe. Mexican immigration statistics show Mexico was the leading country of birth for naturalized citizens at 13 percent, followed by the Philippines at 6.1 percent, India at 6 percent, Vietnam at 5.4 percent, and China at 5.2 percent. The top ten countries accounted for 48 percent of those naturalized as U.S. citizens in 2005.

Most Live in 10 States

2005 immigration statistics show of those naturalizing that year, 77 per cent were residents of 10 states, with California accounting for 28 percent, followed by 14 percent in New York. Immigration statistics to Florida show 7 percent of those naturalized resided there, and 6 percent in Texas.

The top cities were New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island at 18 percent and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana at 13 percent. Other leading areas of residence were Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach.

Females comprised 56 percent of those naturalizing in 2005. More than half were between the ages of 25 and 44, with the median age 39. Those aged 65 and older comprised almost eight percent of those naturalized. Two-thirds of those naturalizing in 2005 were married and 22 percent were single.

For more information on U.S. immigration statistics visit the Office of Immigration Statistics website at www.dhs.gov/immigrationstatistics

The high numbers of naturalized Americans residing in California and Texas are an indication of the high Mexican immigration statistics, as both are border states with Mexico.