Over 14% of the United States population is composed of immigrants. But in reality, the vast majority of Americans today are here because of relatives who immigrated from other countries some time in the last several hundred years.
And while the distinctive American culture and spirit is the result of blending many diverse cultures and histories, the United States has for centuries had an up-and-down relationship with immigration.
Each era of immigration has been met with reductive ideas and resistance, whether the backlash was directed toward the Chinese, Irish, Italians, or Mexicans. Immigration laws have targeted specific groups at various times, stoking intolerance and preventing people from truly joining American society. Over time, however, as laws changed to be more equitable and immigrants found their footings, we have reaped the rewards of innovation in business, music, art, literature, dance, food, societal norms, entertainment, and sports—all while realizing a greater understanding of and respect for different cultures, religions, and ideas.
Stacker compiled a list of the biggest sources of immigrants to Rhode Island using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by the highest number of residents according to 2020 5-year estimates. Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home state.
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
#50. Spain
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 347
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
– Number of residents: 118,177
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #56 most common country of origin
Canva
#49. Ghana
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 351
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
– Number of residents: 180,675
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #43 most common country of origin
Canva
#48. Hong Kong
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 375
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 232,202
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
– #38 most common country of origin
Marianna Ianovska // Shutterstock
#47. Chile
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 381
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 100,875
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #62 most common country of origin
BlueIcePics // Shutterstock
#46. Trinidad and Tobago
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 406
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 233,024
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
– #37 most common country of origin
Prin Adulyatham // Shutterstock
#45. Egypt
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 436
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 202,049
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
– #40 most common country of origin
Marek Poplawski // Shutterstock
#44. Honduras
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 504
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 649,209
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
– #15 most common country of origin
gadzius // Shutterstock
#43. Dominica
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 530
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 33,455
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #107 most common country of origin
Canva
#42. Venezuela
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 547
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 394,365
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #22 most common country of origin
Augustin Lazaroiu // Shutterstock
#41. Romania
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 550
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 163,817
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #46 most common country of origin
Canva
#40. Taiwan
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 556
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 378,942
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #25 most common country of origin
Saqib Rizvi // Shutterstock
#39. Pakistan
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 568
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 385,873
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #24 most common country of origin
Tupungato // Shutterstock
#38. France
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 569
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 181,242
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #42 most common country of origin
Lena Ha // Shutterstock
#37. Senegal
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 622
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 27,838
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #113 most common country of origin
Canva
#36. Cuba
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 622
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 1,314,570
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
– #7 most common country of origin
Christian Vinces // Shutterstock
#35. Peru
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 640
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 451,666
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
– #18 most common country of origin
Canva
#34. Ecuador
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 681
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 440,337
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
– #19 most common country of origin
Canva
#33. Ireland
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 693
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 122,010
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #55 most common country of origin
Canva
#32. Greece
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 705
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 124,428
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #54 most common country of origin
hanohiki // Shutterstock
#31. Syria
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 719
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 102,884
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #60 most common country of origin
Canva
#30. Japan
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 730
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 346,149
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #28 most common country of origin
Jack Bkk // Shutterstock
#29. Thailand
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 747
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 256,436
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
– #34 most common country of origin
Ruslan Lytvyn // Shutterstock
#28. Ukraine
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 801
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 358,823
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #27 most common country of origin
Canva
#27. Vietnam
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 818
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 1,354,391
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
– #6 most common country of origin
diplomedia // Shutterstock
#26. Lebanon
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 858
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 127,239
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #52 most common country of origin
byvalet // Shutterstock
#25. Jamaica
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 891
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 760,486
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
– #13 most common country of origin
Nahlik // Shutterstock
#24. Poland
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 1,017
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 411,750
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #20 most common country of origin
Kampon // Shutterstock
#23. South Korea
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 1,097
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 1,048,588
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
– #9 most common country of origin
Viacheslav Lopatin // Shutterstock
#22. Russia
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 1,097
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 397,214
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #21 most common country of origin
Canva
#21. Bolivia
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 1,446
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
– Number of residents: 75,533
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #75 most common country of origin
Canva
#20. Germany
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 1,492
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
– Number of residents: 549,073
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
– #16 most common country of origin
Nathapon Triratanachat // Shutterstock
#19. Laos
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 2,069
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
– Number of residents: 179,004
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #44 most common country of origin
Catarina Belova // Shutterstock
#18. Brazil
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 2,077
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
– Number of residents: 474,723
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
– #17 most common country of origin
Joseph Oropel // Shutterstock
#17. Philippines
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 2,253
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
– Number of residents: 1,967,140
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
– #4 most common country of origin
Kellys Portillo/APHOTOGRAFIA //Getty Images
#16. El Salvador
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 2,372
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
– Number of residents: 1,370,579
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
– #5 most common country of origin
aleksander hunta // Shutterstock
#15. Cambodia
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 2,418
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
– Number of residents: 149,486
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #47 most common country of origin
Canva
#14. Canada
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 2,497
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
– Number of residents: 817,885
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
– #11 most common country of origin
Canva
#13. Italy
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 2,637
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
National
– Number of residents: 326,407
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
– #30 most common country of origin
Aleksandar Todorovic // Shutterstock
#12. Mexico
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 3,143
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.1%
National
– Number of residents: 10,924,662
– Percent of foreign born residents: 24.8%
– #1 most common country of origin
Canva
#11. Nigeria
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 3,160
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.1%
National
– Number of residents: 366,534
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #26 most common country of origin
Fabian Plock // Shutterstock
#10. Liberia
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 3,199
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
National
– Number of residents: 92,283
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #68 most common country of origin
Canva
#9. Haiti
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 3,509
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
National
– Number of residents: 667,432
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
– #14 most common country of origin
Luis Ascenso // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Azores Islands
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 3,980
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.7%
National
– Number of residents: 28,260
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #112 most common country of origin
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#7. China
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 4,667
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
National
– Number of residents: 2,184,189
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
– #3 most common country of origin
Alexander Canas Arango // Shutterstock
#6. Colombia
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 6,011
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.1%
National
– Number of residents: 792,579
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
– #12 most common country of origin
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
#5. Cabo Verde
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 6,987
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.7%
National
– Number of residents: 41,236
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #96 most common country of origin
Kriangkrai Thitimakorn // Shutterstock
#4. India
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 7,089
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.8%
National
– Number of residents: 2,618,558
– Percent of foreign born residents: 5.9%
– #2 most common country of origin
Kobby Dagan // Shutterstock
#3. Guatemala
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 14,065
– Percent of foreign born residents: 9.5%
National
– Number of residents: 964,528
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
– #10 most common country of origin
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
#2. Portugal
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 16,483
– Percent of foreign born residents: 11.1%
National
– Number of residents: 172,739
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #45 most common country of origin
jvphoto.ca // Shutterstock
#1. Dominican Republic
Rhode Island
– Number of residents: 27,822
– Percent of foreign born residents: 18.8%
National
– Number of residents: 1,125,208
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.6%
– #8 most common country of origin