Countries of Origin, States of Residence, Jobs Held, Age, and Gender
Who are the immigrants in the United States illegally? Where do they come from? In which states do they settle? What jobs do they hold?
As of 2016, the population of undocumented immigrants in the United States is estimated to be 10.7 million, roughly 3.3% of the entire US population. 50.9% of undocumented immigrants were from Mexico, and 20.6% of all undocumented immigrants resided in California. As of 2012, 53% of undocumented immigrants were male. In 2016, approximately 31% of workers in the roofing industry and 24% of maids/housekeepers were undocumented immigrants.
Source: Victor Davis Hanson, “Incoherent Immigration Reform,” nationalreview.com, Feb. 7, 2013.
I. Top 10 Countries of Origin (2000-2016) of Immigrants Living in the United States Illegally
Top 10 Countries of Origin, 2000-2016
| 2000 | |
| Country | Population |
| 1. Mexico | 4,680,000 |
| 2. El Salvador | 430,000 |
| 3. Guatemala | 290,000 |
| 4. Philippines | 200,000 |
| 5. China | 190,000 |
| 6. Korea | 180,000 |
| 7. Honduras | 160,000 |
| 8. India | 120,000 |
| 9. Ecuador | 110,000 |
| 10. Brazil | 100,000 |
| All Countries | 8,460,000 |
| 2008 | |
| Country | Population |
| 1. Mexico | 7,030,000 |
| 2. El Salvador | 570,000 |
| 3. Guatemala | 430,000 |
| 4. Philippines | 300,000 |
| 4. Honduras | 300,000 |
| 6. Korea | 240,000 |
| 7. China | 220,000 |
| 8. Brazil | 180,000 |
| 9. Ecuador | 170,000 |
| 10. India | 160,000 |
| All Countries | 11,600,000 |
| 2012 | |
| Country | Population |
| 1. Mexico | 6,720,000 |
| 2. El Salvador | 690,000 |
| 3. Guatemala | 560,000 |
| 4. Honduras | 360,000 |
| 5. Philippines | 310,000 |
| 6. India | 260,000 |
| 7. Korea | 230,000 |
| 8. China | 210,000 |
| 9. Ecuador | 170,000 |
| 10. Vietnam | 160,000 |
| All Countries | 11,430,000 |
| 2016 | |
| Country | Population |
| 1. Mexico | 5,450,000 |
| 2. El Salvador | 725,000 |
| 3. Guatemala | 575,000 |
| 4. India | 475,000 |
| 5. Honduras | 425,000 |
| 6. China | 325,000 |
| 7. Dominican Republic | 210,000 |
| 8. Philippines | 140,000 |
| 9. Brazil | 130,000 |
| 9. Korea | 130,000 |
| All Countries | 10,700,000 |
Sources:
1. Bryan Baker and Nancy Rytina, “Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: January 2012,” 
dhs.gov, Mar. 2013
2. Michael Hoefer, Nancy Rytina, and Bryan C. Baker, “Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: January 2008,” dhs.gov, Feb. 2009
3. Jeffrey S. Passel and D’Vera Cohn, “U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Total Dips to Lowest Level in a Decade,” pewhispanic.org, Nov. 27, 2018
II. Top 10 States of Residence (2000-2016) of Undocumented Immigrants
Top 10 States of Residence, 2000-2016
| 2000 | |
| Country | Population |
| 1. California | 2,510,000 |
| 2. Texas | 1,090,000 |
| 3. Florida | 800,000 |
| 4. New York | 540,000 |
| 5. Illinois | 440,000 |
| 6. New Jersey | 350,000 |
| 7. Arizona | 330,000 |
| 8. North Carolina | 260,000 |
| 9. Georgia | 220,000 |
| 10. Nevada | 170,000 |
| Other states | 1,750,000 |
| Total | 8,460,000 |
| 2008 | |
| Country | Population |
| 1. California | 2,850,000 |
| 2. Texas | 1,680,000 |
| 3. Florida | 840,000 |
| 4. New York | 640,000 |
| 5. Arizona | 560,000 |
| 6. Illinois | 550,000 |
| 7. Georgia | 460,000 |
| 8. New Jersey | 400,000 |
| 9. North Carolina | 380,000 |
| 10. Nevada | 280,000 |
| Other states | 2,950,000 |
| Total | 11,600,000 |
| 2012 | |
| Country | Population |
| 1. California | 2,820,000 |
| 2. Texas | 1,830,000 |
| 3. Florida | 730,000 |
| 4. New York | 580,000 |
| 5. Illinois | 540,000 |
| 6. New Jersey | 430,000 |
| 7. Georgia | 400,000 |
| 8. North Carolina | 360,000 |
| 9. Arizona | 350,000 |
| 10. Washington | 270,000 |
| Other states | 3,110,000 |
| Total | 11,430,000 |
| 2016 | |
| Country | Population |
| 1. California | 2,200,000 |
| 2. Texas | 1,600,000 |
| 3. Florida | 775,000 |
| 4. New York | 725,000 |
| 5. New Jersey | 475,000 |
| 6. Georgia | 400,000 |
| 6. Illinois | 400,000 |
| 8. North Carolina | 325,000 |
| 9. Arizona | 275,000 |
| 9. Maryland | 275,000 |
| 9. Virginia | 275,000 |
| Other states | 2,975,000 |
| Total | 10,700,000 |
Sources:
1. Bryan Baker and Nancy Rytina, “Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: January 2012,” dhs.gov, Mar. 2013
2. Michael Hoefer, Nancy Rytina, and Christopher Campbell, “Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: January 2005, ” Aug. 2006
3. Jeffrey S. Passel and D’Vera Cohn, “U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Total Dips to Lowest Level in a Decade,” pewhispanic.org, Nov. 27, 2018
III. Top 25 Jobs Held (2016) by Undocumented Immigrants
Top 25 Jobs Held by Undocumented Immigrants, 2016
sorted by % of undocumented workers in the total workforce
| Top 25 Jobs | # of Undocumented Immigrant Workers | Total # of All Workers | % of Undocumented Workers in Total Work Force |
| 1. Roofers | 70,000 | 230,000 | 31% |
| 2. Drywall installers, ceiling & tile installers & tapers | 45,000 | 160,000 | 30% |
| 3. Misc. agricultural workers | 250,000 | 920,000 | 27% |
| 4. Carpet, floor, & tile installers & finishers | 50,000 | 180,000 | 27% |
| 4. Painters, construction & maintenance | 170,000 | 630,000 | 27% |
| 4. Maids & housekeeping cleaners | 425,000 | 1,760,000 | 24% |
| 7. Brickmasons, blockmasons, & stonemasons | 40,000 | 160,000 | 24% |
| 7. Sewing machine operators | 45,000 | 200,000 | 22% |
| 9. Construction laborers | 425,000 | 2,020,000 | 21% |
| 10. Laundry & dry cleaning workers | 40,000 | 210,000 | 20% |
| 11. Packaging & filling machine operators & tenders | 60,000 | 300,000 | 19% |
| 12. Packers and packagers, hand | 110,000 | 560,000 | 19% |
| 12. Ground maintenance workers | 300,000 | 1,540,000 | 19% |
| 12. Dishwashers | 65,000 | 400,000 | 17% |
| 15. Carpenters | 220,000 | 1,320,000 | 16% |
| 16. Butchers & other meat, poultry, & fish processing workers | 45,000 | 290,000 | 16% |
| 16. Food cooking machine operators & tenders | 25,000 | 160,000 | 15% |
| 18. Bakers | 40,000 | 250,000 | 15% |
| 18. Cooks | 400,000 | 2,640,000 | 15% |
| 18. Cleaners of vehicles & equipment | 55,000 | 430,000 | 13% |
| 21. Painting workers | 20,000 | 150,000 | 12% |
| 22. Dining room & cafeteria attendants & bartender helpers | 45,000 | 390,000 | 12% |
| 22. Chefs & head cooks | 55,000 | 480,000 | 11% |
| 24. Automotive body & related repairers | 15,000 | 140,000 | 10% |
| 25. Janitors & building cleaners | 275,000 | 2,770,000 | 10% |
| 25. Food preparation workers | 110,000 | 1,160,000 | 10% |
| 25. Supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, & groundskeeping workers | 15,000 | 170,000 | 10% |
| Total civilian labor force (with an occupation) | 7,700,000 | 161,420,000 | 5% |
| Top 25 Occupations | # of Undocumented Immigrant Workers | Total # of All Workers | % of Undocumented Workers in Total Work Force |
Sources:
Jeffrey S. Passel and D’Vera Cohn, “U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Total Dips to Lowest Level in a Decade,” pewhispanic.org, Nov. 27, 2018
Roundicons, “Services,” flaticon.com (accessed Jan. 28, 2019)
IV. Distribution by Age and Gender (2012) of Undocumented Immigrants
| Age | Male | Female | Total (both genders) | Percent of Age Group |
| under 18 years | 580,000 | 530,000 | 1,120,000 | 10% |
| 18-24 years | 880,000 | 540,000 | 1,410,000 | 12% |
| 25-34 years | 2,050,000 | 1,600,000 | 3,660,000 | 32% |
| 35-44 years | 1,750,000 | 1,570,000 | 3,320,000 | 29% |
| 45-54 years | 650,000 | 750,000 | 1,400,000 | 12% |
| 55 years and over | 190,000 | 330,000 | 520,000 | 5% |
| Total (all ages) | 6,100,000 | 5,330,000 | 11,430,000 | 100% |
| Percent of Gender Group | 53% | 47% | 100% |
Sources:
Bryan Baker and Nancy Rytina, “Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: January 2012,” dhs.gov, Mar. 2013
