Last updated on: 1/28/2019 | Author: ProCon.org

Demographics of Immigrants in the United States Illegally

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.

Farm Workers near Bakersfield, California
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
CountryPopulation
1. Mexico4,680,000
2. El Salvador430,000
3. Guatemala290,000
4. Philippines200,000
5. China190,000
6. Korea180,000
7. Honduras160,000
8. India120,000
9. Ecuador110,000
10. Brazil100,000
All Countries8,460,000
2008
CountryPopulation
1. Mexico7,030,000
2. El Salvador570,000
3. Guatemala430,000
4. Philippines300,000
4. Honduras300,000
6. Korea240,000
7. China220,000
8. Brazil180,000
9. Ecuador170,000
10. India160,000
All Countries 11,600,000
2012
CountryPopulation
1. Mexico6,720,000
2. El Salvador690,000
3. Guatemala560,000
4. Honduras360,000
5. Philippines310,000
6. India260,000
7. Korea230,000
8. China210,000
9. Ecuador170,000
10. Vietnam160,000
All Countries 11,430,000
2016
CountryPopulation
1. Mexico5,450,000
2. El Salvador725,000
3. Guatemala575,000
4. India475,000
5. Honduras425,000
6. China325,000
7. Dominican
Republic		210,000
8. Philippines140,000
9. Brazil130,000
9. Korea130,000
All Countries10,700,000

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
CountryPopulation
1. California2,510,000
2. Texas1,090,000
3. Florida800,000
4. New York540,000
5. Illinois440,000
6. New Jersey350,000
7. Arizona330,000
8. North
Carolina		260,000
9. Georgia220,000
10. Nevada170,000
Other states1,750,000
Total8,460,000
 2008
CountryPopulation
1. California2,850,000
2. Texas1,680,000
3. Florida840,000
4. New York640,000
5. Arizona560,000
6. Illinois550,000
7. Georgia460,000
8. New Jersey400,000
9. North
Carolina		380,000
10. Nevada280,000
Other states2,950,000
Total11,600,000
 2012
CountryPopulation
1. California2,820,000
2. Texas1,830,000
3. Florida730,000
4. New York580,000
5. Illinois540,000
6. New Jersey430,000
7. Georgia400,000
8. North
Carolina		360,000
9. Arizona350,000
10. Washington270,000
Other states3,110,000
Total11,430,000
 2016
CountryPopulation
1. California2,200,000
2. Texas1,600,000
3. Florida775,000
4. New York725,000
5. New Jersey475,000
6. Georgia400,000
6. Illinois400,000
8. North
Carolina		325,000
9. Arizona275,000
9. Maryland275,000
9. Virginia275,000
Other states2,975,000
Total10,700,000

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. Roofers70,000230,00031%
2. Drywall installers, ceiling & tile installers & tapers45,000160,00030%
3. Misc. agricultural workers250,000920,00027%
4. Carpet, floor, & tile installers & finishers50,000180,00027%
4. Painters, construction & maintenance170,000630,00027%
4. Maids & housekeeping cleaners425,0001,760,00024%
7. Brickmasons, blockmasons, & stonemasons40,000160,00024%
7. Sewing machine operators45,000200,00022%
9. Construction laborers425,0002,020,00021%
10. Laundry & dry cleaning workers40,000210,00020%
11. Packaging & filling machine operators & tenders60,000300,00019%
12. Packers and packagers, hand110,000560,00019%
12. Ground maintenance workers300,0001,540,00019%
12. Dishwashers65,000400,00017%
15. Carpenters220,0001,320,00016%
16. Butchers & other meat, poultry, & fish processing workers45,000290,00016%
16. Food cooking machine operators & tenders25,000160,00015%
18. Bakers40,000250,00015%
18. Cooks400,0002,640,00015%
18. Cleaners of vehicles & equipment55,000430,00013%
21. Painting workers20,000150,00012%
22. Dining room & cafeteria attendants & bartender helpers45,000390,00012%
22. Chefs & head cooks55,000480,00011%
24. Automotive body & related repairers15,000140,00010%
25. Janitors & building cleaners275,0002,770,00010%
25. Food preparation workers110,0001,160,00010%
25. Supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, & groundskeeping workers15,000170,00010%
Total civilian labor force (with an occupation)7,700,000161,420,0005%
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


AgeMaleFemaleTotal
(both genders)		Percent of
Age Group
under 18 years580,000530,0001,120,00010%
18-24 years880,000540,0001,410,00012%
25-34 years2,050,0001,600,0003,660,00032%
35-44 years1,750,0001,570,0003,320,00029%
45-54 years650,000750,0001,400,00012%
55 years and over190,000330,000520,0005%
Total (all ages)6,100,0005,330,00011,430,000100%
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

 
 

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