African immigration to the United States
Updated: 5/24/2026, 6:56:40 PM Wikipedia source
African immigration to the United States refers to immigrants to the United States who are or were nationals of modern African countries. The term African in the scope of this article refers to geographical or national origins rather than racial affiliation. From the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 to 2017, the African-born population in the United States grew to 2 million people. Africans in the United States come from almost all regions in Africa and do not constitute a homogeneous group. They include peoples from different national, linguistic, ethnic, racial, cultural and social backgrounds. U . and foreign born Africans are different and distinct from native-born African Americans, many of whose ancestors were involuntarily brought from West Africa to the colonial United States by means of the historic Atlantic slave trade. African immigration is now driving the growth of the Black population in New York City.
Tables
African immigrants' (US) ancestries in the 2000 – 2010 American Community Survey (from more than 1,000 people) · Population
"African"
"African"
Ancestry
"African"
2000
1,183,316
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
1,676,413
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Algerian
Algerian
Ancestry
Algerian
2000
8,752
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
14,716
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Angolan
Angolan
Ancestry
Angolan
2000
1,642
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Cameroonian
Cameroonian
Ancestry
Cameroonian
2000
8,099
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
16,894
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Cape Verdean
Cape Verdean
Ancestry
Cape Verdean
2000
77,103
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
95,003
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Congolese
Congolese
Ancestry
Congolese
2000
5,488 (of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
11,009
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
"Eastern Africans"
"Eastern Africans"
Ancestry
"Eastern Africans"
2000
2,129
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Egyptian
Egyptian
Ancestry
Egyptian
2000
142,832
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
197,000
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Eritrean
Eritrean
Ancestry
Eritrean
2000
18,917
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Ethiopian
Ethiopian
Ancestry
Ethiopian
2000
68,001
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
202,715
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Gambian
Gambian
Ancestry
Gambian
2000
3,035
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Ghanaian
Ghanaian
Ancestry
Ghanaian
2000
49,944
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
91,322
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Guinea
Guinea
Ancestry
Guinea
2000
3,016
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Ivorian
Ivorian
Ancestry
Ivorian
2000
3,110
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Kenyan
Kenyan
Ancestry
Kenyan
2000
17,336
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
51,749
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Liberian
Liberian
Ancestry
Liberian
2000
25,575
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
51,296
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Libyan
Libyan
Ancestry
Libyan
2000
2,979
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Malian
Malian
Ancestry
Malian
2000
1,790
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Moroccan
Moroccan
Ancestry
Moroccan
2000
38,923
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
82,073
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Nigerian
Nigerian
Ancestry
Nigerian
2000
162,938
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
264,550
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
"North African/Berber"
"North African/Berber"
Ancestry
"North African/Berber"
2000
4,544
("North Africans": 3,217; "Berbers": 1,327)
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Rwandan
Rwandan
Ancestry
Rwandan
2000
1,480
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Senegalese
Senegalese
Ancestry
Senegalese
2000
6,124
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
11,369
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Sierra Leonean
Sierra Leonean
Ancestry
Sierra Leonean
2000
12,410
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
16,929
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Somali
Somali
Ancestry
Somali
2000
36,313
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
120,102
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
South African
South African
Ancestry
South African
2000
44,991
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
57,491
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Sudanese
Sudanese
Ancestry
Sudanese
2000
14,458
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
42,249
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Tanzanian
Tanzanian
Ancestry
Tanzanian
2000
2,921
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Togolese
Togolese
Ancestry
Togolese
2000
1,716
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Tunisian
Tunisian
Ancestry
Tunisian
2000
4,735
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Ugandan
Ugandan
Ancestry
Ugandan
2000
4,707
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
12,549
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
"Western African"
"Western African"
Ancestry
"Western African"
2000
6,810
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Zambian
Zambian
Ancestry
Zambian
2000
1,500
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
Zimbabwean
Zimbabwean
Ancestry
Zimbabwean
2000
4,521
2000 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
2010
7,323
2010 (% of U . population)
negligible (no data)
TOTAL
TOTAL
Ancestry
TOTAL
2000
More than 1,000,000
2000 (% of U . population)
0 %
2010
NA
2010 (% of U . population)
NA
| Ancestry | 2000 | 2000 (% of U . population) | 2010 | 2010 (% of U . population) |
| "African" | 1,183,316 | negligible (no data) | 1,676,413 | negligible (no data) |
| Algerian | 8,752 | negligible (no data) | 14,716 | negligible (no data) |
| Angolan | 1,642 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Cameroonian | 8,099 | negligible (no data) | 16,894 | negligible (no data) |
| Cape Verdean | 77,103 | negligible (no data) | 95,003 | negligible (no data) |
| Congolese | 5,488 (of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) | negligible (no data) | 11,009 | negligible (no data) |
| "Eastern Africans" | 2,129 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Egyptian | 142,832 | negligible (no data) | 197,000 | negligible (no data) |
| Eritrean | 18,917 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Ethiopian | 68,001 | negligible (no data) | 202,715 | negligible (no data) |
| Gambian | 3,035 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Ghanaian | 49,944 | negligible (no data) | 91,322 | negligible (no data) |
| Guinea | 3,016 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Ivorian | 3,110 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Kenyan | 17,336 | negligible (no data) | 51,749 | negligible (no data) |
| Liberian | 25,575 | negligible (no data) | 51,296 | negligible (no data) |
| Libyan | 2,979 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Malian | 1,790 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Moroccan | 38,923 | negligible (no data) | 82,073 | negligible (no data) |
| Nigerian | 162,938 | negligible (no data) | 264,550 | negligible (no data) |
| "North African/Berber" | 4,544 ("North Africans": 3,217; "Berbers": 1,327) | negligible (no data) | ||
| Rwandan | 1,480 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Senegalese | 6,124 | negligible (no data) | 11,369 | negligible (no data) |
| Sierra Leonean | 12,410 | negligible (no data) | 16,929 | negligible (no data) |
| Somali | 36,313 | negligible (no data) | 120,102 | negligible (no data) |
| South African | 44,991 | negligible (no data) | 57,491 | negligible (no data) |
| Sudanese | 14,458 | negligible (no data) | 42,249 | negligible (no data) |
| Tanzanian | 2,921 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Togolese | 1,716 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Tunisian | 4,735 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Ugandan | 4,707 | negligible (no data) | 12,549 | negligible (no data) |
| "Western African" | 6,810 | negligible (no data) | ||
| Zambian | 1,500 | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | |
| Zimbabwean | 4,521 | negligible (no data) | 7,323 | negligible (no data) |
| TOTAL | More than 1,000,000 | 0 % | NA | NA |
Metros with largest African-born population (2010 Census) · Demographics
Washington, DC, MD-VA-WV
Washington, DC, MD-VA-WV
Metropolitan area
Washington, DC, MD-VA-WV
African population
171,000
% of total metro population
2
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
Metropolitan area
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
African population
70,100
% of total metro population
1
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
Metropolitan area
Atlanta, GA
African population
70,100
% of total metro population
1
Boston, MA-NH
Boston, MA-NH
Metropolitan area
Boston, MA-NH
African population
61,600
% of total metro population
1
Baltimore Area, MD
Baltimore Area, MD
Metropolitan area
Baltimore Area, MD
African population
33,100
% of total metro population
1
New York, NY
New York, NY
Metropolitan area
New York, NY
African population
223,000
% of total metro population
1
Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
Metropolitan area
Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
African population
64,300
% of total metro population
0
Houston, TX
Houston, TX
Metropolitan area
Houston, TX
African population
56,100
% of total metro population
0
San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX
Metropolitan area
San Antonio, TX
African population
68,100
% of total metro population
0
Greater Los Angeles Area
Greater Los Angeles Area
Metropolitan area
Greater Los Angeles Area
African population
68,100
% of total metro population
0
San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
Metropolitan area
San Francisco Bay Area
African population
24,500
% of total metro population
0
| Metropolitan area | African population | % of total metro population |
| Washington, DC, MD-VA-WV | 171,000 | 2 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN | 70,100 | 1 |
| Atlanta, GA | 70,100 | 1 |
| Boston, MA-NH | 61,600 | 1 |
| Baltimore Area, MD | 33,100 | 1 |
| New York, NY | 223,000 | 1 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth, TX | 64,300 | 0 |
| Houston, TX | 56,100 | 0 |
| San Antonio, TX | 68,100 | 0 |
| Greater Los Angeles Area | 68,100 | 0 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | 24,500 | 0 |
· Demographics
Alabama
Alabama
State/territory
Alabama
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
44,872
Alaska
Alaska
State/territory
Alaska
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
2,200
Arizona
Arizona
State/territory
Arizona
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
58,584
Arkansas
Arkansas
State/territory
Arkansas
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
42,549
California
California
State/territory
California
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
319,119
Colorado
Colorado
State/territory
Colorado
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
56,591
Connecticut
Connecticut
State/territory
Connecticut
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
38,138
Delaware
Delaware
State/territory
Delaware
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
15,648
District of Columbia
District of Columbia
State/territory
District of Columbia
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
20,108
Florida
Florida
State/territory
Florida
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
161,983
Georgia
Georgia
State/territory
Georgia
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
199,299
Hawaii
Hawaii
State/territory
Hawaii
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
4,510
Idaho
Idaho
State/territory
Idaho
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
3,243
Illinois
Illinois
State/territory
Illinois
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
127,008
Indiana
Indiana
State/territory
Indiana
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
61,567
Iowa
Iowa
State/territory
Iowa
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
31,301
Kansas
Kansas
State/territory
Kansas
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
26,179
Kentucky
Kentucky
State/territory
Kentucky
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
38,745
Louisiana
Louisiana
State/territory
Louisiana
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
45,340
Maine
Maine
State/territory
Maine
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
14,674
Maryland
Maryland
State/territory
Maryland
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
248,180
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
State/territory
Massachusetts
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
149,753
Michigan
Michigan
State/territory
Michigan
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
80,461
Minnesota
Minnesota
State/territory
Minnesota
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
178,662
Mississippi
Mississippi
State/territory
Mississippi
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
2,300
Missouri
Missouri
State/territory
Missouri
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
54,003
Montana
Montana
State/territory
Montana
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
2,760
Nebraska
Nebraska
State/territory
Nebraska
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
28,566
Nevada
Nevada
State/territory
Nevada
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
45,510
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
State/territory
New Hampshire
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
8,701
New Jersey
New Jersey
State/territory
New Jersey
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
122,485
New Mexico
New Mexico
State/territory
New Mexico
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
6,826
New York
New York
State/territory
New York
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
263,282
North Carolina
North Carolina
State/territory
North Carolina
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
133,428
North Dakota
North Dakota
State/territory
North Dakota
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
8,100
Ohio
Ohio
State/territory
Ohio
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
137,487
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
State/territory
Oklahoma
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
17,477
Oregon
Oregon
State/territory
Oregon
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
24,159
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
State/territory
Pennsylvania
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
131,704
Rhode Island
Rhode Island
State/territory
Rhode Island
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
30,235
South Carolina
South Carolina
State/territory
South Carolina
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
47,684
South Dakota
South Dakota
State/territory
South Dakota
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
7,200
Tennessee
Tennessee
State/territory
Tennessee
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
95,626
Texas
Texas
State/territory
Texas
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
446,330
Utah
Utah
State/territory
Utah
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
18,672
Vermont
Vermont
State/territory
Vermont
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
2,400
Virginia
Virginia
State/territory
Virginia
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
226,140
Washington
Washington
State/territory
Washington
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
114,071
West Virginia
West Virginia
State/territory
West Virginia
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
8,748
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
State/territory
Wisconsin
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
32,632
Wyoming
Wyoming
State/territory
Wyoming
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
-
USA
USA
State/territory
USA
Subsaharan African
population (2019 Census)
2 million
| State/territory | Subsaharan African population (2019 Census) | Percentage |
| Alabama | 44,872 | |
| Alaska | 2,200 | |
| Arizona | 58,584 | |
| Arkansas | 42,549 | |
| California | 319,119 | |
| Colorado | 56,591 | |
| Connecticut | 38,138 | |
| Delaware | 15,648 | |
| District of Columbia | 20,108 | |
| Florida | 161,983 | |
| Georgia | 199,299 | |
| Hawaii | 4,510 | |
| Idaho | 3,243 | |
| Illinois | 127,008 | |
| Indiana | 61,567 | |
| Iowa | 31,301 | |
| Kansas | 26,179 | |
| Kentucky | 38,745 | |
| Louisiana | 45,340 | |
| Maine | 14,674 | |
| Maryland | 248,180 | |
| Massachusetts | 149,753 | |
| Michigan | 80,461 | |
| Minnesota | 178,662 | |
| Mississippi | 2,300 | |
| Missouri | 54,003 | |
| Montana | 2,760 | |
| Nebraska | 28,566 | |
| Nevada | 45,510 | |
| New Hampshire | 8,701 | |
| New Jersey | 122,485 | |
| New Mexico | 6,826 | |
| New York | 263,282 | |
| North Carolina | 133,428 | |
| North Dakota | 8,100 | |
| Ohio | 137,487 | |
| Oklahoma | 17,477 | |
| Oregon | 24,159 | |
| Pennsylvania | 131,704 | |
| Rhode Island | 30,235 | |
| South Carolina | 47,684 | |
| South Dakota | 7,200 | |
| Tennessee | 95,626 | |
| Texas | 446,330 | |
| Utah | 18,672 | |
| Vermont | 2,400 | |
| Virginia | 226,140 | |
| Washington | 114,071 | |
| West Virginia | 8,748 |
References
- "Total ancestry categories tallied for people with one or more ancestry categories reported 2010 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates"http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B04003&prodType=table
- "Sub-Saharan African Population on Rise in US"https://www.voanews.com/a/african-immigrant-population-on-the-rise-in-us/3728715.html/
- David E. Kyoso, Immigrants in the United States, (Godfrey Mwakikagile: 2010), p. 110.
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/13/nyregion/west-african-immigrants-nyc.html
- [Bashi, V. (2004, July 4). Globalizing Anti-Blackness: Transnationalzing Western Immigration law, policy and practice. Rhttp://www.arts.yorku.ca/soci/goldring/4390/readings/pdf/bashi_globalized_anti-blackness.pdf
- George Mason University. (1998). Who was Shut Out?: Immigration Quotas, 1925-1927. Retrieved May 1, 2010, from History Mhttp://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5078/
- Department of Homeland Securityhttps://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/yearbook/2016/table10
- travelhttps://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/diversity-visa-program-entry/diversity-visa-program-statistics.html
- Collyer, Michael, ed. Emigration nations: Policies and ideologies of emigrant engagement. Springer, 2013.
- Pew Researchhttps://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/01/27/key-findings-about-black-immigrants-in-the-u-s/
- Gambino, Christine P., Edward N. Trevelyan, and John Thomas Fitzwater. "The foreign-born population from Africa: 2008–20
- The Economist, March 28th 2020, page 6.
- Hagopian, Amy, et al. "The migration of physicians from Africa to the United States of America: measures of the African
- Thomas, Kevin JA. "What explains the increasing trend in African emigration to the US?." International Migration Review
- Migration Policy Institute
- African Advocacy Networkhttp://www.aansf.org/
- UNHCRhttp://www.unhcr.org/en-us/africa.html
- "The roots of Donald Trump's fixation with South Africa"https://www.vox.com/politics/399855/south-africa-donald-trump-elon-musk
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/05/12/afrikaner-refugees-arrive-dulles-trump/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Pew Research Centerhttps://www.pewresearch.org/2022/01/20/a-growing-share-of-black-immigrants-have-a-college-degree-or-higher/