Nearly 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 countries most immigrants to Denver come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Denver as of 2019’s five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in Denver.
#50. Hong Kong
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 881
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 231,275
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
– #36 most common country of origin
Photo source: Adam Jones, Ph.D. // Wikicommons
#49. Morocco
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 900
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 78,439
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #73 most common country of origin
#48. Chile
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,030
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 98,945
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #61 most common country of origin
#47. Belarus
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,032
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 63,642
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #78 most common country of origin
Photo source: Evgeniya Uvarova // Shutterstock
#46. Argentina
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,056
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 194,435
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #39 most common country of origin
Photo source: Tupungato // Shutterstock
#45. France
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,059
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 181,554
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #41 most common country of origin
Photo source: kirkandmimi // Pixabay
#44. Czechoslovakia (includes Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,063
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 66,818
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #76 most common country of origin
Photo source: Christopher Michel // Flickr
#43. Sudan
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,102
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 46,716
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #87 most common country of origin
Photo source: MDOGAN // Shutterstock
#42. Somalia
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,117
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 98,966
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #60 most common country of origin
Photo source: Issa Kashala // Shutterstock
#41. Democratic Republic of Congo
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,134
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 43,723
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
– #91 most common country of origin
Photo source: Vannrith Va // Unsplash
#40. Cambodia
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,144
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 151,066
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #46 most common country of origin
Photo source: Augustin Lazaroiu // Shutterstock
#39. Romania
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,205
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 162,046
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #45 most common country of origin
Photo source: Simon // Pixabay
#38. Australia
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,208
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 92,483
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #64 most common country of origin
#37. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,216
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
– Number of residents: 103,938
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #57 most common country of origin
#36. Afghanistan
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,300
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 101,548
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #59 most common country of origin
#35. Cuba
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,305
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 1,289,875
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.9%
– #7 most common country of origin
Photo source: HandmadePictures // Shutterstock
#34. South Africa
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,361
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 104,022
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #56 most common country of origin
Photo source: Creativa Images // Shutterstock
#33. Indonesia
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,388
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 96,229
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
– #62 most common country of origin
Photo source: Catarina Belova // Shutterstock
#32. Brazil
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,421
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 433,479
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
– #20 most common country of origin
Photo source: Saqib Rizvi // Shutterstock
#31. Pakistan
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,471
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 376,127
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #25 most common country of origin
Photo source: Photos By Beks // Unsplash
#30. Kenya
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,517
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 141,751
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #48 most common country of origin
Photo source: Cheng Qian // Unsplash
#29. Burma
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,529
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
– Number of residents: 147,573
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #47 most common country of origin
Photo source: OpenUpEd // Flickr
#28. Nigeria
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 1,709
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
– Number of residents: 350,272
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #26 most common country of origin
Photo source: agchinook // Shutterstock
#27. Venezuela
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,024
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 349,720
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #27 most common country of origin
Photo source: Pixabay
#26. Taiwan
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,046
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 381,098
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #24 most common country of origin
Photo source: USACE HQ , JIM GORDAN, CIV, USACE // Wikicommons
#25. Iraq
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,239
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
– Number of residents: 225,038
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
– #38 most common country of origin
Photo source: Jack Bkk // Shutterstock
#24. Thailand
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,337
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 255,345
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
– #32 most common country of origin
Photo source: Pascal Müller // Unsplash
#23. Laos
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,377
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 181,546
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #42 most common country of origin
Photo source: Ninara // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Iran
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,412
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 382,260
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #23 most common country of origin
Photo source: Unsplash
#21. Ukraine
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,449
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 345,250
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #28 most common country of origin
Photo source: Alexander Canas Arango // Shutterstock
#20. Colombia
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,560
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 761,374
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
– #12 most common country of origin
Photo source: Nahlik // Shutterstock
#19. Poland
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,596
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
– Number of residents: 410,841
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #21 most common country of origin
Photo source: Unsplash
#18. Japan
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,783
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
– Number of residents: 345,140
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
– #29 most common country of origin
Photo source: Marek Poplawski // Shutterstock
#17. Honduras
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,803
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
– Number of residents: 651,123
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
– #16 most common country of origin
Photo source: Rjruiziii // Wikicommons
#16. Ghana
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,805
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
– Number of residents: 178,388
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
– #43 most common country of origin
Photo source: Vixit // Shutterstock
#15. Nepal
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 2,941
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
– Number of residents: 140,904
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
– #49 most common country of origin
Photo source: Christian Vinces // Shutterstock
#14. Peru
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 3,937
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
– Number of residents: 451,076
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
– #18 most common country of origin
Photo source: Kobby Dagan // Shutterstock
#13. Guatemala
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 3,945
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
– Number of residents: 979,098
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
– #10 most common country of origin
Photo source: Viacheslav Lopatin // Shutterstock
#12. Russia
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 5,021
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
– Number of residents: 391,641
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
– #22 most common country of origin
Photo source: Max Pixel
#11. Germany
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 6,122
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
– Number of residents: 560,368
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
– #17 most common country of origin
Photo source: Joseph Oropel // Shutterstock
#10. Philippines
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 6,377
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
National
– Number of residents: 1,983,939
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
– #4 most common country of origin
Photo source: JMRAFFi // Wikimedia Commons
#9. El Salvador
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 6,688
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
National
– Number of residents: 1,381,008
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
– #5 most common country of origin
Photo source: User:Colin // Wikimedia Commons
#8. United Kingdom
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 6,910
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.0%
National
– Number of residents: 698,612
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
– #14 most common country of origin
Photo source: Unsplash
#7. Canada
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 8,060
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.3%
National
– Number of residents: 808,566
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
– #11 most common country of origin
Photo source: neiljs // Flickr
#6. Ethiopia
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 8,719
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
National
– Number of residents: 249,777
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
– #34 most common country of origin
Photo source: Kys951 // Wikimedia Commons
#5. South Korea
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 8,982
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.6%
National
– Number of residents: 1,044,634
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
– #9 most common country of origin
Photo source: Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#4. China
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 10,890
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
National
– Number of residents: 2,162,395
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
– #3 most common country of origin
Photo source: Quangpraha // Pixabay
#3. Vietnam
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 15,514
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.4%
National
– Number of residents: 1,336,988
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
– #6 most common country of origin
Kriangkrai Thitimakorn // Shutterstock
#2. India
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 17,294
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
National
– Number of residents: 2,561,906
– Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
– #2 most common country of origin
Jakub Hejtmánek // Wikicommons
#1. Mexico
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
– Number of residents: 142,901
– Percent of foreign born residents: 40.8%
National
– Number of residents: 11,250,541
– Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
– #1 most common country of origin