10 things to know about immigration in Minnesota

Nearly 524,000 Minnesotans are immigrants, a group that includes all people who were not U.S. citizens at birth. Numerically, this is nearing our state's peak immigrant population of 544,000 immigrant residents in 1910.

Immigrants make up about 9% of Minnesota’s population, a share that has held steady over the past decade. During the height of immigration to the state in the late 1800s and early 1900s, immigrants represented up to one-third of Minnesota's residents.

Some of Minnesota's largest immigrant communities have been in the U.S. for more than two decades. In Minnesota, at least half of our Lao, Korean, German, Vietnamese, Hmong, Canadian, Russian, and Mexican immigrant communities have been in the U.S. for more than 20 years.

_{Source: Integrated Public Use Microdata Series from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey.}

Other immigrant communities arrived more recently. At least a quarter of our Nigerian, Ecuadorian, Guatemalan, Indian, and Ukrainian immigrant communities have been in the U.S. for 5 years or fewer.

_{Source: Integrated Public Use Microdata Series from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey.}

More than a quarter of Minnesota’s immigrants are from Africa – 28%, compared to just 6% nationwide. Nationally, over half of immigrants are from Latin America, but in Minnesota that share is just a quarter.

Minnesota has the largest Somali and Liberian immigrant communities in the U.S., with 43% of Somali-born and 15% of Liberian-born immigrants to the U.S. living in our state. We also have the second-largest immigrant community born in Laos, most of whom are Hmong. As of 2024, Minnesota is tied with California for the largest Hmong diaspora community (counting both immigrants and their descendants) in the nation.

More than three-quarters of immigrants live in the Twin Cities region. Although the central cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul have higher shares of residents who are foreign-born, the suburbs are home to nearly three times the number of foreign-born residents compared to the central cities. 

Several cities and counties in greater Minnesota have well-established immigrant communities as well. For example, more than 1 in 5 residents in Nobles County in southwestern Minnesota are foreign-born, the highest concentration of foreign-born residents of any county in the state.

Minnesota's immigrant adults are evenly distributed across levels of educational attainment. Roughly equal shares of immigrant adults have less than a high school diploma, a high school degree or GED, some college or an associate degree, a bachelor's degree, or an advanced degree. 

Compared to native-born residents, greater shares of foreign-born residents are concentrated along the edges of the educational spectrum, either holding less than a high school diploma or holding an advanced degree.

More than three-quarters of Minnesota’s foreign-born adults are working, statistically equivalent to the statewide rate. But immigrant employment varies by birthplace, gender, and years in the U.S. For example, 81% of foreign-born adults who have been in the U.S. for longer than 20 years are working, compared to 68% of adults who have been here for five years or fewer.

While employment among immigrants is similar to all Minnesotans, a greater share of immigrants live in poverty: 13% of Minnesota's immigrants live below the poverty level, compared to 9% of all Minnesotans.

Population projections anticipate slowed growth in our working-age population (18-64) in the coming decades, especially compared to previous decades. Immigration brings new residents to the state who are often of prime working age (contributing to workforce stability) and/or of prime child-bearing age (contributing to population stability and growth). As we reach the tail end of Baby Boomer retirements in the coming decade, our state will need to continue to rely on immigration to fill a growing number of open and new jobs, contribute to the tax base, and maintain economic stability.

One in five children in Minnesota has a foreign-born parent. The vast majority of these children – 83% – are second-generation, born in the U.S. and citizens by birth. The number of second-generation immigrant children has nearly tripled since 2000, while the number of foreign-born children living in Minnesota has actually fallen slightly.

Knowing a foreign language and having the ability to navigate across multiple cultures can be a great asset to Minnesota's future workforce. Today, 19% of students enrolled in Minnesota’s public schools speak a language other than English at home.  

But learning English as a second (or third or fourth...) language can also be a barrier to student achievement. Compared to all Minnesota students, much smaller shares of English learners meet state standards in reading, science, and math. In high school, 67% of English language learners graduate within four years, compared to 85% of all students.

_{Source: Minnesota Department of Education, 2025 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment and 2025 graduation records.}

Making sure English language learners and, more broadly, all children from immigrant families are supported and succeeding is critical to Minnesota’s future workforce and prosperity. But academic achievement isn’t the only way in which we can – and must – support our immigrant communities. In light of recent federal action that disrupted employment and wages, education, and well-being for many Minnesota immigrants, we know that workplace protections, access to basic needs, general and mental health support, and community connection are also essential to making sure Minnesota immigrants are welcomed, supported, and able to thrive.