Foreign-Born Population in US Hits Century High

The share of US residents born abroad rose significantly in 2023, reaching 14.3%, the highest level in over a century. Data from the US Census Bureau's annual American Community Survey revealed this increase up from 13.9% in 2022. The figure was last higher in 1910, when it stood at 14.7%. International migrants have predominantly fueled US population growth this decade, accounting for over two-thirds of the rise in 2023 alone. The Census Bureau figures don't make a distinction between people are in the United States legally or illegally.

Migrants from Latin America notably contributed to this surge, with their proportion of the foreign-born population increasing to 51.2%. Conversely, the percentage of foreign-born residents from Europe and Asia experienced minor declines. Demographic shifts were also evident in racial and age metrics. The Hispanic population grew to 19.4% of all US residents, while the non-Hispanic white population dropped to 57.1%. The US population continued to age, with the median age climbing to 39.2 years from 39.0. Notably, fewer employees are working from home, reducing from 15.2% in 2022 to 13.8% in 2023, reversing a post-pandemic trend and slightly increasing commute times. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)