Data snapshot: Immigration in Greater Philadelphia

Posted by on July 30, 2012

Report Examines Immigration Trends in the Region

Greater Philadelphia’s population is becoming more diverse, according to a new DVRPC Data Snapshot, Immigration in Greater Philadelphia. Greater Philadelphia’s foreign-born population has grown and changed rapidly since the 1990s, and immigration has helped many communities in the region replenish population losses.

Approximately ten percent of the Greater Philadelphia region’s population is foreign-born. In 2010, the immigrant population reached 563,603 in Greater Philadelphia – an increase of 159,143 (39 percent) since 2000. Philadelphia County has the greatest number of foreign-born residents (172,415), while Mercer County has the highest percentage of foreign-born residents at 19.7 percent. Gloucester County has the fewest foreign-born residents, as well as the lowest percentage of foreign-born residents (4.9 percent).

While Europeans overwhelmingly migrated to the Greater Philadelphia area prior to the 1980s, most foreign-born arriving since 2000 are from Asia and Latin America. The top three countries of origin for Greater Philadelphia’s foreign-born are India, Mexico, and China.

The report also found that foreign-born residents have a higher percentage of graduate or professional degrees than the native population, but are also more likely to have less than a high school diploma. Naturalized citizens have higher household incomes than native households and are more likely to own their own homes.

To view the full Data Snapshot, click here.

http://www.dvrpc.org/asp/pubs/publicationabstract.asp?pub_id=DS12075