Biggest sources of immigrants to Portland, Maine
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 Portland, Maine come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Portland as of 2019's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
#49 (tie). Laos
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 99
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 181,546
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #42 most common country of origin
#49 (tie). Morocco
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 99
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 78,439
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #73 most common country of origin
#48. Liberia
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 104
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 87,991
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #67 most common country of origin
#47. Haiti
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 107
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 672,655
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #15 most common country of origin
#46. Israel
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 109
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 135,672
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #50 most common country of origin
#45. Czechoslovakia (includes Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 112
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 66,818
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #76 most common country of origin
#44. Cuba
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 114
- 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
#43. Jordan
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 118
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 81,155
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #71 most common country of origin
#42. Argentina
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 119
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 194,435
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #39 most common country of origin
#41. Syria
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 122
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 95,802
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #63 most common country of origin
#39. Afghanistan
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 126
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 101,548
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #59 most common country of origin
#39. France
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 126
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 181,554
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #41 most common country of origin
#39. Pakistan
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 126
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 376,127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin
#36 (tie). Colombia
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 142
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 761,374
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #12 most common country of origin
#36 (tie). Indonesia
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 142
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 96,229
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #62 most common country of origin
#35. Portugal
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 146
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 171,118
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #44 most common country of origin
#34. Ukraine
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 148
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 345,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin
#33. Romania
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 150
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 162,046
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #45 most common country of origin
#32. Ethiopia
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 156
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 249,777
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin
#31. Congo
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 163
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 30,496
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #106 most common country of origin
#30. Greece
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 175
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 129,765
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #51 most common country of origin
#29. Guatemala
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 212
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#28. Peru
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 214
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 451,076
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #18 most common country of origin
#27. Dominican Republic
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 226
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 1,118,147
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
- #8 most common country of origin
#26. Japan
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 233
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 345,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #29 most common country of origin
#25. Italy
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 240
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 332,857
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #30 most common country of origin
#24. Netherlands
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 244
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 85,161
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #69 most common country of origin
#23. Australia
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 247
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 92,483
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #64 most common country of origin
#22. El Salvador
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 259
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#21. Sudan
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 303
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 46,716
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #87 most common country of origin
#20. Thailand
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 313
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 255,345
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #32 most common country of origin
#19. Poland
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 314
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 410,841
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin
#18. Jamaica
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 318
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 741,386
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #13 most common country of origin
#17. Mexico
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 333
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin
#16. Bulgaria
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 334
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 69,765
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #75 most common country of origin
#15. Brazil
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 351
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin
#14. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 363
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
- Number of residents: 103,938
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #57 most common country of origin
#13. Russia
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 383
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin
#12. South Korea
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 569
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin
#11. Somalia
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 673
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.6%
National
- Number of residents: 98,966
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #60 most common country of origin
#10. Democratic Republic of Congo
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 784
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
National
- Number of residents: 43,723
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #91 most common country of origin
#9. Iraq
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 825
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.2%
National
- Number of residents: 225,038
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #38 most common country of origin
#8. Vietnam
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 839
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.3%
National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin
#7. Germany
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 873
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.4%
National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin
#6. Cambodia
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 948
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.7%
National
- Number of residents: 151,066
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #46 most common country of origin
#5. Philippines
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,038
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.0%
National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#4. India
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,051
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.1%
National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin
#3. China
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,133
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.4%
National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
#2. United Kingdom
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,391
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.4%
National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin
#1. Canada
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,173
- Percent of foreign born residents: 12.3%
National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin
