Demography of Immigrants in Minnesota

Barbara J. RonningenState Demographic Center

July 19, 2006

Who Immigrates? Young people - most immigrants are young working-age adults

About half are female and half male

About 30% of immigrants return home EXCEPT for refugees

Refugees must prove that their lives are in danger in their homeland

In 2004, 44% of immigrants to Minnesota came to join family (family preference)

In 2004, 17% of immigrants to Minnesota came to work (employment preference)

In 2004, 26% of immigrants to Minnesota came as refugees or asylees

1820

1830

1840

1850

1860

1870

1880

1890

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2001

-200

5

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Mill

ions

AfricaSouth America

North America Asia Europe

40% of Immigrants Come from North America* 19% from Mexico

U.S. 1820 through 2005

Source: Immigration and Naturalization Service*North America includes Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean nations and Central America.

We're Number 1! Largest population of Somali

immigrants

Highest proportion of refugees

Second highest population of Hmong

Highest number coming for the winter

Minnesota total = 260,454

29 to 100 100 to 1,000 1,000 to 10,000 10,000 to 20,000 20,000 to 110,496

Foreign Born Residents2000

Source: U.S. Census

For Minnesota, Asian is predominant

Asian Latin America North America

Predominant Origin of Foreign Born Residents2000

Source: U.S. Census

Minnesota = 5.5%

Missing 0.8% to 2.9% 3.4% to 5.5% 10.2% to 10.9%

Pct. of Employed Persons that Were Foreign-Born1999

Source: U.S. Census

2004 Population EstimatesSource: State Demographic Center

Latinos - 175,000Hmong - 60,000Somalis - 25,000Vietnamese - 25,000Russians - 12,500Laotians - 13,000Cambodians - 7,500Ethiopians - 7,500

1 in 6 Births are to Mothers Born Outside U.S.

Source: MN Department of Health

16.8%

1.3%

4.3%

1.8%

All non-U.S. Laos Mexico Somalia0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

1990199520022004

Minnesota total = 16.8% .0% to 5.0% 5.0% to 10.0% 10.0% to 14.9% 14.9% to 24.1% 29.8% to 38.5%

2 in 5 Babies Born to Foreign-Born Moms in Nobles CoPercentage of all Births in 2004

Source: MN Department of Health

Minority Student Numbers Increase

1991-92 to 2005-06Source: MN Department of Education

15,06413,439

7,118

4,398

Kindergarten 12th Grade

1991-19922002-2003

2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006

21,27725,312

36,59541,193

45,83250,078

54,673

63,455

69,61873,620

77,10781,025

85,904

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20060

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Non

-Eng

lish

- T

hous

ands

800

810

820

830

840

850

860

Enr

ollm

ent

- T

hous

ands

Non-English Speakers Continue to Increase as Enrollments Decline

Source: MN Department of Education

Minnesota total = 85,904 0 to 0 1 to 180 238 to 694 885 to 3,125 6,458 to 6,483 22,964 to 26,793

Only 3 Counties Have No Non-English Speakers2005-2006 School Year

Source: MN Department of Education

Minnesota total = 30,467

0 to 0

1 to 17

22 to 90

109 to 376

497 to 885

1,400 to 9,538

Students Speaking Spanish at Home2005 - 2006 School Year

Source: MN Department of Education

Most Recently Arrived Immigrants are Young AdultsSource: 2000 Census

25.8%

18.5%

44.3%

8.9%

2.5%

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

Under 18 18 to 24 25 to 44 45 to 64 65 and over

Recent Arrivals Have Lower IncomesTotal Per Capita Income

Source: 2000 Census

58.3%

33.0%

16.8%

9.0%11.5%

18.2%

7.5%

17.0%

5.8%

13.6%

< $10,000 $10,000-$20,000 $20,000-$30,000$30,000-$50,000 $50,000+

Arrived after 1989Arrived before 1990

Things to Consider What services are needed immediately after arrival to

ease adjustment for new residents

How can service providers best accommodate new residents

How can Minnesota take better advantage of the skills and knowledge these immigrants bring

Is English language training being delivered effectively

How can Minnesota best accept cultural pluralism

What will the U.S. Congress do

Fewer Immigrants in the Future? YES - Post-September 11

NO - Numbers (especially refugees) continue to rise; Wat refugees expected to number 5,000

YES -Minnesota less "welcoming"

YES - Recession's recovery has created fewer jobs

NO - Current immigrants can now bring family members

YES - Sensenbrenner bill

NO - Kennedy-McCain bill

For More Data on Immigration State Demographic Centerhttp://www.demography.state.mn.us/

Wilder Foundation report on immigration:http://www.wilder.org/research/reports.html?summary=89

Department of Homeland Security, Office of Immigration Statistics:

http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/shared/aboutus/statistics/ybpage.htm

H.A.C.E.R. (University of Minnesota)http://www.hacer-mn.org/

Chicano Latino Affairs Council (C.L.A.C.) http://www.clac.state.mn.us/chicanos.htm

Frankly, Harold, you're beginning to bore everyone with your statistics.