E.g., 06/02/2024
E.g., 06/02/2024
State Demographics Data - TN
 

Tennessee

Demographics & Social
2022
2000
1990
Demographics

Note: The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.

Foreign Born
Number 392,453
% Foreign Born 5.6%
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2022 146.8%
% change: 1990-2000 169.0%
Race (%)  
One race 75.7%
White
25.9%
Black or African American
9.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native
0.7%
Asian
22.5%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
0.6%
Other race
16.4%
Two or more races 24.3%
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Number 171,045
% Latino 43.6%
Age Groups (%)  
Under 5 1.6%
5-17 10.0%
18-64 78.7%
65 and older 9.7%
Median Age

Note: 1) Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the Census Bureau’s pooled 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2022 ACS. 2) The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

39.8
Gender (% female) 48.4%
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Never married 24.5%
Married 63.0%
Separated, divorced, or widowed 12.5%

Note: The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.

U.S. Born
Number 6,658,886
% Foreign Born  
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011 20.4%
% change: 1990-2000 14.8%
Race (%)  
One race 94.1%
White 75.8%
Black or African American 15.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.2%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 0.1%
Other race 1.5%
Two or more races 5.9%
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Number 271,584
% Latino 4.1%
Age Groups (%)  
Under 5 5.9%
5-17 16.4%
18-64 59.9%
65 and older 17.7%
Median Age 39.1
Gender (% female) 51.0%
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Never married 31.4%
Married 48.3%
Separated, divorced, or widowed 20.3%
Foreign Born
Number 159,004
% Foreign Born 2.8%
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011  
 
Race (%)  
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Age Groups (%)  
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
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U.S. Born
Number 5,530,279
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011  
1990-2000  
Race (%)  
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Age Groups (%)  
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
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Foreign Born
Number 59,114
% Foreign Born 1.2%
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
Number 4,818,071
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Place of Birth Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at sea)

Note: For 1990, 2000, and current ACS year, the total for the region of birth of the foreign born is different from the total foreign born. This is because the 1990 total excludes those who did not report a country of birth and those born at sea, while the 2000 and the current ACS year totals exclude those born at sea.

392,453
Born in Africa 45,898
Born in Asia 107,648
Born in Europe 38,287
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 184,961
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 11,584
Born in Oceania 4,075
Top 3 Countries of Birth

Note: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.

 
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
Detailed Region/Country of Birth

Note: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.

392,453
Europe 38,287
Northern Europe 10,166
United Kingdom
9,430
Ireland
181
Other Northern Europe
555
Western Europe 12,047
France
1,215
Germany
8,908
Other Western Europe
1,924
Southern Europe 3,449
Italy
829
Portugal
539
Other Southern Europe
2,081
Eastern Europe 12,598
Poland
1,536
Russia
1,813
Other Eastern Europe
9,249
Other Europe (no country specified) 27
Asia 107,648
Eastern Asia 26,529
China
14,829

China, excluding Taiwan

13,785

Taiwan

1,044
Japan
2,249
Korea
9,078
Other Eastern Asia
373
South Central Asia 33,507
India
22,036
Iran
2,438
Other South Central Asia
9,033
Southeastern Asia 33,611
Philippines
11,506
Vietnam
9,289
Other Southeastern Asia
12,816
Western Asia 13,309
Israel
353
Lebanon
418
Other Western Asia
12,538
Other Asia (no country specified) 692
Africa 45,898
Eastern Africa 10,331
Northern Africa 18,176
Western Africa 10,009
Middle and Southern Africa 6,047
Other Africa (no country specified) 1,335
Oceania 4,075
Australia and New Zealand subregion 2,402
Oceania (no country specified) 1,673
Americas 196,545
Latin America 184,961
Caribbean
16,686

Cuba

4,551

Jamaica

4,010

Other Caribbean

8,125
Central America
140,578

Mexico

77,354

El Salvador

9,645

Other Central America

53,579
South America
27,697

Brazil

5,484

Colombia

5,153

Other South America

17,060
Northern America 11,584
Canada
11,519
Other Northern America
65
Period of Entry into U.S.  
Before 1990 51,305
1990-1999 68,524
2000-2009 108,004
Since 2010 164,620
%
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 100%
Born in Africa 11.7%
Born in Asia 27.4%
Born in Europe 9.8%
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 47.1%
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 3.0%
Born in Oceania 1.0%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
Detailed Region/Country of Birth* 100%
Europe 9.8%
Northern Europe 2.6%
United Kingdom 2.4%
Ireland N
Other Northern Europe 0.1%
Western Europe 3.1%
France 0.3%
Germany 2.3%
Other Western Europe 0.5%
Southern Europe 0.9%
Italy 0.2%
Portugal 0.1%
Other Southern Europe 0.5%
Eastern Europe 3.2%
Poland 0.4%
Russia 0.5%
Other Eastern Europe 2.4%
Other Europe (no country specified) N
Asia 27.4%
Eastern Asia 6.8%
China 3.8%
China, excluding Taiwan 3.5%
Taiwan 0.3%
Japan 0.6%
Korea 2.3%
Other Eastern Asia 0.1%
South Central Asia 8.5%
India 5.6%
Iran 0.6%
Other South Central Asia 2.3%
Southeastern Asia 8.6%
Philippines 2.9%
Vietnam 2.4%
Other Southeastern Asia 3.3%
Western Asia 3.4%
Israel 0.1%
Lebanon 0.1%
Other Western Asia 3.2%
Other Asia (no country specified) 0.2%
Africa 11.7%
Eastern Africa 2.6%
Northern Africa 4.6%
Western Africa 2.6%
Middle and Southern Africa 1.5%
Other Africa (no country specified) 0.3%
Oceania 1.0%
Australia and New Zealand subregion 0.6%
Oceania (no country specified) 0.4%
Americas 50.1%
Latin America 47.1%
Caribbean 4.3%
Cuba 1.2%
Jamaica 1.0%
Other Caribbean 2.1%
Central America 35.8%
Mexico 19.7%
El Salvador 2.5%
Other Central America 13.7%
South America 7.1%
Brazil 1.4%
Colombia 1.3%
Other South America 4.3%
Northern America 3.0%
Canada 2.9%
Other Northern America N
Period of Entry into U.S.  
Before 1980 13.1%
1980-1989 17.5%
1990-1999 27.5%
Since 2000 41.9%
Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 159,004
Born in Africa 8,696
Born in Asia 50,584
Born in Europe 28,117
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 63,484
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 7,194
Cat28 929
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Region of birth 100%
Born in Africa 5.5%
Born in Asia 31.8%
Born in Europe 17.7%
Born in Latin America 39.9%
Born in Northern America 4.5%
Born in Oceania 0.6%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 56,960
Born in Africa 2,690
Born in Asia 24,938
Born in Europe 17,611
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 6,859
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 4,296
Cat21 566
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Region of birth 100%
Born in Africa 4.7%
Born in Asia 43.8%
Born in Europe 30.9%
Born in Latin America 12.0%
Born in Northern America 7.5%
Born in Oceania 1.0%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Naturalization Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 392,453
Naturalized citizens 161,739
Noncitizens 230,714
Naturalized Citizens by Period of Naturalization 161,739
Before 1990 21,767
1990-1999 18,217
2000-2009 41,399
2010-2014 29,680
Since 2015 50,676
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 41.2%
Noncitizens 58.8%
Naturalized Citizens by Period of Naturalization 100%
Before 1980 13.5%
1980-1989 11.3%
1990-1999 25.6%
2000-2009 18.4%
Since 2010 31.3%
Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 159,004
Naturalized citizens 53,185
Noncitizens 105,819
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 33.4%
Noncitizens 66.6%
   
   
   
   
   
   
Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 59,114
Naturalized citizens 26,591
Noncitizens 32,523
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 45.0%
Noncitizens 55.0%
   
   
   
   
   
   
Fertility Foreign Born
Female Population (ages 15-50) 121,172
Women (ages 15-50) who gave birth in the last 12 months 6,861
% married among women who gave birth
75.2%
% unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) among women who gave birth
24.8%
U.S. Born
Female Population (ages 15-50) 1,524,277
Women (ages 15-50) who gave birth in the last 12 months 76,023
% married among women who gave birth 67.3%
% unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) among women who gave birth 32.7%
Foreign Born
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
Foreign Born
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
Household and Family Size

Note: Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S Census Bureau’s pooled 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2022 ACS. 2) The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Foreign Born
Average household size 3.22
Average family size 3.63
U.S. Born
Average household size 2.38
Average family size 2.94
Foreign Born
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
Foreign Born
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
 
Population
Population
Population
Children under 18 Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents

Note: Refers to children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau includes children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies.

 
Children under age 18 with 1,422,646
Only native parent(s)
1,230,180
One or more foreign-born parents
192,466

Child is native

153,303

Child is foreign born

39,163
Children under age 6 with 449,816
Only native parent(s)
388,078
One or more foreign-born parents
61,738

Child is native

54,891

Child is foreign born

6,847
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 972,830
Only native parent(s)
842,102
One or more foreign-born parents
130,728

Child is native

98,412

Child is foreign born

32,316
Children in Low-Income Families

Note: Refers to children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau includes children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies. The term "low-income families" refers to families with annual incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold.

567,300
Only native parents 463,255
One or more foreign-born parents 104,045
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents*  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 86.5%
One or more foreign-born parents 13.5%
Child is native 10.8%
Child is foreign born 2.8%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 86.3%
One or more foreign-born parents 13.7%
Child is native 12.2%
Child is foreign born 1.5%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 86.6%
One or more foreign-born parents 13.4%
Child is native 10.1%
Child is foreign born 3.3%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 81.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 18.3%
Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 1,322,766
Only native parent(s) 1,261,925
One or more foreign-born parents 60,841
Child is native 45,864
Child is foreign born 14,977
Children under age 6 with 425,520
Only native parent(s) 402,583
One or more foreign-born parents 22,937
Child is native 20,656
Child is foreign born 2,281
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 897,246
Only native parent(s) 859,342
One or more foreign-born parents 37,904
Child is native 25,208
Child is foreign born 12,696
Children in Low-Income Families* 529,120
Only native parents 503,623
One or more foreign-born parents 25,497
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 95.4%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.6%
Child is native 3.5%
Child is foreign born 1.1%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 94.6%
One or more foreign-born parents 5.4%
Child is native 4.9%
Child is foreign born 0.5%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 95.8%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.2%
Child is native 2.8%
Child is foreign born 1.4%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 95.2%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.8%
Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 1,159,734
Only native parent(s) 1,132,779
One or more foreign-born parents 26,955
Child is native 21,573
Child is foreign born 5,382
Children under age 6 with 385,053
Only native parent(s) 376,143
One or more foreign-born parents 8,910
Child is native 8,109
Child is foreign born 801
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 774,681
Only native parent(s) 756,636
One or more foreign-born parents 18,045
Child is native 13,464
Child is foreign born 4,581
Children in Low-Income Families* 513,462
Only native parents 503,715
One or more foreign-born parents 9,747
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 97.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 2.3%
Child is native 1.9%
Child is foreign born 0.5%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 97.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 2.3%
Child is native 2.1%
Child is foreign born 0.2%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 97.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 2.3%
Child is native 1.7%
Child is foreign born 0.6%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 98.1%
One or more foreign-born parents 1.9%

Sources: Migration Policy Institute tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and Decennial Census. Unless stated otherwise, 2022 data are from the one-year ACS file. For information about ACS definitions, click here. For ACS methodology, sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here. Estimates from 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census data as well as ACS microdata are from Steven Ruggles, Sarah Flood, Matthew Sobek, Daniel Backman, Annie Chen, Grace Cooper, Stephanie Richards, Renae Rogers, and Megan Schouweiler. IPUMS USA: Version 14.0 [dataset]. Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS, 2023. https://doi.org/10.18128/D010.V14.0​.

Definitions

  • The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.
  • The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.
  • The term "low-income families" refers to families with annual incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold.

Data-related notes

  • The letter N indicates that an estimate could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.
  • Race and Hispanic origin: In preparation for the 2020 Decennial Census, the Census Bureau has made some improvements and changes in how the respondents were asked about their race and Hispanic origin on the 2020 decennial Census form. The goal was to achieve a more accurate portrait of how U.S. residents self-identify. The same changes in the questionnaire design were implemented in the subsequent ACS as well. Note that the racial composition of the U.S. population in the current ACS looks different from pre-2020 data. For instance, the proportion of people who reported “two or more races” has increased, while the proportion of “white alone” decreased, reflecting both the growth of a more racially diverse population and the changes in the questionnaire design. Race and Hispanic origin comparisons between the current ACS and pre-2020 data should be made with caution, taking into account the changes in the questionnaire design. For more details, visit the Census Bureau’s Resource Library.
  • For “Median Age” and “Household Size”: Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S. Census Bureau's pooled 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2022 ACS.
  • Region of birth: For 1990, 2000, and current ACS year, the total for the region of birth of the foreign born is different from the total foreign born. This is because the 1990 total excludes those who did not report a country of birth and those born at sea, while the 2000 census and the current ACS year totals exclude those born at sea.
  • Countries of birth: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.
  • Children: The data here include children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau has included children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies.