Approx. 650,000 immigrants call Nevada home, far above national average

New Census Bureau figures show that roughly 650,000 foreign-born residents live in Nevada, accounting for nearly 20% of the state's population. This share exceeds the national average of 14.8%. In 2014, the percentage of foreign-born residents in Nevada stood at 19%, reflecting a slight increase over the decade.

"Foreign-born" is defined as any person living in the United States who was not a citizen at birth, regardless of current legal status. This definition includes naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents such as green-card holders, people on temporary visas such as students and guest workers, refugees, asylees, and illegal immigrants alike. The Census Bureau intentionally avoids collecting information on respondents' immigration status or how they entered the country, so its foreign-born population counts combine all of these groups without separating authorized from unauthorized residents. Independent estimates of the undocumented population are produced by organizations like the Department of Homeland Security and Pew Research Center, which layer administrative records on legal admissions, visa overstays, and border data onto the Census totals.

Nevada ranks fifth among U.S. states in the share of foreign-born residents. Only California (27.7%), New Jersey (24.2%), New York (23.1%), and Florida (22.1%) have higher proportions. At the opposite end, the states with the smallest foreign-born populations are West Virginia (2.1%), Montana (2.3%), Wyoming (3.4%), and Mississippi (3.5%). Among metropolitan areas, the greater Miami area leads the nation at 41.9% foreign-born, followed by San Jose (40%) and New York City (38%). The lowest share belongs to Parkersburg, West Virginia, at just 0.98% of foreign-born residents. Within Nevada, Reno has the highest proportion at 13.4%, followed by Carson City at 12.7% and Las Vegas at approximately 12%.

Eligible foreign-born citizens vote at lower rates than native-born citizens. In the 2020 presidential election, 59% of eligible foreign-born citizens turned out, compared with 71% of native-born citizens. Turnout among foreign-born citizens in 2024 remained in the same range. Although their overall participation rate is lower, foreign-born Hispanic and Asian voters often equal or exceed the turnout of their native-born counterparts.

Over the past decade, the nation’s foreign-born population has grown by about 7.8 million people, rising from 42.4 million in 2014 to 50.2 million in 2024.

This continued increase has kept immigration at the center of national debates about border security, workforce demands, and the strain on public services. In Nevada, where hospitality, construction, and service jobs have relied on both authorized and unauthorized immigrant labor, supporters emphasize that these workers fill shortages and support the economy, while critics point to added pressure on the state’s already low-ranking schools, healthcare system, and budget.

Nevada remains a closely contested swing state where immigration consistently ranks among the top voter concerns, alongside the economy, crime, and government spending. As a result, candidates in future elections are likely to continue placing the issue at the center of their campaign messaging.