The Migration Policy Institute has published a country profile on Sub-Saharan African immigrants in the United States through its Migration Information Source series, the institute's main public-facing hub for demographic briefings on U.S. immigrant populations.

The release joins MPI's standing set of country and region profiles, which translate raw federal statistics into plain-language analysis for journalists, attorneys, and community organizations.

What does the profile cover?

The profile examines migrants born in any country below the Sahara, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Africa. Coverage spans:

• Population totals and growth since the 1970 census
• Country-of-origin rankings and regional groupings
• States and metropolitan areas of residence
• Year of entry and length of U.S. residence
• Educational attainment and English proficiency
• Employment sectors, occupations, and median household income
• Citizenship and naturalization rates
• Temporary visa categories, including refugees and Diversity Visa Lottery recipients

The underlying numbers draw from three federal sources: the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs visa statistics, and the Refugee Processing Center.

Why does this population matter now?

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for a small share of the overall U.S. foreign-born population, but it has grown faster than most other regions since 2010. Three pipelines drive that growth:

• Refugee admissions under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which resettles applicants referred by UNHCR
• Diversity Visa Lottery recipients from countries with low historical immigration to the United States
• Family-sponsored preference categories, through which U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents sponsor relatives abroad

African-born migrants remain concentrated in major gateway states, but secondary destinations in the South and Midwest have grown as new refugee arrivals and family chain migration move outward. States including Minnesota, Maryland, Georgia, and Texas now host sizable numbers.

Which policy debates does the profile touch?

The publication lands during a period of active policy change for African-born migrants. Refugee ceilings have moved sharply between administrations, with published numbers ranging widely from year to year. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations cover Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, with terms subject to periodic redesignation. USCIS field offices carry application backlogs that lengthen naturalization processing for applicants statewide.

Diversity Visa availability depends on the regional limits set in section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Readers looking for case-specific guidance on naturalization, asylum, or visa eligibility should contact a DOJ-accredited representative or licensed attorney.

How is the data organized?

MPI profiles follow a single format across regions. Charts show state-level concentration in the largest receiving metro areas — including New York, Washington, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Atlanta, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Tables break out countries of origin, age at entry, and English ability. Each chart links to a downloadable spreadsheet.

Profiles do not include projected totals or scenario-based forecasts. They present only what federal data sources report, updated as new ACS releases drop annually.

Where to read it

The full Sub-Saharan African Immigrants in the United States profile, with charts and downloadable tables, is free on the Migration Policy Institute website under Migration Information Source. Researchers and journalists may reproduce the material with credit to MPI.

In the same series, MPI maintains profiles on individual African countries such as Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Somalia, each linking to the regional overview for cross-reference.