Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Foreign-born share
1900–2023Share of residents born outside the U.S.
Foreign-Born Population
Montana's foreign-born population was about 2.3% of residents in 2023, one of the lowest shares in the nation, roughly 26,000 people statewide.
Foreign-born residents
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of total population, B05002 (2020 not released).
Foreign-born population
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B05002 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign-born share (%) | 2.3 | 13.9 |
- •Montana has one of the smallest foreign-born populations of any U.S. state, ahead of only West Virginia.
Countries of Origin
Among Montana's foreign-born residents, Mexico, Germany, Canada and the Philippines are the leading countries of origin, per 2022 ACS estimates.
Foreign-born residents who are naturalized citizens
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B05002 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Share born in Mexico among foreign-born (%) | 19.5 | 23 |
- •Montana's proximity to Canada makes Canadian-born residents a larger share here than in most U.S. states.
Migration Flows
Combined net migration added about 10,200 residents to Montana in 2023, making migration the primary driver of the state's population growth, far outweighing natural increase.
Total net migration
2011–2025Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, international plus domestic net migration, July–June years (2020 partial year omitted).
Net international migration
2011–2025Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, net international migration, July–June years (2020 partial year omitted).
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Migration share of population growth (%) | 95 | 68 |
- •Migration, not births, explains almost all of Montana's population growth over the past three years.
International Migration
Montana gained approximately 1,900 net international migrants in 2023, a small but positive contributor to the state's overall population growth.
Net international migration
2011–2025Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, net international migration, July–June years (2020 partial year omitted).
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Net international migration (thousands) | 1.9 | 1.1 |
- •International migration accounts for a small fraction of Montana's growth compared with domestic movers.
Domestic Migration
Montana added roughly 8,300 net domestic migrants in 2023, continuing a multi-year trend of Americans relocating from other states, especially California and Washington.
Net domestic migration
2011–2025Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, net domestic migration to/from other states, July–June years (2020 partial year omitted).
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 7.3 | 0.5 |
- •Montana ranks among the top states for domestic in-migration per capita since the pandemic began.