Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Foreign-born share
1900–2023Census/ACS.
Foreign-Born Population
North Dakota's foreign-born population is about 37,000, or 4.7% of residents, well below the national share of 13.9%.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign-born share (%) | 4.7 | 13.9 |
- •About 15,000 of North Dakota's foreign-born residents are naturalized U.S. citizens.
- •Fargo has become a key resettlement hub for refugees in the Upper Midwest.
Countries of Origin
Mexico, Nepal, and Somalia are among the top countries of origin for North Dakota's immigrant population, reflecting both labor migration and refugee resettlement.
Foreign-born residents who are naturalized citizens
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B05002 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign-born share (%) | 4.7 | 13.9 |
- •Nepali and Somali communities in North Dakota grew substantially through refugee resettlement programs.
- •Mexican immigrants have long supported the state's agricultural workforce.
Migration Flows
Combined migration flows keep North Dakota's population growing slowly, at about 0.6% per year, driven by a mix of energy-job inflows and international arrivals.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth rate (%) | 0.6 | 0.5 |
- •North Dakota's population growth rate slightly exceeds the national average despite its rural character.
- •Energy prices remain a key driver of year-to-year migration swings.
International Migration
North Dakota gains roughly 3,400 new immigrants each year, a modest but steady contributor to the state's slow population growth.
Net international migration
2011–2025Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, net international migration, July–June years (2020 partial year omitted).
| Indicator | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth rate (%) | 0.6 | 0.5 |
- •International migration is a growing share of North Dakota's overall population growth.
- •Refugee resettlement agencies in Fargo and Bismarck coordinate much of this inflow.
Domestic Migration
Domestic migration in North Dakota has fluctuated with energy-sector cycles, drawing workers during oil booms and losing some population during downturns.
Net domestic migration
2011–2025Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, net domestic migration to/from other states, July–June years (2020 partial year omitted).
| Indicator | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Labor force participation (%) | 68.1 | 62.5 |
- •Williston's population roughly doubled during the peak Bakken oil boom years.
- •Domestic outmigration increased somewhat as oil production growth slowed after 2015.