What happened?
A new analysis from Pew Research shows the U.S. foreign-born population declined from 53.3 million in January 2025 to 51.9 million by June, marking the first dip in more than 50 years. That’s a drop of approximately 1.4 million immigrants — reducing their share of the U.S. population from 15.8% to 15.4%.CalMatters & Pew Research Center
Why it matters:
- Shrinking immigrant numbers mean fewer workers in sectors like agriculture, construction, and healthcare, threatening productivity and service availability.
- This demographic shift may slow economic growth, tighten labor markets, and press policymakers to revisit immigration legislation.New York Post & Wall Street Journal
What’s changing?
| Before Jan 2025 | After June 2025 |
|---|---|
| 53.3 M immigrants (15.8% of population) | 51.9 M (15.4%) |
| Growing population trend | First decline in decades; 1.4 M fewer immigrants |
What are the implications?
- Less labor supply in industries heavily dependent on immigrants.
- Potential strain on economic output, as lower immigration slows overall labor force growth.
- Policy pressure rising—lawmakers and businesses may advocate for reform or relief programs to offset decline.
