Green-card holders, also known as permanent residents, are immigrants to the United States who are permitted to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely as well as serve in the military. There are green-card holders in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The number of green-card holders varies widely from place to place.
To compile a list of the number of people who obtained a green card in the fiscal 2021, the last year for which data is available, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data by market and consumer data company Statista, which drew on information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s 2021 Yearbook of Immigration Report. It includes American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, and armed forces posts.
According to that immigration report, 740,002 people received green cards in 2021. Excluding the COVID-19 year of 2020, that was the fewest green cards issued in any year since 2003.
As of October 2023, there were 273,263 pending green-card applications in the United States, based on data from National Visa Center Immigrant Visa Backlog Report. The process of obtaining a green card involves several government agencies, including the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of State.
The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets per-country limits on the number of green cards issued. To ensure diversity among immigrants, no one nation can receive more than 7% of the available green cards in a particular category. The quota leads to extended waiting times for applicants from countries with high demand.
Foreigners seeking employment and eventual citizenship in the United States tend to sink roots in communities where they have families or friends. The influx of green card-holders is higher in states with larger foreign-born populations.
Historically, states in the Far West and South have had lower percentages of green-card holders as a share of the population, while states on each coast have had the highest number. That remains true. The Far West states of Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota, and the southern states of West Virginia, Alabama, and Mississippi had the lowest percentages of green-card holders, while New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, California, and Florida had the highest share. (Also See The Best Cities for Immigrants According to Data.)
Here are the new green card holders in every state.
53. Wyoming
Source: aimintang / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Source: aimintang / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 280
- Share of total state population: 0.048% — 5th lowest
- Population: 581,381
52. Montana
Source: Jon Bilous / iStock via Getty Images
Source: Jon Bilous / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 404
- Share of total state population: 0.036% — 2nd lowest
- Population: 1,122,867
51. Vermont
Source: A&J Fotos / E+ via Getty Images
Source: A&J Fotos / E+ via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 423
- Share of total state population: 0.065% — 8th lowest
- Population: 647,064
50. Guam
Source: Yagi-Studio / iStock via Getty Images
Source: Yagi-Studio / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 447
- Share of total state population: 0.291% — 6th highest
- Population: 153,836
49. West Virginia
Source: waterford_man / Flickr
- People who received a green card in 2021: 494
- Share of total state population: 0.028% — the lowest
- Population: 1,775,156
48. South Dakota
Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 681
- Share of total state population: 0.075% — 10th lowest
- Population: 909,824
47. Alaska
Source: 1111IESPDJ / E+ via Getty Images
Source: 1111IESPDJ / E+ via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 761
- Share of total state population: 0.104% — 20th lowest
- Population: 733,583
46. Maine
Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 899
- Share of total state population: 0.065% — 7th lowest
- Population: 1,385,340
45. North Dakota
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 996
- Share of total state population: 0.128% — 25th lowest
- Population: 779,261
44. Mississippi
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 1,165
- Share of total state population: 0.040% — 3rd lowest
- Population: 2,940,057
43. Puerto Rico
Source: Martin Wheeler / iStock via Getty Images
Source: Martin Wheeler / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 1,326
- Share of total state population: 0.041% — 4th lowest
- Population: 3,221,789
42. New Hampshire
Source: Kirkikis / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: Kirkikis / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 1,675
- Share of total state population: 0.120% — 24th lowest
- Population: 1,395,231
41. Idaho
Source: christiannafzger / iStock via Getty Images
Source: christiannafzger / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 1,714
- Share of total state population: 0.088% — 15th lowest
- Population: 1,939,033
40. Delaware
Source: John M. Chase / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Source: John M. Chase / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 1,830
- Share of total state population: 0.180% — 18th highest
- Population: 1,018,396
39. District of Columbia
Source: ablokhin / iStock via Getty Images
Source: ablokhin / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 1,915
- Share of total state population: 0.285% — 7th highest
- Population: 671,803
38. Rhode Island
Source: Brad Yurcisin / iStock via Getty Images
Source: Brad Yurcisin / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 2,218
- Share of total state population: 0.203% — 15th highest
- Population: 1,093,734
37. Hawaii
Source: chumlee / Flickr
- People who received a green card in 2021: 2,452
- Share of total state population: 0.170% — 20th highest
- Population: 1,440,196
36. Arkansas
Source: Sean_Gao / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: Sean_Gao / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 2,586
- Share of total state population: 0.085% — 13th lowest
- Population: 3,045,637
35. New Mexico
Source: Davel5957 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Source: Davel5957 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 2,821
- Share of total state population: 0.133% — 27th highest
- Population: 2,113,344
34. Alabama
Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr
- People who received a green card in 2021: 2,887
- Share of total state population: 0.057% — 6th lowest
- Population: 5,074,296
33. Nebraska
Source: milehightraveler / E+ via Getty Images
Source: milehightraveler / E+ via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 2,915
- Share of total state population: 0.148% — 24th highest
- Population: 1,967,923
32. Louisiana
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 3,137
- Share of total state population: 0.068% — 9th lowest
- Population: 4,590,241
31. Kansas
Source: peeterv / E+ via Getty Images
Source: peeterv / E+ via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 3,399
- Share of total state population: 0.116% — 23rd lowest
- Population: 2,937,150
30. Iowa
Source: SWKrullImaging / iStock via Getty Images
Source: SWKrullImaging / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 3,450
- Share of total state population: 0.108% — 22nd lowest
- Population: 3,200,517
29. Oklahoma
Source: Tamara Harding / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: Tamara Harding / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 3,703
- Share of total state population: 0.092% — 16th lowest
- Population: 4,019,800
28. South Carolina
Source: cherylsb63 / iStock via Getty Images
Source: cherylsb63 / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 4,378
- Share of total state population: 0.083% — 12th lowest
- Population: 5,282,634
27. Kentucky
Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr
- People who received a green card in 2021: 4,401
- Share of total state population: 0.098% — 17th lowest
- Population: 4,512,310
26. Missouri
Source: Philip Rozenski / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: Philip Rozenski / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 5,002
- Share of total state population: 0.081% — 11th lowest
- Population: 6,177,957
25. Wisconsin
Source: MattGush / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: MattGush / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 5,025
- Share of total state population: 0.085% — 14th lowest
- Population: 5,892,539
24. Utah
Source: bluejayphoto / iStock via Getty Images
Source: bluejayphoto / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 5,552
- Share of total state population: 0.164% — 21st highest
- Population: 3,380,800
23. Oregon
Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 6,381
- Share of total state population: 0.150% — 23rd highest
- Population: 4,240,137
22. Indiana
Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 7,223
- Share of total state population: 0.106% — 21st lowest
- Population: 6,833,037
21. Tennessee
Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 7,277
- Share of total state population: 0.103% — 19th lowest
- Population: 7,051,339
20. Nevada
Source: photoquest7 / iStock via Getty Images
Source: photoquest7 / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 7,290
- Share of total state population: 0.229% — 13th highest
- Population: 3,177,772
19. Connecticut
Source: jjbers / Flickr
- People who received a green card in 2021: 8,646
- Share of total state population: 0.238% — 11th highest
- Population: 3,626,205
18. Minnesota
Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 8,774
- Share of total state population: 0.153% — 22nd highest
- Population: 5,717,184
17. Colorado
Source: Lana2011 / iStock via Getty Images
Source: Lana2011 / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 10,146
- Share of total state population: 0.174% — 19th highest
- Population: 5,839,926
16. Ohio
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 11,932
- Share of total state population: 0.101% — 18th lowest
- Population: 11,756,058
15. Michigan
Source: Davel5957 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Source: Davel5957 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 13,929
- Share of total state population: 0.139% — 26th highest
- Population: 10,034,118
14. Arizona
Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 14,466
- Share of total state population: 0.197% — 16th highest
- Population: 7,359,197
13. North Carolina
Source: ferrantraite / E+ via Getty Images
Source: ferrantraite / E+ via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 15,732
- Share of total state population: 0.147% — 25th highest
- Population: 10,698,973
12. Maryland
Source: ablokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: ablokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 17,284
- Share of total state population: 0.280% — 9th highest
- Population: 6,164,660
11. Pennsylvania
Source: pawel.gaul / iStock via Getty Images
Source: pawel.gaul / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 17,306
- Share of total state population: 0.133% — 26th lowest
- Population: 12,972,008
10. Georgia
Source: krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images
Source: krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 20,033
- Share of total state population: 0.184% — 17th highest
- Population: 10,912,876
9. Virginia
Source: ferrantraite / E+ via Getty Images
Source: ferrantraite / E+ via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 20,428
- Share of total state population: 0.235% — 12th highest
- Population: 8,683,619
8. Washington
Source: LoweStock / iStock via Getty Images
Source: LoweStock / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 22,145
- Share of total state population: 0.284% — 8th highest
- Population: 7,785,786
7. Massachusetts
Source: FilippoBacci / E+ via Getty Images
Source: FilippoBacci / E+ via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 22,431
- Share of total state population: 0.321% — 5th highest
- Population: 6,981,974
6. Illinois
Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 26,228
- Share of total state population: 0.208% — 14th highest
- Population: 12,582,032
5. New Jersey
Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 37,844
- Share of total state population: 0.409% — the highest
- Population: 9,261,699
4. New York
Source: Eloi_Omella / E+ via Getty Images
Source: Eloi_Omella / E+ via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 76,127
- Share of total state population: 0.387% — 2nd highest
- Population: 19,677,151
3. Texas
Source: Fang Zheng / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: Fang Zheng / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 78,873
- Share of total state population: 0.263% — 10th highest
- Population: 30,029,572
2. Florida
Source: Sam Greenwood / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Source: Sam Greenwood / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 83,227
- Share of total state population: 0.374% — 3rd highest
- Population: 22,244,823
1. California
Source: MargaretW / iStock via Getty Images
Source: MargaretW / iStock via Getty Images
- People who received a green card in 2021: 135,181
- Share of total state population: 0.346% — 4th highest
- Population: 39,029,342