Immigrants help power Delaware's economy as workers, taxpayers, business owners, and homebuyers. Their earnings support public services and create demand for goods and services across the state.
Download the data (PDF, 2.1 MB)| Economic contribution | Delaware estimate |
|---|---|
| Foreign-born residents | 121,583 | 11.6% of residents [1] |
| Immigrant labor force | 79,700 | 15% of the labor force [2] |
| Annual household income | $5.6 billion [2] |
| Annual federal state and local taxes | $1.39 billion [2] |
| Annual purchasing power after taxes | $4.2 billion [2] |
Immigrant-led households contributed an estimated $438 million in state and local taxes and $956 million in federal taxes in 2023. These payments help fund schools, infrastructure, and other public services. [2]
Immigrants participate in Delaware's labor force at a higher rate than U.S.-born residents: 72% compared with 61%. [2] Delaware's Office of New Americans reports more than 7,000 self-employed immigrants, contributing through entrepreneurship as well as employment. [3]
Immigrants own at least 35,200 homes in Delaware. [2] Their household purchasing power supports demand for housing, groceries, transportation, and services. Homeownership represents accumulated investment; purchasing power is income available after taxes, not a measure of spending exclusively in Delaware.
[1] U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey, reported by Census Reporter. Population estimate has a margin of error of +/-7,857. censusreporter.org
[2] Vera Institute, Profile of Immigrants in Delaware, April 2025; economic figures cover 2023 and draw on American Immigration Council analysis. Read the Delaware profile
[3] Delaware Office of New Americans, overview labeled 2024. Self-employed people are not a count of distinct firms. ona.delaware.gov/newamericans Immigrants means foreign-born residents, including naturalized citizens and noncitizens. Household figures include income and estimated taxes of immigrant-led households. Measures overlap and should not be added; they do not calculate a net fiscal balance after public-service costs.
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