U.S. Immigration Statistics

The media is constantly talking about the flood of immigrants pouring into the U.S. from its southern border or being flown in as refugees. Obviously, news channels rely on sensationalism to draw-in viewers, but according to the picture they paint, the U.S. and its social service programs should be drowning in immigrants.

When looked alone, the flow of immigrants into the country is quite significant. The average inflow of immigrants in the thousands between 2001 and 2010 according to the OECD was 1,050. This number puts the U.S. at the top of the list ahead of Germany, Sweden, and the U.K. as the most popular destination for immigrants. 

While accurate, this ranking is misleading because it fails to take into account the enormous size of the U.S. as well as the outflow of immigrants.

When considered as a percentage of the country's total population, the ranking is strikingly different. 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/modeledbehavior/2012/11/18/is-the-u-s-the-most-immigrant-friendly-country-in-the-world/)