Where the most French Americans live, and where French immigrants settle
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About 6.4 million Americans reported French ancestry in the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, and another 1.6 million reported French Canadian ancestry. Far fewer were born in France: 187,713 people.
Those born in France are concentrated in a few large cities. New York City has 20,072 French-born residents, more than three times as many as any other city. Los Angeles is second with 6,335, followed by San Francisco with 4,588 and Chicago with 3,161. By metro area, the New York metro has 29,374, followed by Los Angeles with 13,538 and Miami with 11,398.
French ancestry is spread much more widely, with the highest concentrations in Louisiana and northern New England.
| Rank | State | French ancestry | Share of population | French Canadian ancestry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 528,836 | 1.4% | 79,019 |
| 2 | Texas | 445,202 | 1.5% | 60,196 |
| 3 | Louisiana | 440,472 | 9.6% | 82,864 |
| 4 | Florida | 387,391 | 1.7% | 99,684 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 332,949 | 4.7% | 202,492 |
| 6 | New York | 319,779 | 1.6% | 98,834 |
| 7 | Michigan | 301,667 | 3.0% | 114,778 |
| 8 | Ohio | 192,604 | 1.6% | 23,863 |
| 9 | Washington | 183,177 | 2.3% | 38,275 |
| 10 | Illinois | 177,574 | 1.4% | 26,864 |
California has the most people of French ancestry, 528,836, but Maine has the highest share, 11.4 percent. New Hampshire is at 10.5 percent, Louisiana at 9.6 percent, and Vermont at 8.6 percent. Counting French Canadian ancestry separately, New Hampshire leads at 7.2 percent, and Massachusetts has the most people, 202,492.
Among cities with at least 20,000 residents, Houma, Louisiana, has the highest share of French ancestry, 22.5 percent. Nearby Bayou Cane is at 17.7 percent. In Maine, Auburn is at 17.3 percent and Lewiston, across the Androscoggin River, at 16.8 percent. Lafayette, Louisiana, the largest city on the list with 121,715 residents, is 16.7 percent French.
Fewer Americans report French ancestry than a few years ago. In the 2016-2020 survey, 7.4 million did, and 2.0 million reported French Canadian ancestry. Ancestry is self-reported, and answers shift over time. Our look at who still claims American ancestry covers one of those changes.
Sources
Ancestry figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020-2024 and 2016-2020, table B04006, which counts people reporting French (except Basque) or French Canadian as either their first or second ancestry. Country-of-birth figures are from table B05006. Cities include incorporated places and census-designated places.
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New York City has the most residents born in France, 20,072, more than three times as many as Los Angeles, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. The New York metro area has 29,374.
Which state has the most people of French ancestry?
California has the most, 528,836, followed by Texas and Louisiana. By share, Maine leads at 11.4 percent, then New Hampshire at 10.5 percent and Louisiana at 9.6 percent.
How many French Canadian Americans are there?
About 1.6 million Americans reported French Canadian ancestry in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Massachusetts has the most, 202,492, and New Hampshire the highest share, 7.2 percent.
