Immigration

Immigration increases total economic output, although not necessarily output per person. It also affects the federal budget through the taxes that foreign-born people pay and the government programs in which they participate.

In CBO’s projections, the U.S. population increases from 336 million people in 2023 to 373 million people in 2053. Population growth is increasingly driven by net immigration, which accounts for all population growth beginning in 2042.

CBO issues a volume that contains short descriptions of 59 policy options that would each reduce the federal budget deficit by less than $300 billion over the next 10 years.

In 2018, 46 million people living in the United States—or 14 percent of the population—had been born in other countries. CBO examines the employment and earnings of men and women by their legal immigration status, level of education, and birthplace.

Immigration increases total economic output, though not necessarily output per capita. It also affects the federal budget through the taxes that foreign-born people pay and the government programs in which they participate.

Proposals to modify U.S. immigration policy vary greatly in terms of their potential impact on the federal budget. CBO details the factors the agency considers when estimating the budgetary effects of proposed changes to immigration policy.