Where Do Most Iranians Live in the US? A Data-Driven Look at the Iranian Diaspora

If you're wondering where most Iranians live in the US, the answer starts in Southern California. Affectionately known as "Tehrangeles," Los Angeles County is home to 86,430 people of Persian ancestry – the largest concentration of Iranian-Americans outside of Iran itself, according to the 2020–24 American Community Survey.

But LA County is far from the whole story. A Social Explorer analysis finds that nearly half of the estimated 518,792 people of Iranian ancestry in the United States live in just 10 counties. More than one-third are concentrated in Southern California or the San Francisco Bay Area.

Top US Counties for Iranian-Americans

Beyond Los Angeles, the counties where most Iranians live in the US are clustered heavily in California. Orange County ranks second statewide with 39,737 residents of Iranian ancestry, followed by Santa Clara County (20,620), Harris County in Texas (12,375), San Diego County (17,138), and Contra Costa County (8,957). Harris County stands out as the only non-California county in the top five.

Iranian-American Population Has Grown 53% Since 2000

Nationally, the number of Iranian-Americans has grown by more than 53 percent over the past quarter-century – from 338,000 in the 2000 Census to nearly 519,000 in the 2024 survey. The Census Bureau estimates that people of Iranian ancestry can be found in 1,120 of the nation's 3,142 counties, roughly the same geographic footprint as in 2000 (1,125 counties).

Growth has been especially pronounced in the communities surrounding Los Angeles. Orange County's Iranian diaspora has expanded by more than 15,000 people (64%) since 2000. Santa Clara County posted a 53% gain, adding more than 7,000 Iranian-Americans, and San Diego reported a similarly sized increase – nearly 7,000 people, a gain of almost 77%.

Northeast Sees Decline in Iranian-American Population

Not every region follows this growth trend. Several major metro areas in the Northeast have seen their Iranian-American populations shrink. Nassau County, NY lost more than 1,000 residents of Iranian ancestry, an 11.6% decline. Neighboring Queens County – traditionally a gateway for new immigrants – shed nearly 1,000 Iranian-Americans, a 25% drop. Bergen County, NJ, just across the Hudson River, saw its estimated Iranian diaspora fall by more than 900 people, a 14% decline.

These shifts suggest that when it comes to where most Iranians live in the US today, the center of gravity has moved decisively westward – and continues to grow.

Explore US Demographics Yourself Using Social Explorer

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