German American Demographics in the U.S.A.
Census figures from 2022 show that German-Americans are, on average, slightly older and more educated than the general population. More than 85 percent of respondents live in the same location where they lived in 2009, and 40 percent are employed in management, business, science or the arts.
The map above shows the prevalence of Americans with German Ancestry in each state of the United States and in the District of Columbia. Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2019. This file will be updated upon the publishing of newer data.
5 States with the most Americans with German Ancestry
- Pennsylvania
- 2,791,485
- Ohio
- 2,603,454
- California
- 2,505,840
- Texas
- 2,277,045
- Wisconsin
- 2,143,909
Americans with German descent
Today, more than 40 million Americans claim German ancestry, making up approximately 12.30% of the country's 328.2 million inhabitants.
States with the highest proportions of German-Americans tend to be those of the upper Midwest, including Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas; all at over 30%.
Of the four major US regions, German was the most-reported ancestry in the Midwest, second in the West and third in both the Northeast and the South.
German was the top reported ancestry in 23 states, and it was one of the top five reported ancestries in every state except Maine and Rhode Island.
A majority of counties in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas are predominantly German, and they make up a plurality of Ohio and Indiana counties.
What are the largest ancestry groups in the U.S.?
[The Top 5]
Updated June 28, 2020 | Infoplease
| Rank | Ethnicity | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | 46,403,053 |
| 2 | Black/African-American (non-Hispanic) | 38,785,726 |
| 3 | Mexican | 34,640,287 |
| 4 | Irish | 33,526,444 |
| 5 | English | 24,787,018 |
Germantown, located in the Northwest section of Philadelphia, became the first permanent German settlement in the United States.
It was founded on October 6, 1683, by German Quaker and Mennonite families.
Today the founding day of Germantown, is remembered as German-American Day, observed annually on October 6 in the United States.
German-Americans are the largest self-reported ancestral group in the United States.
A chart of the top ancestries in the US, as provided by the 2000 census. Light blue shows counties predominated by ethnic Germans.
Pennsylvania has the nation's largest German-American population, with Germantown being one of the original German settlements.
Germantown is known as the birthplace of the American anti-slavery movement.
In terms of proportions Pennsylvania ranks tenth nationally in the percentage of German-Americans.
Overall, 26.1 per cent of the State's population self-reported German ancestry, making it the largest ancestral group in the state.
5 States with the highest density of Americans of German descent
- North Dakota
- 34.77%
- South Dakota
- 34.37
- Wisconsin
- 31.42%
- Iowa
- 31.10%
- Nebraska
- 30.87%
5 Communities with highest percentages of people of German ancestry
- Monterey, Ohio
- 83.6%
- Granville, Ohio
- 79.6%
- St. Henry, Ohio
- 78.5%
- Germantown Township, Illinois
- 77.6%
- Jackson, Indiana
- 77.3%
What is the most German city in America?
The city of New Ulm calls itself “the most German town in America.”
New Ulm was founded by two groups of German immigrants in the mid-1850s, both looking to create a “Utopian German community.”
Today, 66% of its residents claim German ancestry.
5 Top Counties by percentages of Germans
- Emmons County, North Dakota
- 72.5%
- McIntosh County, North Dakota
- 71.6%
- Logan County, North Dakota
- 71.5%
- Hutchinson County, South Dakota
- 67.6%
- Faulk County, South Dakota
- 66.9%
German American Religions by percentage
- Christian, Protestant, significantly Lutheran, Reformed and Anabaptist but also multiple other branches
- 51%
- Roman Catholic
- 26%
- Jewish
- 1%
- Atheists
- 16%
While distinct German American identity has become less prominent over time due to assimilation and intermarriage, German cultural influences remain deeply embedded in American life.
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German Americans in the United States