Figure 1 Estimates of the U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population, 1990-2012 in millions
The sharp decline in the U.S. population of unauthorized immigrants that accompanied the 2007-2009 recession has bottomed out, and the number may be rising again. As of March 2012, 11.7 million unauthorized immigrants were living in the United States, according to a new preliminary Pew Research Center estimate based on U.S. government data.
The estimated number of unauthorized immigrants peaked at 12.2 million in 2007 and fell to 11.3 million in 2009, breaking a rising trend that had held for decades. Although there are indications the number of unauthorized immigrants may be rising, the 2012 population estimate is the midpoint of a wide range of possible values and in a statistical sense is no different from the 2009 estimate.
Figure 1  | Estimates of the U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant  | Population, 1990-2012  | in millions  | 14  | 12.2  | 11:31:5  | 12  | 11.1  | 11.7  | 10 1  | 10  | 9  | 8  | 6.8  | 5,  | 3.5  | 2005  | 2010 2012  | 1990  | 1995  | 2000  | Notes: Shading surrounding White line indicates low and high change points from of the estimated previous 90%  | IS for confid statistica 1990, Shading nce odd interval, llysignificant surrounding White from (for1995 1995-2011 ata markers change and indicate 2012, issignificant the high change points from from 1990). the Data previous busy are  | for 1990, odd years from 1995-2011 change and 2012, issignificant  | Source: methodology Table 1 derived from Pew Research Center estimates based on residual  | Source: methodology 1995-2004, 2012 a PP lied and to March the American Supplements Research Community to the Survey Current estimates for Population 2005-2011 based on Survey Estimates for  | 1995-2004, 2012 and to the American Community Survey dology. for 2005-2011 Estimates  | for 1995-2004, 1990 from 2012 Warren and to and the Warren American (2013) Community See Metho Survey dology. for  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 