New Jersey stands out as one of the most ethnically and religiously diverse states in the United States. As of 2024, approximately one in four residents, or 25%, are foreign-born, making it second only to California. The state’s younger population is particularly diverse: over half of children under one year old in 2011 belonged to racial or ethnic minority groups. In 2019, New Jersey’s population composition was estimated at 71.9% White alone, 15.1% Black or African American, 10% Asian, and 2.3% identifying as two or more races, with Hispanic or Latino residents accounting for 20.9%.

The state hosts some of the largest religious and ethnic communities in the U.S. Proportionally, it has the second-largest Jewish population, the largest Hindu and Muslim populations, the highest concentration of Indians, and one of the largest Italian populations in the country. New Jersey is home to the largest communities of Peruvians in the U.S., the largest Cuban population outside Florida, and substantial populations of Filipinos, Chinese, Koreans, West Indians, and Brazilian and Portuguese Americans.

Central New Jersey, particularly Edison and Middlesex County, hosts the highest concentration of Indian Americans, nearly 20% of the local population, and is home to “Little India,” the largest and most diverse South Asian cultural hub in the U.S. Monroe Township’s Indian population grew from under 1% in 2000 to over 13% by 2017, with Diwali celebrated as an official community holiday. Robbinsville hosts the world’s largest Hindu temple outside Asia, while Carteret is home to the state’s largest Punjabi Sikh population.

Bergen County has the nation’s highest concentration of ethnic Koreans, with Palisades Park forming a Korean-majority municipality and the densest Korean population in the Western Hemisphere. Across the state, vibrant ethnic enclaves like Chinatown, Koreatown, and India Square in Jersey City provide cultural, culinary, and business hubs, reflecting New Jersey’s unique role as a crossroads of global communities.

In sum, New Jersey’s multiculturalism is evident in its population composition, religious institutions, festivals, cuisine, and neighborhoods, making it one of the most cosmopolitan and globally connected states in the United States.