Diversity

Our diverse, inclusive population creates a culturally competent community. Middle Tennessee is a rich assembly of people with widely varied backgrounds, experiences and interests.

Nashville understands the importance of diversity and inclusion with one in eight Nashvillians being foreign-born and international migration accounting for more than 15 percent of Nashville’s net in-migration from 2012 - 2022.

Diversity in the Nashville Region 

Nashville is home to large Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Kurdish and South and Southeast Asian populations with a wide variety of international cultural and social organizations. More than 450 Nashville area businesses are also members of the coalition Tennessee Thrives, a partnership of businesses committed to a thriving Tennessee that welcomes all people.

  • 10,000+ people from abroad move to the Nashville region every year.

  • Japan is Tennessee's largest foreign investor nation.

  • The largest Kurdish community in the world outside the Middle East lives in Nashville. 

  • 1,500+ businesses owned by Hispanic entrepreneurs in Nashville.

  • Area colleges are home to more than 6,500 international students and scholars. 

  • More than 120 different languages spoken in Metro Nashville Schools

  • Four Historically Black Colleges In Nashville Including Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, Fisk University, And American Baptist College.

  • Nashville Currently Has 10 Active Sister City Relationships In 9 Countries Involving Business, Cultural And Educational Exchanges. These Cities Include Belfast, Northern Ireland; Caen, France; Chengdu, China; Edmonton, Canada; Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan Kamakura, Japan; Magdeburg, Germany; Mendoza, Argentina; Taiyuan, China; And Tamworth, Australia. Learn more about Sister Cities of Nashville.

    Click here to learn more about the wide variety of international, cultural and social organizations in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

 

Population Breakdown by ethnicity

 

Source: ACS, 2022 1- Year Estimates

 

The LGBT community in Nashville is strong and active 

  • Dedicated Tennessee Pride Chamber

  • OUTLOUD Music Festival, an annual LGBTQ+ music festival

  • Out and About monthly newspaper, with an audience of more than 150,000 people

  • 35 Certified LGBTQ+ businesses

  • Nashville Pride, a nonprofit community education, event and advocacy organization, which also hosts the annual LGBT Pride Festival and Parade with 100,000+ annual attendees.

1 IN 8 Nashvillians are FOREIGN-BORN 

DIVERSE FLAVORS

Nations in our Neighborhoods

Plaza Mariachi & Mazfresco Market

Patel Brothers Indian Grocery

K&S World Market

InterAsian Market & Deli

Bangkok Market

Fresh & Fresh International Market

Apna Bazaar Aleksey’s Market

Tennessee Oriental Market

Azadi International Food Market

Uptown Fruit Market

Zomi Oriental Market

King Market

Sonobana Japanese Restaurant & Grocery

Newroz Market

La Hacienda Supermercado

THE FAITH COMMUNITY IN NASHVILLE

2,3OO CHRISTIAN CHURCHES

22 CATHOLIC CHURCHES

21 MORMON CHURCHES

17 TEMPLES - BUDDHIST & HINDU

11 JEWISH SYNAGOGUES

11 ISLAMIC MOSQUES

9 JEHOVAH’S WITNESS KINGDOM HALLS