Statistics on Asian Americans

Asian Americans are a very diverse and rapidly growing population. In July 2008, according to the U.S. Census, an estimated 5% (15.5 million) of U.S. residents said they were Asian alone or Asian in combination with one or more other races. Asian Americans represent almost 50 countries and ethnic groups. Languages and dialects, cultures, histories, and socioeconomic characteristics reflect the extraordinary diversity of this group.
 
The U.S. Census 2010 lists 11 major Asian groups (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Hmong, Laotian, Thai, Pakistani, and Cambodian) in addition to a fill-in space for “Other Asian”. To see the Census 2010 form (question #9 is on race), click here.

 

American Statistics Tabs_eng

In 2004, about 35% of Asians lived in California, 10% in New York, and 6% in Texas (U.S. Census). Massachusetts is one of the top 10 states with the largest Asian American population, with Asians making up 4.9% of the MA population (Census, 2008). To see Asian Americans by subgroup in Massachusetts, click here.

 

Source: Data based on Census Press Release, March 2004

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001720.html

 

It is estimated that Asian Americans will comprise 9.3% of the U.S. population by 2050.

 

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, http://facts.kff.org/chart.aspx?ch=826

 

Asian-born residents make up one-fourth of the total foreign-born population in the US. (Census, 2002).

Some Asian groups have been in the U.S for many generations while others are relatively recent immigrants in comparison.

For a discussion on demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the 11 largest Asian groups in the U.S, see the Census 2000 Special Report We the People: Asians in the United States.

 

The following links provide more information about Asian Americans and Asian American Health: