| 2006 Statistical Portrait of the Nation's Asian and Pacific Islander Populations |
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| The UCLA Asian American Studies Center, as an official U.S. Census Information Center (as a co-partner with National Coalition for Asian Pacific Community Development), is pleased to provide this 2006 statistical portrait of the Asian American and Pacific Islander populations produced by the US Census Bureau for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which will take place in May, 2006. The portrait provides current census data, population projections, and internet links that should be useful for research, planning, writing and general educational purposes. Please see the "Editor's note" at the end of this announcement for more information. The first section provides information on "Asians," while the second part highlights "Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders". | |
| ASIANS 14.0 million The estimated number of U.S. residents in July 2004 who said they were Asian or Asian in combination with one or more other races. This group comprised 5 percent of the total population. California had both the largest population (4.8 million) and the largest numerical increase (123,000) of people of this group since July 2003; Hawaii is the state where Asians made up the highest proportion of the total population (58 percent). <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/005164.html> <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/005514.html> 3.4% Percentage growth of the Asian population between 2003 and 2004, the highest of any race group during that time period. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/005164.html> Education 49% The percentage of Asians, age 25 and older, who have a bachelor's degree or higher level of education. Asians have the highest proportion of college graduates of any race or ethnic group in the country. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/004214.html> 87% The percentage of Asians, age 25 and older, who are high school graduates. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/004214.html> 20% The percentage of Asians, age 25 and older, who have an advanced degree (e.g., master's, Ph.D., M.D. or J.D.). <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/004214.html> The Asian population is comprised of many groups who differ in languages spoken, culture and length of residence in the United States. This is reflected in the demographic characteristics of these groups. For instance, 68 percent of Asian Indians, age 25 and older, had a bachelor's degree or more education and 37 percent had a graduate or professional degree; the corresponding numbers for Vietnamese-Americans were 24 percent and 7 percent, respectively. (Source: American FactFinder) Income and Poverty $57,518 Median household income for Asians in 2004, the highest among all race groups. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/005647.html> Median household income differed greatly by Asian group. For Asian Indians, for example, the median income in 2004 was $68,771; for Vietnamese-Americans, it was $45,980. (Source: American FactFinder) 9.8% Poverty rate for Asians in 2004, down from 11.8 percent in 2003. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/005647.html> Languages 2.3 million The number of people age 5 and older who speak Chinese at home. After Spanish, Chinese is the most widely spoken non-English language in the country. Tagalog and Vietnamese also have more than 1 million speakers. (Source: AmericanFactFinder http://factfinder.census.gov/) Coming to America 8.7 million The number of U.S. residents who were born in Asia. Asian-born residents comprise one-fourth of the nation's total foreign-born population. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/foreignborn_population/003969.html> 52% The percentage of the foreign-born from Asia who are naturalized U.S. citizens. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/foreignborn_population/003969.html> 1.8 million The estimated number of foreign-born people from China. Following Mexico, China is the leading country of birth for the nation's foreign-born. Other nations contributing at least 1 million foreign-born to our nation include India and the Philippines. The estimate for China includes Taiwan and Hong Kong. (Source: American FactFinder <http://factfinder.census.gov/>) Jobs 46% The proportion of employed Asians 16 and older who work in management, professional and related occupations, such as financial managers, engineers, teachers and registered nurses. (Source: American FactFinder http://factfinder.census.gov/) Counties 1.4 million The number of Asians in Los Angeles County, Calif., which tops the nation's counties. From 2003 to 2004, this county also experienced the largest numerical increase of Asians (25,200). <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/005514.html> The Future 33.4 million The projected number of U.S. residents in 2050 who will identify themselves as Asians. They would comprise 8 percent of the total population by that year. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001720.html> 213% The projected percentage increase between 2000 and 2050 in the population of people who identify themselves as Asian. This compares with a 49 percent increase in the population as a whole over the same period of time. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001720.html> |
Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 976,400 The estimated number of U.S. residents in July 2004 who said they are native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander or native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander in combination with one or more other races. This group comprised 0.3 percent of the total population. There were 279,700 native Hawaiians or Pacific islanders in Hawaii, which led all states. Hawaii is also where native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders made up the largest proportion (22 percent) of the total population. California had the largest numerical increase of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders (3,400) since July 2003. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/005164.html> <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/005514.html> 1.7% Percentage growth of the native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander population between 2003 and 2004, the highest of any race group except for Asians. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/005164.html> Education 15% The percentage of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders, age 25 and older, who have at least a bachelor's degree. (Source: American FactFinder <http://factfinder.census.gov/>) 84% The percentage of native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, age 25 and older, who are high school graduates. (Source: American Factfinder http://factfinder.census.gov/) 4% The percentage of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders, age 25 and older, who have obtained a graduate degree. (Source: American FactFinder http://factfinder.census.gov/) Income and Poverty $51,687 The three-year-average (2002-2004) median income of households whose householders reported their race as native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander, but did not report any other race. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/005647.html> 13.2% The three-year average (2002-2004) poverty rate for those who reported their race as native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander, but did not report any other race. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/005647.html> Jobs 23% The proportion of employed native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders 16 and over who work in management, professional and related occupations, such as financial managers, engineers, teachers and registered nurses. (Source: American FactFinder http://factfinder.census.gov/) (The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office: telephone: (301) 763-3030; fax: (301) 457-3670; or e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.) For more information click here |