| Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Demographics |
| As of 2000, APIs constitute 3.6% - 4.2% of the US total population (12 million) APIs are the fastest growing racial group in the United States (a 95% increase from 1980 to1990, a 48% increase since 1990) Approximately 70% are recent immigrants and/or refugees, 40-50% of whom have limited English proficiency Census estimates by 2050, one out of every 10 Americans will be of Asian or Pacific Islander descent ____________________ Source: US Census 2000 Ethnic enclaves are growing around the US along with the burgeoning API population. In some counties, API populations are already above 10%. Census estimates 45% of APIs are concentrated in 3 metropolitan areas: Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco Likewise, 80% of APIs reside in ten states -- California, New York, Hawaii, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Washington, Florida, Virginia and Massachusetts. But the fastest growing API populations are in states such as Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Nebraska, Arizona, Delaware and New Mexico. Socio-Economic Factors In San Francisco, 29% of the API population live below the poverty line Source: Asian/Pacific Islander Family Resources Network (2001)
In New York City, 43% of Asian American children are born into poverty Source: Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (1997)
In Minnesota, API children are three times as likely (37%) to live in poverty than all other children Source: White House Initiative on Asian Americans & Pacific Islander (2001)
In Massachusetts, API children are twice as likely (24%) to be impoverished than all other children Source: White House Initiative on Asian Americans & Pacific Islander (2001)
While the average API family enjoys the highest median family income among all racial/ethnic groups, APIs also have one of the highest rates of poverty in urban and rural areas. According to the US Department of Agriculture, “The disparity between a high median family income and a poverty rate of 15% suggests a high level of income inequality among rural Asian families.” In New York City, 43% of Asian American children are born into poverty Source: Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (1997)
In Minnesota, API children are three times as likely (37%) to live in poverty than all other children Source: White House Initiative on Asian Americans & Pacific Islander (2001)
In Massachusetts, API children are twice as likely (24%) to be impoverished than all other children Source: White House Initiative on Asian Americans & Pacific Islander (2001)
While the average API family enjoys the highest median family income among all racial/ethnic groups, APIs also have one of the highest rates of poverty in urban and rural areas. According to the US Department of Agriculture, “The disparity between a high median family income and a poverty rate of 15% suggests a high level of income inequality among rural Asian families.” An estimated 27% of APIs families earn approximately one-quarter of the poverty level for a family of four. Source: USDA Rural Conditions and Trends, Vol. 11, No. 2 (2000)
Health Coverage The cost of health insurance is a major barrier for APIs who are more likely to be self-employed or working for small firms that typically do not offer employer-sponsored coverage The US Census estimates 17% of API children and 24% of API adults are uninsured. Up to 34% of recent immigrants and first/second generation APIs are uninsured. About 20% of uninsured APIs are in working families. These workers are often low-wage earners who cannot afford to purchase private insurance. Approximately 50% of APIs may be medically underserved _______________________ Source: Families USA (2001) |
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