Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month - May 2005

Asians in the U.S.

Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders

Populations

13.5 million

The estimated number of U.S. residents who say they are Asian or Asian in combination with one or more other races. This group comprises 5 percent of the total population. California has both the largest population (4.6 million) and the largest numerical increase (367,100) of people of this group since April 2000; Hawaii is the state where Asians make up the highest proportion of the total population (58 percent).

Education

50%

The percentage of Asians, age 25 and over, 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. The corresponding rate for all adults in this age group is 27 percent.

88%

The percentage of Asians, age 25 and over, who are high school graduates. The corresponding rate for all adults in this age group is 85 percent.

19%

The percentage of Asians, age 25 and over, who have an advanced degree (e.g., master’s, Ph.D., M.D. or J.D.). The corresponding rate for all adults in the age group is 9 percent.

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.

52%

The percentage of the foreign-born from Asia who are naturalized U.S. citizens. The corresponding rate for the foreign-born population as a whole is 38 percent.

1.7 million

The estimated number of foreign-born people from China (Table: PCT027). Next to Mexico, China is the leading country of birth for the nation’s foreign-born. Also among the top 10 countries of birth for the foreign-born population are the Philippines, India, Vietnam and Korea.

Age Distribution

26%

People identifying themselves as either Asian or Asian in combination with one or more other races [PDF] are under 18; 8 percent are 65 or over.

Counties

1.3 million

The number of Asians in Los Angeles County, Calif., which tops the nation’s counties. This county also experienced the largest numerical increase of Asians (76,700) from 2000 to 2003.

Serving Our Nation

276,000

The number of Asian-American military veterans (Table: P056D).

Languages

2.2 million

The number of people who speak Chinese at home (Table: P034). Next to Spanish, Chinese is the most widely spoken non-English language in the country. Also among the top 10 most frequently spoken languages are: Tagalog (1.3 million); Vietnamese (1.1 million); and Korean (966,959).

Populations

959,603

The estimated number of U.S. residents who say 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 comprises 0.3 percent of the total population. There are 282,500 native Hawaiians or Pacific islanders in Hawaii, which leads all states. Hawaii is also where native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders make up the largest proportion (23 percent) of the total population. California had the largest numerical increase of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders (12,700) since April 2000.

Education

16%

The percentage of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders, age 25 and older, who have at least a bachelor’s degree (Table: PCT035E).

82%

The percentage of native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, age 25 and older, who are high school graduates (Table: PCT035E).

4%

The percentage of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders, age 25 and older, who have obtained a graduate degree (Table: PCT035E).

Age Distribution

33%

The percentage of the native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander population [PDF] that is under 18; 5 percent are 65 or over.

Counties

186,200

The number of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders who live in Honolulu County, Hawaii, which has the largest population of this race of any county in the nation. Bronx County, N.Y., registered the largest numerical increase of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders (4,100) between 2000 and 2003.

Serving Our Nation

25,000

 Veterans who are of native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander heritage (Table: P056E).

Languages

27,160

The number of people who speak Hawaiian at home.