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Asian/Pacific American Heritage
Month:
May 2009
In 1978, a joint congressional resolution
established Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. The first 10 days of May were
chosen to coincide with two important milestones in Asian/Pacific American
history: the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants (May
7, 1843) and contributions of Chinese workers to the building of the
transcontinental railroad, completed on May 10, 1869. In 1992, Congress
expanded the observance to a monthlong celebration. Per a 1997 Office of
Management and Budget directive, the Asian or Pacific Islander racial category
was separated into two categories: one being Asian and the other Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. Thus, this Facts for Features contains a
section for each.
Asians
15.2 million
The
estimated number of U.S. residents in July 2007 who said they were Asian alone
or Asian in combination with one or more other races. This group comprised
about 5 percent of the total population.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>
5 million
The Asian population in
California, the state that had the largest Asian population on July 1, 2007, as
well as the largest numerical increase from 2006 to 2007 (106,000). New York
(1.4 million) and Texas (915,000) followed in population. Texas (44,000) and
New York (33,000) followed in numerical increase. In Hawaii, Asians made up the
highest proportion of the total population (55 percent), with California (14
percent) and New Jersey and Washington (8 percent each) next. Asians were the
largest minority group in Hawaii and Vermont.
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>
2.9%
Percentage growth of the
Asian population between 2006 and 2007, the highest of any race group during
that time period. The increase in the Asian population during the period
totaled 434,000.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>
3.54 million
Number
of Asians of Chinese descent in the U.S. in 2007. Chinese-Americans were the
largest Asian group, followed by Filipinos (3.05 million), Asian Indians (2.77
million), Vietnamese (1.64 million), Koreans (1.56 million) and Japanese (1.22
million). These estimates represented the number of people who were either of a
particular Asian group only or were of that group in combination with one or
more other Asian groups or races.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Education
50%
The percentage of
single-race Asians 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher level of
education. This compared with 28 percent for all Americans 25 and older.
Source:
2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
86%
The percentage of
single-race Asians 25 and older who had at least a high school diploma. This
compared with 85 percent for all Americans 25 and older.
Source: 2007 American
Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
20%
The percentage of
single-race Asians 25 and older who had a graduate (e.g., master’s or doctorate)
or professional degree. This compared with 10 percent for all Americans 25 and
older.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
The Asian population comprises many groups
who differ in languages and culture, which is reflected in the demographic
characteristics of these groups. For instance, 68 percent of Asian Indians 25
and older had a bachelor’s degree or more education, and 36 percent had a
graduate or professional degree. The corresponding numbers for
Vietnamese-Americans were 27 percent and 8 percent, respectively. (These
figures represent the single-race population.)
Source: 2007 American Community
Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Income,
Poverty and Health Insurance
$66,103
Median household income
for single-race Asians in 2007, the highest among all race groups and
statistically unchanged from 2006.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health
Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>
Median household income differed greatly by
Asian group. For Asian Indians, for example, the median income in 2007 was
$83,820; for Vietnamese-Americans, it was $54,048. (These figures represent the
single-race population.)
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
10.2%
Poverty rate for
single-race Asians in 2007, statistically unchanged from 2006.
Source: Income,
Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>
16.8%
Percentage of single-race
Asians without health insurance coverage in 2007, up from 15.5 percent in 2006.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States:
2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>
Businesses
Source for the statements referenced in this
section, unless otherwise indicated: Asian-Owned Firms: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/006814.html>
1.1 million
Number of businesses
owned by Asian-Americans in 2002, up 24 percent from 1997. The rate of increase
in the number of Asian-owned businesses was about twice that of the national
average for all businesses.
More than $326 billion
Receipts
of Asian-American-owned businesses in 2002, up 8 percent from 1997. An
estimated 319,468 Asian-owned businesses had paid employees, and their receipts
totaled more than $291 billion. There were 49,636 Asian-owned firms with
receipts of $1 million or more, accounting for 4 percent of the total number of
Asian-owned firms and nearly 68 percent of their total receipts.
In 2002, more than three in 10 Asian-owned firms
operated in professional, scientific and technical services, as well as other
services, such as personal services, and repair and maintenance.
2.2 million
Number of people employed
by an Asian-owned business. There were 1,866 Asian-owned firms with 100 or more
employees, generating nearly $52 billion in gross receipts (18 percent of the
total revenue for Asian-owned employer firms).
46%
Percentage of all
Asian-owned firms that were either Chinese-owned or Asian Indian-owned.
Nearly 6 in 10
Proportion
of all Asian-owned firms in the United States in California, New York, Texas
and New Jersey.
112,441
The number of Asian-owned
firms in New York, which led all cities. Los Angeles(47,764), Honolulu (22,348)
and San Francisco (19,639) followed.
28%
The proportion of
Asian-owned businesses that were home based. This is the lowest proportion
among minority respondent groups.
Source: Characteristics of Businesses: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/007537.html>.
Languages
2.5 million
The number of people 5
and older who spoke Chinese at home in 2007. After Spanish, Chinese was the
most widely spoken non-English language in the country. Tagalog, Vietnamese and
Korean were each spoken at home by more than 1 million people.
Source: 2007
American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Serving
Our Nation
277,751
The number of single-race
Asian military veterans. About one in three was 65 and older.
Source: 2007
American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Jobs
47%
The proportion of
civilian employed single-race Asians 16 and older who worked in management,
professional and related occupations, such as financial managers, engineers,
teachers and registered nurses. Additionally, 23 percent worked in sales and
office occupations, 16 percent in service occupations and 10 percent in
production, transportation and material moving occupations.
Source: 2007
American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Counties
1.4 million
The number of Asians
(alone or in combination with one or more other races) in Los Angeles County,
Calif., in 2007, which tops the nation’s counties.
Source: Population
estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>
18,400
Santa Clara County’s
Asian population increase from 2006 to 2007, the largest in the nation.
Source:
Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>
59%
Percent of the population
of Honolulu County, Hawaii, that was Asian in 2007, which led the country. One
other county — Kauai, Hawaii — was also majority Asian. San Francisco County,
Calif., led the continental United States, with 33 percent of its population
Asian.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>
Age
Distribution
35.4
Median age of the
single-race Asian population in 2007. The corresponding figure was 36.6 years
for the population as a whole.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>
The
Future
40.6 million
The
projected number of U.S. residents in 2050 who will identify themselves as
Asian or Asian in combination with one or more other races. They would comprise
9 percent of the total population by that year.
Source: Population projections
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012496.html>
153%
The projected percentage
increase between 2008 and 2050 in the population of people who identify
themselves as Asian or Asian in combination with one or more other races. This
compares with a 44 percent increase in the population as a whole over the same
period of time.
Source: Population projections <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012496.html>
Native
Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders
1 million
The estimated number of
U.S. residents in July 2007 who said they were Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacific Islander, either alone or in combination with one or more other races.
This group comprised 0.3 percent of the total population.
Source: Population
estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>
Hawaii had the largest population (269,000)
in 2007 of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (either alone or in
combination with one or more other races), followed by California (262,000) and
Washington (50,000). California had the largest numerical increase (2,900) of
people of this group, with Texas (2,500) and Florida (1,100) next. In Hawaii,
Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders comprised the largest proportion
(21 percent) of the total population, followed by Utah (1 percent) and Alaska (0.9
percent).
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>
1.6%
Percentage growth of the
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population between 2006 and 2007.
The increase in the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population
during the period totaled 16,000.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>
Education
15%
The percentage of
single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 25 and older who had
at least a bachelor’s degree. This compared with 28 percent for the total
population.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
84%
The percentage of
single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 25 and older who had
at least a high school diploma. This compared with 85 percent for the total
population. (There is no statistically significant difference between these two
percentages.)
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
4%
The percentage of
single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 25 and older who had
obtained a graduate or professional degree. This compared with 10 percent for
the total population this age.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Income,
Poverty and Health Insurance
$55,273
The median income of
households headed by single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders.
Source:
2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
15.7%
The poverty rate for
those who classified themselves as single-race Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacific Islander.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
20.5%
The three-year average
(2005-2007) percentage without health insurance for single-race Native
Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health
Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>
Businesses
Source for the statements referenced in this
section: Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-Owned Firms: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/007092.html>
28,948
Number of Native
Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses in 2002, up 49 percent
from 1997. The rate of growth was more than three times the national average.
The 3,693 Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses with
paid employees employed more than 29,000 and generated revenues of $3.5
billion.
2,415
Number of Native
Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms in Honolulu, the most of any
city in the nation.
$4.3 billion
Receipts
for Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses in 2002, up 3
percent from 1997. There were 727 Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific
Islander-owned firms with receipts of $1 million or more. These firms accounted
for 3 percent of the total number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific
Islander-owned firms and 67 percent of their total receipts.
In 2002, nearly 21,000 Native Hawaiian- and
Other Pacific Islander-owned firms operated in health care and social
assistance; other services (such as personal services, and repair and maintenance);
retail trade; administrative and support, and waste management and remediation
services; professional, scientific and technical services; and construction.
28
Number of Native
Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms with 100 or more employees.
These firms generated $698 million in gross receipts — 20 percent of the total
revenue for Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned employer firms.
53%
Percentage of all Native
Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms in Hawaii and California.
These two states accounted for 62 percent of business revenue.
Serving
Our Nation
26,878
The number of single-race
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander military veterans. About one in five
was 65 and older.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Jobs
22%
The proportion of
civilian employed single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 16
and older who worked in management, professional and related occupations, such
as financial managers, engineers, teachers and registered nurses. About the
same percent worked in service occupations. Meanwhile, 29 percent worked in
sales and office occupations and 15 percent in production, transportation and
material moving occupations.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Counties
172,200
Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacific Islander population (alone or in combination with one or more other
races) in Honolulu County, Hawaii, in 2007, which led the nation. Clark County,
Nev. (home of Las Vegas) and Maricopa County (Phoenix), Ariz., had the largest
numerical increases in this race since July 2006 – 800 and 700, respectively.
Four counties in Hawaii had the highest percentage of people of this race:
Hawaii (29 percent), Maui (23 percent), Kauai (23 percent) and Honolulu (19
percent).
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>
Age
Distribution
30.2
The median age of the
single-race Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population in 2007. The
median age was 36.6 for the population as a whole.
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau’s Facts for
Features series
Editor’s note:The preceding data were
collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability
and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about
two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production
timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s
Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or
e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.
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