PROFILE AMERICA FACTS FOR FEATURES: CB16-FF.07

MAY 17, 2016

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month: May 2016

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 May 10, 1869.

In 1992, Congress expanded the observance to a monthlong celebration. Per a 1997 U.S. 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

20.3 million

Estimated number of U.S. residents in 2014 who were Asian alone or in combination. Source: Vintage 2014 Population Estimates  http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPSR5H?slice=Year~est72014 

6.3 million

Asian alone or in combination population in California in 2014. The state had the largest Asian population, followed by New York (1.8 million). The Asian alone or in combination population represented 56.1 percent of the total population in Hawaii. Source: Vintage 2014 Population Estimates http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPSR5H?slice=Year~est72014

4.5 million

Number of Asians of Chinese, except Taiwanese, descent in the U.S. in 2014. The Chinese (except Taiwanese) population was the largest Asian group, followed by Asian Indians (3.8 million), Filipinos (3.8 million), Vietnamese (2.0 million), Koreans (1.8 million) and Japanese (1.4 million). These estimates represent the number of people who reported a specific detailed Asian group alone, as well as people who reported that detailed Asian group in combination with one or more other detailed Asian groups or another race(s). Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table B02018 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/B02018

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

$72,689

Median income of households headed by the Asian alone or in combination population in 2014. Median household income differed greatly by Asian group. For Asian Indians, for example, the median income in 2014 was $101,591; for Bangladeshi, it was $44,512. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~031 and http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~013|014

12.5%

Poverty rate for the Asian alone or in combination population in 2014.Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~031

10.2%

Percentage of Asian alone or in combination population without health insurance coverage in 2014. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~031

Business

1.9 million

Estimated number of Asian-owned firms nationally in 2012, up from 1.5 million or 23.8 percent from 2007. Source: 2012 Survey of Business Owners-Asian Owned Firms: 2012 http://census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-209.html and http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/SBO/2012/00CSA01

74.9%

Estimated percent of the 1.9 million Asian-owned firms that had no paid employees. Of all U.S. businesses, 80.4 percent were nonemployer firms. Source: 2012 Survey of Business Owners-Asian Owned Firms: 2012 http://census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-209.html and http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/SBO/2012/00CSA01

$135.7 billion

Estimated sales/receipts reported by Asian firms owned by women in 2012. Male-owned Asian firms reported sales of $474.3 billion. Source: 2012 Survey of Business Owners-Asian Owned Firms: 2012 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/SBO/2012/00CSA01

Education

50.6%

Percentage of the Asian alone or in combination population 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education. This compared with 30.1 percent for all Americans 25 and older. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~031 and http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201

86.8%

Percentage of the 25-and-older Asian alone or in combination population who had at least a high school diploma. This estimate is not statistically different than the 86.9 percent of the total population. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~031 and http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201

21.2%

Percentage of 25-and-older Asian alone or in combination population who had a graduate or professional degree. This compared with 11.4 percent for all Americans 25 and older.

Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201            http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~031 and http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201

Voting

704,000

Additional number of the Asian alone or in combination population who voted in the 2012 presidential election than in the 2008 election. Overall, 47.9 percent of Asians turned out to vote in 2012. A total of 4.3 million Asians voted in 2012. Source: The Diversifying Electorate—Voting Rates by Race and Hispanic Origin in 2012 (and Other Recent Elections) Table 2 and Figure 1 http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-568.pdf

Serving Our Nation

2.5%

Percentage of the Asian alone or in combination population who were military veterans in 2014. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~031

Jobs

49.5%                                                                        

Proportion of civilian employed Asian alone or in combination population 16 and older who worked in management, business, science and arts occupations in 2014. Additionally, 20.7 percent worked in sales and office occupations; 17.2 percent worked in service occupations; 9.4 percent worked in production, transportation and material moving occupations; and 3.2 percent worked in natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~031

Internet Use

87.1%

Percentage of Asian alone or in combination households in 2014 that reported a broadband Internet subscription.Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~031

Age Distribution

33.8

Median age of the Asian alone or in combination population in 2014. The corresponding figure was 37.7 for the population as a whole. Source: Vintage 2014 Population Estimates, Table PEPASR5H http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPASR5H?slice=year~est72014

25.0%

Percentage of the Asian alone or in combination population that was under age 18 in 2014, while 9.9 percent was 65 or older. Source: Vintage 2014 Population Estimates, Table PEPASR5H http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPASR5H?slice=year~est72014

Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders

1.5 million

Estimated number of U.S. residents in 2014 who were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination. Source: Vintage 2014 Population Estimates http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPSR5H?slice=Year~est72014

369,688

Estimated number of Hawaii residents in 2014 who were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, alone or in combination — the most of any state. California followed with 347,501. Hawaii also had the largest portion of its population being Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination at 26.0 percent. Source: Vintage 2014 Population Estimates http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPSR5H?slice=Year~est72014

555,208

Number of Native Hawaiians in the U.S. in 2014. The Native Hawaiian population was the largest detailed Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) group, followed by Samoan (194,564) and Guamanian or Chamorro (133,569). These estimates represent the number of people who reported a specific detailed NHPI group alone, as well as people who reported that detailed NHPI group in combination with one or more other detailed NHPI groups or another race(s). Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table B02019 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/B02019

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

$55,296

Median income of households headed by Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone or in combination in 2014. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~060

18.4%

Poverty rate in 2014 of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders alone or in combination population. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~060

11.0%

Percentage without health insurance in 2014 for Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone or in combination. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~060

Business

54,749

Estimated number of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms in 2012. The estimated number rose 45.3 percent from 37,687 in 2007. Source: 2012 Survey of Business Owners-Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander-Owned Firms: 2012 http://census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-209.html and http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/SBO/2012/00CSA01

52.9%

Estimated percent of the nation’s Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms that were in either California or Hawaii in 2012 (with 14,446 and14,537 firms, respectively). Source: 2012 Survey of Business Owners-Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander-Owned Firms: 2012-Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander-Owned Firms: 2012 http://census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-209.html and http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/SBO/2012/00CSA01

24,982

Estimated number of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander firms owned by women in 2012. Estimated 20.8 percent (5,206 firms) were in the Health Care and Social Assistance services sector. Source: 2012 Survey of Business Owners-Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander-Owned Firms: 2012 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/SBO/2012/00CSA01

Education

20.9%

Percentage of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone or in combination age 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2014. This compared with 30.1 percent for the total population. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~060 and http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201

88.0%

Percentage of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone or in combination age 25 and older who had at least a high school diploma in 2014. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~060  and http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201

6.6%

Percentage of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone or in combination age 25 and older who had obtained a graduate or professional degree in 2014. This compared with 11.4 percent for the total population this age. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~060 and http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201

Serving Our Nation

7.1%

Percentage of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders alone or in combination who were military veterans. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~060

Jobs

29.8%

Proportion of civilian employed Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone or in combination 16 and older who worked in management, business, science and arts occupations in 2014. Additionally, 26.2 percent worked in sales and office occupations, while 22.9 percent worked in service occupations; 12.6 percent worked in production, transportation and material moving occupations; and 8.5 percent worked in natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~060

Age Distribution

27.7

Median age of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination population in 2014. The median age was 37.7 for the population as a whole. Source: 2014 American Community Survey, Source: Vintage 2014 Population Estimates, Table PEPASR5H http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPASR5H?slice=year~est72014

33.0%

Percentage of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination population that was under age 18 in 2014, while 6.4 percent was 65 or older. Source: Vintage 2014 Population Estimates, Table PEPASR5H http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPASR5H?slice=year~est72014

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series:

African-American History Month (February)                Labor Day (1st Monday in September)

Super Bowl (first Sunday in February)                            Grandparents Day (1st Sunday after Labor Day)

Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14)                                                  Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)

Women’s History Month (March)                                   Unmarried and Single Americans Week (3rd week of September)

Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/                      Halloween (Oct. 31)

  St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)                                           American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month

Earth Day (April 22)                                                           (November) 

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May)           Veterans Day (Nov. 11)      

Older Americans Month (May)                                        Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)

Mother’s Day (2nd Sunday in May)                                               The Holiday Season (December)    

Hurricane Season Begins (June 1)                                                                   

Father’s Day (third Sunday in June)                                                                                                 

The Fourth of July (July 4)

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26)

Back to School (August)                                                                                                                   

-X-

Graphic 1: JPG |PDF

Graphic 2: JPG |PDF

Public Information Office                                          census.gov

301-763-3030 / pio@census.gov                                Connect with us on Social media                                                        

Editor’s note: As a matter of policy, the Census Bureau does not advocate the use of the alone population over the alone-or-in-combination population or vice versa. The use of the alone population in sections of this report does not imply that it is a preferred method of pre­senting or analyzing data. The same is true for sections of this report that focus on the alone-or-in-combination population. Data on race can be presented and discussed in a variety of ways.

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.