Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: May 2024
In 1992, Congress established May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to coincide with two key milestones: the arrival of the nation’s first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and Chinese workers’ pivotal role in building the transcontinental railroad (completed May 10, 1869). The move expanded what had been Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week since 1978. In 2021, a presidential proclamation expanded this to include Native Hawaiians. This Facts for Features includes separate sections on the Asian and the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander populations, which the Office of Management and Budget in 1997 split into two race categories.
The following facts are possible thanks to the invaluable responses to the U.S. Census Bureau surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we measure America’s people, places and economy.
Asian Population
Did You Know?
24.7 million
The estimated number of Asian alone-or-in-combination residents in the United States in 2022. Source: 2022 Population Estimates
5.5 million
The estimated number of people of Chinese (except Taiwanese) descent in the United States in 2022. The Chinese (except Taiwanese) population was the largest Asian group, followed by Asian Indian (4.9 million), Filipino (4.5 million), Vietnamese (2.3 million), Korean (2.1 million) and Japanese (1.6 million). These estimates represent individuals who reported a specific detailed Asian group alone as well as those who reported that detailed Asian group in combination with one or more other detailed Asian groups or other race(s). Source: 2022 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates
2.5%
The percentage of the Asian alone-or-in-combination population in 2022 who were military veterans. Source: 2022 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates
56.1%
The percentage of the Asian alone-or-in-combination population age 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education in 2022. Source: 2022 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates
88.9%
The percentage of the Asian alone or in combination population age 25 and older who had at least a high school diploma or equivalency in 2022. Source: 2022 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates
642,950
The estimated number of Asian-owned firms with paid employees in the United States in 2021. Source: 2022 Annual Business Survey, data year 2021
Voting Rates
More Stats
See a detailed profile of the Asian alone-or-in-combination population from the 2022 American Community Survey. Statistics include:
- Sex and age.
- Marital status.
- Employment status.
- Occupation.
- Commuting.
- Housing.
- Income.
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Population
Did You Know?
1.8 million
The estimated number of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone-or-in-combination residents of the United States in 2022. Source: 2022 Population Estimates
714,847
The estimated number of Native Hawaiian residents of the United States in 2022. The Native Hawaiian population was the largest detailed Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) group, followed by Samoan (264,392) and Chamorro (152,006). These estimates represent the number of people who reported a specific detailed NHPI group alone as well as those who reported that detailed NHPI group in combination with one or more other detailed NHPI groups or other race(s). Source: 2022 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates
6.6%
The percentage of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone-or-in-combination population in 2022 who were military veterans. Source: 2022 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates
25.8%
The percentage of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone-or-in-combination population age 25 and older in 2022 who had a bachelor’s degree or higher. Source: 2022 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates
89.8%
The percentage of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone-or-in-combination population age 25 and older in 2022 who had at least a high school diploma or equivalency. Source: 2022 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates
8,324
The estimated number of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander-owned U.S. firms with paid employees in 2021. Source: 2022 Annual Business Survey, data year 2021
More Stats
See a detailed profile of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone-or-in-combination population from the 2022 American Community Survey. Statistics include:
- Sex and age.
- Marital status.
- Employment status.
- Occupation.
- Commuting.
- Housing.
- Income.
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 release does not imply that it is a preferred method of presenting or analyzing data. The same is true for sections of this release 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 to accommodate magazine production timelines.
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