Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders Profile
(Map of the US with the states that have significant
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander populations according to the Census Bureau)
Overview (Demographics): This racial group refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands. According to the 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, there are roughly 1,007,644 Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders who reside within the United States. This group represents about 0.1 percent of the U.S. population. Out of that number, 274,766 (27%) Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders reside in Hawaii. Some other states that have a significant Native Hawaiian/Pacific islander population are: California, Washington, Texas, New York, Florida, and Utah. It is also significant to note that 30 percent of this group is under the age 18.
Educational Attainment: 84 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders have high school diplomas. 10 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders have a bachelor’s degree in comparison to 27 percent of Caucasians. 4 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders have obtained graduate degrees in comparison to 11 percent of Caucasian Americans. 42 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders speak a language other than English at home.
Economics: Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander average family size is 4. The median household income for this group is $50,992.
Full Census Reports:
We the People: Pacific Islanders in the United States
The American Community Survey - Pacific Islanders: 2004
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006 report
Health: It is significant to note that in comparison to other ethnic groups, Native Hawaiians/ Pacific Islanders have higher rates of smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity. This group also has little access to cancer prevention and control programs. Some leading causes of death among Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders include: cancer, heart disease, unintentional injuries (accidents), stroke and diabetes. Some other health conditions and risk factors that are prevalent among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis.
Other Health Concerns: The infant mortality rate(deaths per 1,000 live births) for Native Hawaiians in 2002 was 9.6, higher than the rate for all Asian-American/Pacific Islander groups combined (4.8) and for all population(7.0).The tuberculosis rate(cases per 100,000) in 2005 was 11.6 times higher in the U.S. Pacific islands(55.6) than in the mainland U.S. (4.8).The five-year relative survival rate for all cancers for Native Hawaiians is 47 percent, compared with 57 percent for Caucasians and 55 percent for all races.
Quick Facts
Cancer
- In 2003, Asian/Pacific Islander men were 40% less likely to have prostate cancer as non-Hispanic white men.
- In 2003, Asian/Pacific Islander women were 30% less likely to have breast cancer as non-Hispanic white women.
- In 2003, Asian/Pacific Islander women were 1.2 times as likely to have cervical cancer compared to non-Hispanic white women.
- Asian/Pacific Islander men and women have higher incidence and mortality rates for stomach and liver cancer.
For more statistics on Asian/Pacific Islanders and cancer, please click here
Diabetes
- In Hawaii, Native Hawaiians have more than twice the rate of diabetes as Whites.
- Asians are 20% less likely than non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes.
- In Hawaii, Native Hawaiians are more than 5.7 times as likely as Whites living in Hawaii to die from diabetes.
- Filipinos living in Hawaii have more than 3 times the death rate of Whites living in Hawaii.
For more statistics on Asian/Pacific Islanders and diabetes, please click here
Heart Disease
- Overall, Asian/Pacific Islander adults are less likely than white adults to have heart disease and they are less likely to die from heart disease.
- Asian/Pacific Islanders are 40% less likely to die from heart disease compared to non-Hispanic whites.
For more statistics on Asian/Pacific Islanders and heart disease, please click here
HIV/AIDS
- Asian/Pacific Islanders have lower AIDS rates than non-Hispanic white counterparts and they are less likely to die of HIV/AIDS.
- One Asian/Pacific Islander children was diagnosed with AIDS in 2005.
For more statistics on Asian/Pacific Islanders and HIV/AIDS, please click here
Immunization
- In 2005, Asian/Pacific Islander adults aged 65 years and older were 40% less likely to have ever received the pneumonia shot, compared to non-Hispanic white adults of the same age group.
- In 2005, Asian/Pacific Islander children aged 19 to 35 months reached the Healthy People goal for immunizations for Hib (haemophilus influenzae type b), hepatitis B, MMR (measles-mumps-rubella), polio and chicken pox.
For more statistics on Asian/Pacific Islanders and immunization, please click here
Infant Mortality
- Among Asian/Pacific Islanders, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the third leading cause of infant mortality.
- The infant mortality rate for Asian/Pacific Islanders was 30% greater for mothers under 20 years old, as compared to mothers, ages 25-29 years old.
For more statistics on Asian/Pacific Islanders and infant mortality, please click here
Stroke
- In general, Asians/Pacific Islander adults are less likely to die from a stroke.
- In general, Asian/Pacific Islander adults have lower rates of being overweight or obese, lower rates of hypertension, and they are less likely to be current cigarette smokers, as compared to white adults.
For more statistics on Asian/Pacific Islanders and stroke, please click here
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