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 10-day 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: “Asian” and “Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.”

Asians

14.4 million
The estimated number of U.S. residents in July 2005 who said they were Asian or Asian in combination with one or more other races. This group comprised about 5 percent of the total population. California had the largest population (4.9 million) of people of this group.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/006808.html> <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/007263.html>

3%
Percentage growth of the Asian population between 2004 and 2005, the highest of any race group during that time period. The increase in the Asian population over the period totaled 421,000. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/006808.html>

3.3 million
Number of Asians of Chinese descent. Chinese-Americans are the largest Asian detailed group, followed by Filipinos (2.8 million), Asian Indians (2.5 million), Vietnamese (1.5 million), Koreans (1.4 million) and Japanese (1.2 million). These estimates represent the number of people who are either of a particular detailed group only or are of that group in combination with one or more other Asian detailed groups or races. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

Education

49%
The percentage of single-race Asians 25 and older who have a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education. This compares to 27 percent for all people 25 and older. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

86%
The percentage of single-race Asians 25 and older who have at least a high school diploma. This compares to 84 percent for all people 25 and older. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

20%
The percentage of single-race Asians 25 and older who have a graduate or professional degree (e.g., master’s or doctorate). This compares with 10 percent for all people 25 and older. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

The Asian population comprises many groups who differ in languages spoken, culture and length of residence in the United States. This 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 26 percent and 7 percent, respectively. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

$61,094
Median household income for single-race Asians in 2005, the highest among all race groups. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/007419.html>

Median household income differed greatly by Asian group. For Asian Indians, for example, the median income in 2005 was $73,575; for Vietnamese-Americans, it was $50,925. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

11.1%
Poverty rate for single-race Asians in 2005, up from 9.8 percent in 2004.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/007419.html>

17.9%
Percentage of single-race Asians without health insurance coverage in 2005, up from 16.5 percent in 2004. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/007419.html>

Businesses

Source for the statements referenced in this section, unless otherwise indicated:
<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 4.5 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 that were in California, New York, Texas and New Jersey.

New York, Los Angeles, Honolulu and San Francisco
Cities with the highest number of Asian-owned firms.

1 in 3
Proportion of Asian-owned businesses that were home-based. This is the lowest proportion for any minority group. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/007537.html>

Languages

2.3 million
The number of people 5 and older who speak Chinese at home. After Spanish, Chinese is the most widely spoken non-English language in the country. Tagalog and Vietnamese have more than 1 million speakers each. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

Serving Our Nation

293,321
The number of single-race Asian-American military veterans. About one in three was 65 and older. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

Jobs

47%
The proportion of civilian employed single-race Asians 16 and older who work in management, professional and related occupations, such as financial managers, engineers, teachers and registered nurses. Additionally, 23 percent work in sales and office occupations, 15 percent in service occupations and 11 percent in production, transportation and material moving occupations. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

Counties

1.4 million
The number of Asians (alone or in combination with one or more other races) in Los Angeles County, Calif., in 2005, which tops the nation’s counties.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/007263.html>

Age Distribution

35.1
Median age, in years, of the single-race Asian population in 2005. This is younger than the corresponding figure of 36.4 years for the population as a whole. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

The Future

33.4 million
The projected number of U.S. residents in 2050 who will identify themselves as single-race Asians. They would comprise 8 percent of the total population by that year.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001720.html>

213%
The projected percentage increase between 2000 and 2050 in the population of people who identify themselves as single-race Asian. This compares with a 49 percent increase in the population as a whole over the same period of time. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001720.html>

Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders

990,000
The estimated number of U.S. residents in July 2005 who said 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 comprised 0.3 percent of the total population. There were 282,000 Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders in Hawaii, which led all states.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/006808.html> <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/007263.html>

1.5%
Percentage growth of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population between 2004 and 2005, the highest of any race group except for Asians.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/006808.html>

Education

15%
The percentage of single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 25 and older who have at least a bachelor’s degree. This compares with 27 percent for the total population this age. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

83%
The percentage of single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 25 and older who have at least a high school diploma. This compares with 84 percent for the total population this age. (These two percentages are not significantly different from one another.) (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

4%
The percentage of single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 25 and older who have obtained a graduate or professional degree. This compares with 10 percent for the total population this age. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

$54,318
The three-year average (2003-2005) median income of households whose householders reported their race as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander but did not report any other race.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/007419.html>

12.2%
The three-year average (2003-2005) poverty rate for those who reported their race as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander but did not report any other race.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/007419.html>

21.8%
The three-year average (2003-2005) percentage without health insurance for those who reported their race as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander but did not report any other race.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/007419.html>

Businesses

Source for the statements referenced in this section:
<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 alone. Honolulu led 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 2.5 percent of the total number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms and 66.8 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 – 19.9 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 or California. These two states accounted for 62 percent of business revenue.

Serving Our Nation

28,084
The number of single-race Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander military veterans. One in five was 65 and older. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

Jobs

23%
The proportion of civilian employed single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 16 and older who work in management, professional and related occupations, such as financial managers, engineers, teachers and registered nurses. Meanwhile, 30 percent work in sales and office occupations, 22 percent in service occupations and 15 percent in production, transportation and material moving occupations. (The percentages for management, professional and related occupations and service occupations are not statistically different.) (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

Age Distribution

30.6
The median age of the single-race Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population in 2005, much younger than the median age of 36.4 for the population as a whole. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

Note: American Community Survey estimates are based on the population of one race only and do not include those living in group quarters.