Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: May 2023

Congress created Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in 1978, setting aside early May to coincide with two milestones in Asian/Pacific American history: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) in the United States, and Chinese workers’ role in building the transcontinental railroad, completed May 10, 1869.

In 1992, Congress expanded the observance to Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. A 1997 U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directive separated the Asian or Pacific Islander racial category into two categories: Asian and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. This Facts for Features contains a section on each.

The following facts are possible thanks to the invaluable responses to U.S. Census Bureau surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we continuously measure America’s people, places and economy.

Asian Population

Did You Know?

24.0 million

The estimated number of Asian alone or in combination residents in the United States in 2021.

Source: 

2021 Population Estimates

5.2 million

The estimated number of people of Chinese (except Taiwanese) descent in the United States in 2021. The Chinese (except Taiwanese) population was the largest Asian group, followed by Indian (4.8 million), Filipino (4.4 million), Vietnamese (2.3 million), Korean (2.0 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 another race(s).

Source:

2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates

2.4%

The percentage of the Asian alone-or-in-combination military veterans in 2021.

Source:

2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates

55.1% 

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 2021. 

Source:

2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates

88.5% 

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 2021.

Source:

2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates

612,194

The estimated number of Asian-owned employer firms in the United States in 2020. 

Source:

2021 Annual Business Survey, data year 2020

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