Asian Americans facts for kids

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Asian Americans
Total population
Distribution of Asian Americans by county according to the 2020 census
Alone (one race){br} 20,052,323 (2023 American Community Survey){br} 6.00% of the total US population{br}{br}In combination (multiracial){br} 5,835,155 (2023 American Community Survey){br /} 1.24% of the total US population{br}{br}Alone or in combination{br} 25,887,478 (2023 American Community Survey){br} 7.24% of the total US population
Regions with significant populations
Suburban and urban areas along the West and East Coast, and in the South, Midwest, and Southwest; Hawaii and the Pacific territories
California	6,085,947
New York	1,933,127
Texas	1,585,480
New Jersey	950,090
Illinois	754,878
Languages
English Several Asian languages
Religion
Christian (34%){br /}Unaffiliated (32%){br /]Buddhist (11%){br /}Hindu (11%){br /}Muslim (6%){br /}Other (1%) including Sikh, Jain, Zoroastrian, Tengrism, Shinto, and Chinese folk religion (Taoist and more), Vietnamese folk religion

Asian Americans are people in the United States who have family roots from the continent of Asia. This includes people who were born in Asia and moved to the U.S., as well as their children and grandchildren born in America.

The U.S. Census Bureau uses the term "Asian" to describe people from East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. It does not include people from West Asia, who are counted differently. In 2020, about 7.2% of the U.S. population identified as Asian American. This includes people who chose "Asian" alone or "Asian" mixed with other races.

The largest groups within Asian Americans are Chinese, Indian, and Filipino Americans. Together, they make up a big part of the Asian American population. While some Asian people came to the U.S. centuries ago, many more started arriving in the mid-1800s. Laws in the past limited Asian immigration, but these laws changed in the 1940s-1960s. Since then, the number of Asian Americans has grown quickly.

What Does "Asian American" Mean?

The way we use the term "Asian American" has changed over time. Before the late 1960s, people from Asia were often called by different names. These names are not used anymore.

The term "Asian American" was created in 1968 by two activists, Yuji Ichioka and Emma Gee. They wanted to bring together different Asian groups in America. This helped them work together for their rights and against the Vietnam War.

Today, "Asian American" is the official term used by the U.S. government and in studies. It usually means people from East, South, and Southeast Asia.

How the Census Defines "Asian"

The U.S. Census counts people based on their origins. For the census, people from East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia are grouped as "Asian." People from West Asia and North Africa are counted in a different category.

Before 2000, the census used to group "Asian" and "Pacific Islander" together. Now, they are two separate groups: "Asian American" and "Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander." This helps to show the different backgrounds of people.

Who Are Asian Americans?

Asian Americans are a very diverse group. They come from many different countries and cultures in Asia. Even though they are grouped together, each community has its own unique history and traditions.

Most Asian Americans live in big cities. California has the largest number of Asian Americans. Hawaii is the only state where Asian Americans make up the majority of the population.

Asian Americans are divided into several main groups based on their family's origin:

East Asian Americans: This group includes people from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and other East Asian countries. They make up about 38% of Asian Americans.
South Asian Americans: This group includes people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and other South Asian countries. They make up about 25% of Asian Americans.
Southeast Asian Americans: This group includes people from the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries. They make up about 32% of Asian Americans.
Central Asian Americans: This group includes people from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other Central Asian countries. They make up about 1.5% of Asian Americans.

Many Asian Americans are also multiracial, meaning they have Asian heritage mixed with other backgrounds. In 2020, over 16% of Asian Americans identified as multiracial.

Asian American Population by State (2020 Census)

State or district	Total Population	Asian alone population	% Asian Alone	Asian alone or in any combination population	% Asian Alone or in Combination
Alabama	5,024,279	76,660	1.5%	102,777	2.0%
Alaska	733,391	44,032	6.0%	61,460	8.4%
Arizona	7,151,502	257,430	3.6%	351,132	4.9%
Arkansas	3,011,524	51,839	1.7%	68,558	2.3%
California	39,538,223	6,085,947	15.4%	7,045,163	17.8%
Colorado	5,773,714	199,827	3.5%	285,784	4.9%
Connecticut	3,605,944	172,455	4.8%	205,693	5.7%
Delaware	989,948	42,699	4.3%	50,969	5.1%
District of Columbia	689,545	33,545	4.9%	45,465	6.6%
Florida	21,538,187	643,682	3.0%	843,005	3.9%
Georgia	10,711,908	479,028	4.5%	565,644	5.3%
Hawaii	1,455,271	541,902	37.2%	824,143	56.6%
Idaho	1,839,106	26,836	1.5%	47,513	2.6%
Illinois	12,812,508	754,878	5.9%	875,488	6.8%
Indiana	6,785,528	167,959	2.5%	212,649	3.1%
Iowa	3,190,369	75,629	2.4%	96,861	3.0%
Kansas	2,937,880	86,273	2.9%	112,195	3.8%
Kentucky	4,505,836	74,426	1.7%	98,763	2.2%
Louisiana	4,657,757	86,438	1.9%	111,836	2.4%
Maine	1,362,359	16,798	1.2%	25,473	1.9%
Maryland	6,177,224	420,944	6.8%	502,173	8.1%
Massachusetts	7,029,917	507,934	7.2%	582,484	8.3%
Michigan	10,077,331	334,300	3.3%	411,928	4.1%
Minnesota	5,706,494	299,190	5.2%	357,704	6.3%
Mississippi	2,961,279	32,709	1.1%	44,931	1.5%
Missouri	6,154,913	133,377	2.2%	179,336	2.9%
Montana	1,084,225	8,300	0.8%	16,889	1.6%
Nebraska	1,961,504	52,951	2.7%	69,006	3.5%
Nevada	3,104,614	272,703	8.8%	353,593	11.4%
New Hampshire	1,377,529	35,871	2.6%	46,861	3.4%
New Jersey	9,288,994	950,090	10.2%	1,046,732	11.3%
New Mexico	2,117,522	37,469	1.8%	55,997	2.6%
New York	20,201,249	1,933,127	9.6%	2,173,719	10.8%
North Carolina	10,439,388	343,051	3.3%	425,449	4.1%
North Dakota	779,094	13,213	1.7%	18,675	2.4%
Ohio	11,799,448	298,509	2.5%	377,303	3.2%
Oklahoma	3,959,353	90,949	2.3%	123,614	3.1%
Oregon	4,237,256	194,538	4.6%	275,296	6.5%
Pennsylvania	13,002,700	510,501	3.9%	603,726	4.6%
Rhode Island	1,097,379	38,961	3.6%	48,450	4.4%
South Carolina	5,118,425	90,466	1.8%	123,666	2.4%
South Dakota	886,667	13,476	1.5%	18,489	2.1%
Tennessee	6,910,840	135,615	2.0%	178,683	2.6%
Texas	29,145,505	1,585,480	5.4%	1,849,226	6.3%
Utah	3,271,616	80,438	2.5%	125,088	3.8%
Vermont	643,077	11,549	1.8%	16,182	2.5%
Virginia	8,631,393	615,436	7.1%	757,282	8.8%
Washington	7,705,281	730,596	9.5%	939,846	12.2%
West Virginia	1,793,716	15,109	0.8%	22,281	1.2%
Wisconsin	5,893,718	175,702	3.0%	216,345	3.7%
Wyoming	576,851	5,212	0.9%	9,473	1.6%
United States	331,449,281	19,886,049	6.0%	24,000,998	7.2%

What Languages Do Asian Americans Speak?

Many Asian Americans speak English at home. However, many also speak languages from their home countries. After Spanish, Chinese languages are the third most common languages spoken in the U.S.

Other widely spoken Asian languages include Hindustani (Hindi/Urdu), Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean. Each of these has over a million speakers in the United States. The government even provides election materials in many of these languages to help people vote.

What Religions Do Asian Americans Practice?

Religious affiliation of Asian Americans in 2023 Christianity (34%) Unaffiliated (32%) Buddhism (11%) Hinduism (11%) Islam (6%) Other faith (4%) No answer (2%)

Asian Americans follow many different religions. The main religions include Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Many also do not identify with any specific religion.

Christianity: About 34% of Asian Americans are Christian. This includes Catholics and Protestants. Filipino and Korean Americans often have strong Christian beliefs.
Unaffiliated: About 32% of Asian Americans do not identify with a religion. This group includes atheists and agnostics. Many still feel a cultural connection to religious traditions. Chinese and Japanese Americans are more likely to be in this group.
Buddhism: About 11% of Asian Americans are Buddhist. Many more feel a cultural connection to Buddhism. Vietnamese Americans have the highest number of Buddhists.
Hinduism: About 11% of Asian Americans are Hindu. Most Indian Americans identify as Hindu. Many Hindu families have altars or shrines for worship at home.
Islam: About 6% of Asian Americans are Muslim. Many Pakistani and Bangladeshi Americans are Muslim. Religion is very important in the daily lives of many Asian American Muslims.

A Look at Asian American History

The history of Asian Americans is rich and varied. Each group has its own unique story of coming to the United States.

Early Arrivals and Contributions

Five images of the Filipino settlement at Saint Malo, Louisiana

Filipinos were in parts of what is now the U.S. as early as the 1500s. In 1763, Filipinos created a settlement in Saint Malo, Louisiana. They married local women and built a new life. Filipino farmworkers also played a big role in U.S. agriculture in the early 1900s.

Chinese sailors first arrived in Hawaii in 1789. Many settled there and married Hawaiian women. In the 1800s, many Chinese, Korean, and Japanese immigrants came to Hawaii and California. They worked on sugar plantations and helped build the Transcontinental Railroad. Their hard work was very important, but their stories were often forgotten.

Large numbers of Chinese immigrants came to the West Coast during the California gold rush in the mid-1800s. By 1852, over 20,000 Chinese immigrants lived in San Francisco. Japanese immigration increased after 1868. In 1898, Filipinos became American nationals when the U.S. took over the Philippines.

The Exclusion Era: Limiting Immigration

For a long time, U.S. laws made it hard for Asian immigrants to become citizens. Only "free white persons" could become citizens. This meant Asian immigrants could not vote or have other rights. However, children of Asian immigrants born in the U.S. could become citizens.

From the 1880s to the 1920s, the U.S. passed laws to stop Asian immigration. These laws were due to anti-immigrant feelings. The Chinese Exclusion Act in the 1880s stopped almost all Chinese immigration. Later laws also limited Japanese and other Asian immigration.

World War II and Its Impact

During World War II, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. This led to the internment of Japanese Americans. Over 100,000 people of Japanese descent, including children and the elderly, were forced into isolated camps. This action was later seen as unfair and based on racism.

Immigration After the War

After World War II, laws slowly changed, making it easier for Asian Americans to immigrate and become citizens. The Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965 removed old limits. This led to a big increase in Asian immigration. Many refugees from the Vietnam War also came to the U.S.

Asian Americans became the fastest-growing racial group between 2000 and 2010. By 2012, more immigrants came from Asia than from Latin America. Many Asian immigrants who came after the war were professionals, like doctors and engineers. This helped them succeed in the U.S.

The Asian American Movement

Before the 1960s, Asian groups often worked separately. But in the 1960s, the "Asian American movement" began. It was inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and protests against the Vietnam War. This movement brought different Asian groups together. They worked to fight racial discrimination and support their communities.

Asian American students also pushed for more studies about Asian history in the U.S. They supported multiculturalism and affirmative action.

Notable Contributions by Asian Americans

Asian Americans have made important contributions in many areas of American life.

Arts and Entertainment

Asian Americans have been part of the entertainment industry for a long time. In the past, acting roles were limited and often based on stereotypes. Bruce Lee, born in San Francisco, became a movie star after moving to Hong Kong.

More recently, Asian American comedians and filmmakers have used platforms like YouTube to reach audiences. TV shows like Fresh Off the Boat have also featured Asian American stories.

Business and Innovation

Jerry Yang, co-founder of the search engine Yahoo!.

Steve Chen (middle), co-founder of YouTube.

Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, a leading AI company.

When Asian Americans faced limits in jobs in the 1800s, many started their own businesses. They opened stores, restaurants, and other companies. Today, Asian Americans are very successful in business.

Many Asian Americans have become leaders in the hi-tech industry, especially in Silicon Valley. Co-founders of companies like Yahoo!, YouTube, and Nvidia are Asian American.

In 2012, Asian American-owned businesses made over $700 billion in sales. They employed millions of workers. This shows their big impact on the American economy. Famous Asian American business leaders include fashion designer Vera Wang and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

Government and Politics

Kamala Harris, former Vice President of the United States

Asian Americans have become more involved in government and politics. They hold offices at local, state, and national levels. The first Asian American elected to the United States Congress was Dalip Singh Saund in 1957.

Daniel Inouye was the highest-ranked Asian American in the U.S. Senate. The first Asian American in a U.S. cabinet was Norman Mineta. As of 2021, Kamala Harris, whose mother was Indian, became the first Asian American Vice President of the United States.

Asian Americans' voting habits have changed over time. In 1992, many supported Republicans. By 2020, most supported Democrats. However, different Asian ethnic groups may vote differently.

Journalism

Asian Americans have made their mark in journalism. Connie Chung was one of the first Asian American national TV news correspondents. She later became the first Asian American national news anchor.

Other notable Asian American journalists include Ann Curry, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Lisa Ling. They have reported on major news stories and hosted popular shows.

Military Service

Asian Americans have served in the U.S. military since the War of 1812. Many have fought bravely for the country. Thirty-one Asian Americans have received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for bravery.

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, made up mostly of Japanese Americans during World War II, was one of the most decorated units in U.S. military history. Eric Shinseki, a four-star general, was the highest-ranked Asian American military official.

Science and Technology

Lisa Su, CEO of AMD since October 2014.

Asian Americans have made many important discoveries and inventions in science and technology. Over 40% of high-tech companies are started by skilled Asian Americans.

The co-founders of major companies like Yahoo, Zoom, and YouTube are Asian American. Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, is another example of an Asian American leader in technology. Their contributions have greatly shaped modern technology.

Sports

Asian Americans have also excelled in sports. They have competed in the Olympic Games and played in professional leagues. As the Asian American population grew, so did their presence in sports.

Famous Asian American athletes include figure skater Michelle Kwan, snowboarder Chloe Kim, basketball player Jeremy Lin, and golfer Tiger Woods.

Cultural Influence

The U.S. government celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month every May. This month recognizes the unique cultures, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Asian American culture is also seen in books, TV shows, and movies. For example, the movie Crazy Rich Asians and the novel Pachinko tell stories about Asian American experiences.

Health and Medicine

Asian Americans play a big role in healthcare in the U.S. Many doctors, nurses, and other medical workers are Asian American. Starting in the 1960s, the U.S. invited many foreign doctors, especially from India and the Philippines, to help with doctor shortages.

Today, about 17% of doctors in the U.S. are Asian Americans. Many Asian American medical professionals work in areas where healthcare is most needed. Some Asian Americans also use traditional healing methods like traditional Chinese medicine.

Education Achievements

Asian Americans have very high levels of education in the U.S. Many Asian American adults have at least a college degree. For example, in 2010, 50% of Asian adults had a bachelor's degree or higher. This is much higher than the average for all Americans.

Taiwanese Americans have some of the highest education rates. Asian Americans also make up a large percentage of students at top universities like the Ivy League schools.

Images for kids

Proportion of Asian Americans in each US state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico as of the 2020 United States census
Proportion of Asian Americans in each county of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico as of the 2020 United States census
Asian Americans (alone) population pyramid in 2020