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 May 10, 1869.

In 1992, Congress expanded the observance to a monthlong celebration that is now known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Per a 1997 U.S. Office of Management and Budget directive, the Asian or Pacific Islander racial category was separated into two categories: one being Asian and the other Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. Thus, this Facts for Features contains a section for each.

"This month, we celebrate our fellow Americans from Asian American and Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and pay tribute to all they have done to help fulfill the promise of America for all.  Together, let us recommit ourselves to building a country in which every American — regardless of who they are, where they come from, or what they look like — has an equal opportunity to thrive." -- President Biden

Read President Biden's Proclamation on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 2022 here.

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 people who identified as Asian alone or in combination in the United States in 2020.

5.1 million

The estimated number of the Asian alone or in combination population of Chinese, except Taiwanese, descent in the United States in 2020. The Chinese (except Taiwanese) population was the largest Asian group, followed by Asian Indian (4.5 million), Filipino (4.1 million), Vietnamese (2.2 million), Korean (1.9 million) and Japanese (1.6 million). These estimates represent the number of people who reported a specific detailed Asian group alone, as well as people who reported that detailed Asian group in combination with one or more other detailed Asian groups or another race(s).

2.5%

The estimated percentage of Asian alone or in combination who are military veterans in 2019.

7.2 million

The number of the Asian alone population 25 years and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education.

11.4 million    

The number of the Asian alone population 25 years and older who had at least a high school diploma or equivalency.

581,200

The estimated number of Asian-owned employer firms in the United States in 2019.

Voting Rates

• Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2020.
• Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2018.

More Stats

Visit data.census.gov for a Selected Population Profile of the Asian alone or in combination population from the 2019 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates. Statistics include:

• Sex and age.
• Marital status.
• Employment status.
• Occupation.
• Commuting.
• Housing.
• Income.

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Population

Did You Know?

1.6 million

The estimated number of people that identified as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination in the United States in 2020. 

619,855

The number of Native Hawaiians in the United States in 2020. The Native Hawaiian population was the largest detailed Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) group, followed by Samoan (211,876) and Chamorro (156,083). These estimates represent the number of people who reported a specific detailed NHPI group alone, as well as people who reported that detailed NHPI group in combination with one or more other detailed NHPI groups or another race(s).

35,152

The number of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone who are military veterans in 2020.

71,224

The number of people that identified as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone population 25 years and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2020. 

337,408

The number of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone population 25 years and older with at least a high school diploma or equivalency in 2020. 

7,331

The estimated number of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander-owned employer firms in the United States in 2019. 

For more information, please visit the U.S. Census Bureau's latest Facts for Features: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: May 2022.