In 1992, Congress established May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to coincide with two key milestones: the arrival of the nation’s first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and Chinese workers’ pivotal role in building the transcontinental railroad (completed May 10, 1869). The move expanded what had been Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week since 1978. In 2021, a presidential proclamation expanded this to include Native Hawaiians. This Facts for Features includes separate sections on the Asian and the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander populations, which the Office of Management and Budget in 1997 split into two race categories.  

The following facts are possible thanks to the invaluable responses to the U.S. Census Bureau surveys. 

Asian Population

Did You Know?

24.0 million

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

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).

2.4%

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

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. 

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.

612,194

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

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Population

Did You Know?

1.7 million

The estimated number of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone-or-in-combination residents of the United States in 2021. 

680,353

The number of Native Hawaiian residents of the United States in 2021. The Native Hawaiian population was the largest detailed Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) group, followed by Samoan (243,682) and Chamorro (142,516). These estimates represent the number of people who reported a specific detailed NHPI group alone as well as those who reported that detailed NHPI group in combination with one or more other detailed NHPI groups or another race(s).

6.8%  

The percentage of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone-or-in-combination military veterans in 2021.

25.0%

The percentage of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone-or-in-combination population age 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2021. 

89.9%

The percentage of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone-or-in-combination population age 25 and older with at least a high school diploma or equivalency in 2021. 

8,822

The estimated number of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander-owned employer firms in the United States in 2020. 

Click here to see more detailed stats on the AANHPI population including voter registration, marital status, housing and income. Click here to read the President's proclamation on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2023.