1

Demographic Programs

U.S. Census Bureau

U S C E N S U S B U R E A U

Helping You Make Informed Decisions

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

P20-529

The Asian and Pacific Islander

Population in the United States

Population Characteristics

March

1999

Issued September 2000

Current

Population

Reports

By Karen Humes and

Jesse McKinnon

This report presents data on the demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the Asian and Pacific Islander1

population in the United States. The U.S.

Census Bureau collected this information

in the March 1999 supplement to the

Current Population Survey (CPS).2 The

topics covered are geographic distribution; age distribution; marital status;

family type and family size; educational

attainment; labor force participation, unemployment, and occupation; family income; and poverty status.

1“Asian” refers to those having origins in any of

the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia,

or the Indian subcontinent including, for example,

Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. “Pacific Islander” refers to

those having origins in any of the

original peoples of Hawaii, Guam,

Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

The Asian and Pacific Islander

population is not a homogeneous

group. Rather, it comprises many

Asian and Pacific Islander groups

who differ in language, culture, and

length of residence in the United

States. Some of the Asian groups,

such as the Chinese and Japanese,

have been in the United States for

several generations. Others, such

as the Hmong, Vietnamese, Laotians, and Cambodians, are comparatively recent immigrants. Relatively few of the Pacific Islanders

are foreign born. 2The population universe for the

March 1999 Current Population Survey is the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United

States plus members of the armed

forces in the United States living

off base or with their families on

base, but it excludes all other

members of the armed forces.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

The majority of Asians and Pacific

Islanders live in the West.

In March 1999, the Asian and Pacific

Islander population in the United States

numbered 10.9 million, constituting 4 percent of the total population. Most Asians

and Pacific Islanders (53 percent) resided in

the Western region of the United States,

with 20 percent in the South, 18 percent in

the Northeast, and 10 percent in the

Midwest3 (see Figure 1). In comparison,

3No statistical difference existed between the proportion of Asians and Pacific Islanders living in the South and

in the Northeast.

.

n of Residence by Race: 1999

*The percentages may not add to 100.0 percent because of rounding.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

 distribution of population*)

53

20

20

33

10

27

18 20

nd Pacific Islanders Non-Hispanic Whites

West

South

Midwest

Northeast

Regio

(Percent

Asians a

Figure 1
2 U.S. Census Bureau

non-Hispanic Whites numbered

193.1 million, with 20 percent residing in the West, 33 percent in

the South, 20 percent in the Northeast, and 27 percent in the Midwest.4

Most Asians and Pacific

Islanders live in metropolitan

areas.

Nationally, 96 percent of the Asian

and Pacific Islander population

lived in metropolitan areas.5 The

percentage of Asians and Pacific

Islanders who lived in central cities

(45 percent) was double the proportion for non-Hispanic Whites

(22 percent). A somewhat higher

proportion of non-Hispanic Whites

(56 percent) than of Asians and

Pacific Islanders (52 percent) lived

outside central cities. Asians and

Pacific Islanders were less likely

than non-Hispanic Whites to live

outside metropolitan areas (4 percent and 23 percent, respectively).

AGE DISTRIBUTION

The Asian and Pacific Islander

population is young.

In 1999, 29 percent of Asians and

Pacific Islanders were under age 18

compared with 24 percent of nonHispanic Whites. A further indication of the relative youthfulness of

the Asian and Pacific Islander population was that only 7 percent were

age 65 and older, whereas 14 percent of non-Hispanic Whites were in

this age group.

4No statistical difference existed between

the proportion of non-Hispanic Whites living

in the West and in the Northeast. 5The general concept of a metropolitan

area (MA) is one of a large population

nucleus, together with adjacent communities

that have a high degree of economic and social integration with that nucleus. The Office

of Management and Budget, with technical

assistance from the Census Bureau, uses

published standards to define MAs for use by

federal agencies. See Office of Management

and Budget, Federal Register Notice, Vol. 55,

No. 62, March 30, 1990 and OMB Bulletin,

No. 93-117, issued June 1993.

MARITAL STATUS

Among young adults, Asians

and Pacific Islanders are more

likely than non-Hispanic

Whites to have never married.

In 1999, 8.3 million Asians and Pacific Islanders and 155.2 million

non-Hispanic Whites were 15 years

and older. A lower proportion of

Asians and Pacific Islanders than of

non-Hispanic Whites 15 years and

older were married with their

spouse present (53 percent and

57 percent, respectively). However, Asians and Pacific Islanders

were about three times as likely as

non-Hispanic Whites to be married

with their spouse absent (3 percent

compared with 1 percent). Asians

and Pacific Islanders were less

likely than non-Hispanic Whites to

be widowed (4 percent compared

with 7 percent) or divorced (5 percent compared with 10 percent),

but just as likely to be separated

(1 percent compared with 2 percent).6 The largest difference in

marital status between Asians and

Pacific Islanders and non-Hispanic

Whites existed for those never

married: 34 percent compared with

24 percent.

Marital status varies by age group.

The percentage of divorced Asians

and Pacific Islanders was about

one-half the percentage of divorced

non-Hispanic Whites for each of the

age groups examined — 3 percent

compared with 8 percent for those

ages 25 to 34, 7 percent and

14 percent for those ages 35 to 44,

and 8 percent and 15 percent for

those ages 45 to 64. Among

adults 25 years and older, the percentage of Asians and Pacific Islanders never married was highest

among those ages 25 to 34

(45 percent) compared with

6No statistical difference existed in the

proportion of Asians and Pacific Islanders

widowed and those with spouse absent or

divorced.

32 percent for non-Hispanic Whites

in the same age group.

FAMILY TYPE AND SIZE

The majority of Asian and

Pacific Islander families are

maintained by married

couples.

In 1999, the majority of the

2.5 million Asian and Pacific Islander and the 53.1 million nonHispanic White families were

maintained by married couples

(80 percent and 82 percent, respectively).7 About 13 percent of both

Asian and Pacific Islander and nonHispanic White families were maintained by women with no spouse

present. Families maintained by

men with no spouse present made

up 7 percent of Asian and Pacific

Islander families and 5 percent of

non-Hispanic White families.

Asian and Pacific Islander

families are larger than nonHispanic White families.

Among married-couple families,

23 percent of Asian and Pacific

Islander families consisted of five

or more members, compared with

13 percent of non-Hispanic White

families (see Figure 2). For families

maintained by women with no

spouse present, the comparable

figures were 16 percent and 5 percent. About 9 percent of Asian and

Pacific Islander male householder

families with no spouse present

had five or more members, not

significantly different from the

4 percent of their non-Hispanic

White counterparts.8

7The race of the householder was used to

determine the race of the family or household. Data do not include families in group

quarters. 8For Asians and Pacific Islanders, no statistical difference existed in the proportion of male

householder, compared with female householder, families with no spouse present with

five or more members.
U.S. Census Bureau 3

EDUCATIONAL

ATTAINMENT

Among people 25 years and

older, Asians and Pacific

Islanders are more likely than

non-Hispanic Whites to have

earned a college degree, but

they are also more likely than

non-Hispanic Whites to have

less than a ninth grade

education.

In 1999, 6.6 million Asians and

Pacific Islanders and 130.4 million

non-Hispanic Whites were 25

years and older in the United

States. Among this age group,

Asians and Pacific Islanders were

more likely than non-Hispanic

Whites to have less than a ninth

grade education (8 percent compared with 5 percent). At the

same time, Asians and Pacific

Islanders were more likely than

non-Hispanic Whites to have a

bachelor’s degree or more (42 percent and 28 percent, respectively).

A slightly lower proportion of

Asians and Pacific Islanders

(85 percent) than of non-Hispanic

Whites (88 percent) had completed a high school education or

more.

In 1999, a higher proportion of

Asian and Pacific Islander men

than of women had earned at

least a bachelor’s degree (46 percent and 39 percent, respectively,

as shown in Figure 3). Similarly, a

higher proportion of non-Hispanic

White men than of women had

earned at least a bachelor’s degree

(31 percent compared with 25 percent).

Figure 2.

Size of Family by Family Type and Race: 1999

*The percentages may not add to 100.0 percent because of rounding.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

(Percent distribution of families*)

23

13 16

5 9 4

27

21 20

10

17

11

27

21

29

28

23

24

24

45

35

57 51

61

NonHispanic

Whites

Asians

and

Pacific

Islanders

NonHispanic

Whites

Asians

and

Pacific

Islanders

NonHispanic

Whites

Asians

and

Pacific

Islanders

Five or more

members

Four

members

Three

members

Two

members

Married-couple

family

Female householder,

no spouse present

Male householder,

no spouse present

Figure 3.

Educational Attainment for People 25 Years and 

Older by Sex and Race: 1999

*The percentages may not add to 100.0 percent because of rounding.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

(Percent of population*) Asians and Pacific Islanders

Non-Hispanic Whites

Bachelor's degree

or more

Some college

High school graduate

Less than

high school

Bachelor's degree

or more

Some college

High school graduate

Less than

high school

13

12

20

32

21

25

46

31

17

12

25

36

19

26

39

25

Men

Women
4 U.S. Census Bureau

LABOR FORCE

PARTICIPATION,

UNEMPLOYMENT, AND

OCCUPATION

Among Asians and Pacific

Islanders, men are more likely

than women to participate in

the civilian labor force.

In 1999, 8.1 million Asians and Pacific Islanders and 152.7 million

non-Hispanic Whites were 16 years

and older. Among this age group,

no statistical difference existed in

the proportion participating in the

civilian labor force for Asian and

Pacific Islander and non-Hispanic

White men (74 percent each) and

women (60 percent each).9 Also,

no statistical difference existed in

the proportion unemployed for

Asian and Pacific Islander and

non-Hispanic White men (4 percent

each) or in the proportion of

women unemployed (4 percent and

3 percent, respectively).

Asians and Pacific Islanders

are concentrated in managerial

and professional specialty

occupations.

In 1999, 5.2 million Asians and Pacific Islanders and 98.7 million

non-Hispanic Whites 15 years and

older were employed.10 A higher

proportion of Asians and Pacific

Islanders (37 percent) than of nonHispanic Whites (33 percent) were

concentrated in managerial and

professional specialty occupations.11 Among men, a slightly

higher proportion of Asians and

9Civilian labor force and occupation data

reflect characteristics of the civilian

noninstitutionalized population for March

1999 and are not adjusted for seasonal

changes. Data released by the Department

of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics may not

agree entirely with data shown in this report

because of seasonal adjustment. 10The data on occupation are for the employed civilian population 15 years and older

in their current occupation. 11They include occupations such as managers, executives, administrators, physicians,

nurses, lawyers, architects, engineers, scientists, and teachers.

Pacific Islanders than of nonHispanic Whites worked in them

(37 percent compared with 32 percent, see Figure 4), but no statistical difference existed among

women (36 percent compared with

35 percent).

FAMILY INCOME12

While one-third of Asian and

Pacific Islander families have

incomes of $75,000 or more,

one-fifth have incomes of less

than $25,000.

About 33 percent of Asian and

Pacific Islander families and

12Income is the sum of wages and salaries,

net income from self-employment, and income

other than earnings.

29 percent of non-Hispanic White

families had incomes of $75,000 or

more in 1998.13 At the same time,

21 percent of Asian and Pacific

Islander families had incomes under $25,000, compared with

19 percent of non-Hispanic White

families. Asian and Pacific Islander

married-couple families were more

likely than non-Hispanic White married-couple families to have incomes of $75,000 or more (38 percent and 33 percent, respectively).

About one in seven of both Asian

and Pacific Islander married-couple

families (16 percent) and

13Throughout the report, references to income and poverty status for families and individuals in 1999 are based on their income in

calendar year 1998.

Figure 4.

Occupation of the Employed Civilian Population 

15 Years and Older by Sex and Race: 1999

*The percentages may not add to 100.0 percent because of rounding.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

(Percent of population*) Asians and Pacific Islanders

Non-Hispanic Whites

Men

Women

Operators, fabricators,

movers, and laborers

Precision, production,

craft, and repair

Farming, forestry,

and fishing

Service occupations

Technical, sales, and

administrative support

Managerial and

professional specialty

Operators, fabricators,

movers, and laborers

Precision, production,

craft, and repair

Farming, forestry,

and fishing

Service occupations

Technical, sales, and

administrative support

Managerial and

professional specialty

37

32

25

21

10

8

1

3

11

19

15

17

36

35

32

41

18

15

0

1

3

2

11

6
U.S. Census Bureau 5

non-Hispanic White married-couple

families (14 percent) had incomes

of less than $25,000 (see Figure 5).

Among families maintained by men

with no spouse present or by

women with no spouse present, no

statistical difference existed in the

proportion of Asian and Pacific

Islander families and non-Hispanic

White families with incomes of

$75,000 or more or with incomes

under $25,000.

POVERTY STATUS

Asians and Pacific Islanders

are more likely to be poor14

than non-Hispanic Whites.

In 1998, 1.4 million Asians and

Pacific Islanders (about 13 percent)

and 15.8 million non-Hispanic

Whites (about 8 percent) were poor.

For Asians and Pacific Islanders and

non-Hispanic Whites, poverty varies

by age group, but rates are usually

higher for the former. About

18 percent of Asians and Pacific

Islanders younger than 18 were

poor, compared with 11 percent of

non-Hispanic White children.

Among Asians and Pacific Islanders

age 18 to 64, 10 percent were

poor, compared with 7 percent of

their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Asians and Pacific Islanders

65 years and older had a higher

poverty rate (12 percent) than nonHispanic Whites in this age group

(8 percent). Among men 65 years

and older, Asians and Pacific

Islanders were about twice as likely

to be poor as non-Hispanic Whites

(12 percent and 5 percent, respectively, as shown in Figure 6), but

the proportion of women 65 years

and older in poverty was not

14In 1998, the poverty threshold for a family

of four was $16,660. Poverty statistics exclude unrelated individuals under 15 years.

For more information, see Dalaker, Joseph, U.S.

Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, Series P60-207, Poverty in the United States:

1998, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1999.

Figure 5.

Total Family Income by Family Type and Race: 1998

*The percentages may not add to 100.0 percent because of rounding.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

(Percent distribution of families*)

38

33

6 6

18 15

21

25

16 13

15 22

25 28

30 34

35

36

16 14

48 46

33 26

NonHispanic

Whites

Asians

and

Pacific

Islanders

NonHispanic

Whites

Asians

and

Pacific

Islanders

NonHispanic

Whites

Asians

and

Pacific

Islanders

$75,000 and

more

$50,000 to

$74,999

$25,000 to 

$49,999

Less than

$25,000

Married-couple

family

Female householder,

no spouse present

Male householder,

no spouse present

Figure 6.

Poverty Rates by Age, Sex, and Race: 1998

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

(Percent of population)

Asians and Pacific Islanders

Non-Hispanic Whites

65 and older

18 to 64

Less than 18

65 and older

18 to 64 

Less than 18 

Men

Women

17

10

9

6

12

5

19

11

11

9

13

10
6 U.S. Census Bureau

significantly different (13 percent

and 10 percent, respectively).

In 1998, Asian and Pacific Islander

families were about twice as likely

as non-Hispanic White families to

be in poverty (11 percent compared with 6 percent). Among married-couple families, 8 percent of

Asian and Pacific Islander families

and 4 percent of non-Hispanic

White families were in poverty. In

contrast, families maintained by

women with no spouse present or

men with no spouse present had

poverty rates of 29 percent and

12 percent, respectively, for Asians

and Pacific Islanders and 21 percent and 8 percent, respectively,

for non-Hispanic Whites.15

SOURCE OF DATA

The estimates in this report come

from data obtained in March 1999

from the Current Population Survey

(CPS). The Census Bureau conducts the CPS every month, although this report uses only data

from the March survey.

ACCURACY OF THE

ESTIMATES

Statistics from surveys are subject

to sampling and nonsampling error.

All comparisons presented in this

report have taken sampling error

into account and meet the Census

Bureau’s standards for statistical

significance. Nonsampling errors

in surveys may be attributed to a

variety of sources, such as how the

survey was designed, how respondents interpret questions, how able

and willing respondents are to provide correct answers, and how ac15Among families maintained by men with

no spouse present, no statistical difference existed in the proportion in poverty for Asian and

Pacific Islander families and non-Hispanic White

families.

curately the answers are coded and To receive a paper copy of these

classified. tables, send your requests for “PPL131, The Asian and Pacific Islander

The Census Bureau employs quality Population in the United States:

control procedures throughout the March 1999" along with a check or

production process — including the money order in the amount of

overall design of surveys, the $22.00 payable to Commerce-Cenwording of questions, review of the sus-88-00-9010, to U.S. Departwork of interviewers and coders, ment of Commerce, U.S. Census

and statistical review of reports. Bureau, P.O. Box 277943, Atlanta,

GA 30384-7943, or call our Statisti- The Current Population Survey em- cal Information Office on 301-457-

ploys ratio estimation, whereby 2422. A copy of these tabulations sample estimates are adjusted to will be made available to any exist- independent estimates of the na- ing CPR-P20 subscriber without tional population by age, race, sex, charge, provided that the request is and Hispanic origin. This weight- made within 3 months of the issue

ing partially corrects for bias due date of this report by contacting to undercoverage, but how it af- our Statistical Information Office.

fects different variables in the survey is not precisely known. More- SUGGESTED CITATION over, biases may also be present

when people who are missed in the Humes, Karen and Jesse McKinnon,

survey differ from those inter- 2000, The Asian and Pacific Islander

viewed in ways other than the cat- Population in the United States:

egories used in weighting (age, March 1999, U.S. Census Bureau,

race, sex, and Hispanic origin). All Current Population Reports, Series

of these considerations affect com- P20-529, U.S. Government Printing

parisons across different surveys or Office, Washington, DC.

data sources.

CONTACTS

For further information on statistiStatistical Information Staff: cal standards and the computation

pop@census.gov, 301-457-2422 and use of standard errors, contact

Demographic Statistical Methods Jesse D. McKinnon:

Division on the Internet at: Jesse.D.McKinnon@census.gov,

301-457-2402 dsmd_s&a@census.gov.

MORE INFORMATION USER COMMENTS

Detailed tables with social and eco- The Census Bureau welcomes the

comments and advice of users of nomic characteristics of Asians and

its data and reports. If you have Pacific Islanders, non-Hispanic

Whites, and other races, and their any suggestions or comments,

please write to: families and households are available on the Internet Chief, Population Division (www.census.gov); search by click- U.S. Census Bureau ing on “A” for “Asians and Pacific Is- Washington, DC 20233 landers” under the “Subjects A-Z”

heading on the Census Bureau Or send e-mail to:

home page. pop@census.gov