In March 1994, the Asian and Pacific Islander population was estimated at 8.8 million, up from 7.3 million in the 1990 census. In both 1994 and 1990, Asians and Pacific Islanders accounted for about 3 percent of America's population. Since 1990, the Asian and Pacific Islander population has grown about 4.5 percent per year. By the year 2000, this population is projected to reach 12.1 million and represent about 4 percent of the total population. The Asian and Pacific Islander population is a heterogeneous group.
Groups differ in their language, culture, and recency of immigration.
Hawaiians, of course, are native to this country. The following data are based on the March 1994 Current Population Survey unless otherwise noted. The Asian and Pacific Islander population resides mainly in metropolitan areas. Asians and Pacific Islanders continue to have high educational attainment. Educational attainment continues to be high for the Asian and Pacific Islander population as a whole.