Reports of hate crimes and violence against Asian Americans have made headlines across the United States in the past year, prompting calls to increase the community’s visibility to combat negative stereotypes and misconceptions. But large data gaps exist about Asians and their experiences in America. Why are those stories missing? And what can the research community do to bring them to light? The Pew Research Center and a panel of distinguished experts for a look at recent research on Asian Americans as they explore how to close those data gaps and how better data can serve policymakers, the press, and advocates.

1. Between the Data
The Unseen Stories of Asian Americans
Neil G. Ruiz
Associate Director of Race and Ethnicity Research

2. April 30, 2021
2
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research.

3. Treatment as one racial group:
DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE

4. 4
Eight-in-ten Asian Americans say violence against them in the
United States is increasing
% of Asian adults* who say violence against Asian Americans in the U.S. is ...
*Asian adults were interviewed in English only
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 5-11, 2021

5. 5
One-in-five U.S. Asians cite former president Donald Trump as
one of the reasons for the rise in violence against Asian
Americans
In an open-ended question among Asian respondents* who say violence against Asians
in the U.S. is increasing, % who say the main reasons for the increasing violence are …
20%
16
15
12
5
4
4
3
3
2
12
Donald Trump
Racism
COVID-19/
Effects of the pandemic
Asian Americans blamed or
scapegoated
Ignorance/
Lack of knowledge
Asian Americans are targets,
don’t fight back or report crimes
China’s rise/
U.S.-China relations
The news media
Misinformation/Disinformation
Xenophobia
Other responses
“People mistakenly assume that all Asians are of Chinese
origin, and that China was responsible for the start of the
coronavirus.”
-Woman, 60
“Four years of Trump has normalized racism and bullying. His
continual example of blaming Asians
for the coronavirus is allowing people to openly discriminate
against Asian[s].”
-Woman, 40
“Ignorant people placing a ‘blanket blame’ on Asians
regarding the origin of COVID-19. Racism against Asians has
always been present and is generally caused by other
groups, both Whites and Blacks.”
-Man, 45
“A mix of coronavirus news and its origins in China coupled
with talks regarding race inequality. Asians are not accepted
as people of color as they are seen as the model minority, but
they are also seen as foreign because they are not White.”
-Woman, 29
*Asian adults were interviewed in English only
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 5-11, 2021

6. 6
Nearly half of Asian Americans experienced an incident tied to
their racial or ethnic background since the pandemic began
% of Asian adults* who say each of the following has happened to them since the
coronavirus outbreak because of their race or ethnicity
*Asian adults were interviewed in English only
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 5-11, 2021

7. 7
Even before the pandemic,
a majority of Asian Americans had personally experienced
discrimination because of their race or ethnicity
% of Asian adults* saying they have personally experienced discrimination or been treated
unfairly because of their race or ethnicity
7
11
11
65
61
66
From time to time
Regularly
73
73
76
Net
Apr 2021
Jun 2020
Feb 2019
*Asian adults were interviewed in English only
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 5-11, 2021

8. Demographics as one racial group:
THE FASTEST GROWING RACIAL OR
ETHNIC GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES

9. 9
10.5
14.8
18.9
27.9
35.8
2000 2020 2040 2060
2019
2010
Asian Americans were
the fastest-growing
racial or ethnic group in
the U.S. from
2000 to 2019
And their population is
projected to pass
35 million by 2060
% U.S. population change by race and ethnicity, in thousands
Asian American population, in millions
Note: NHPI is the acronym for Native Hawaiian and Pacific
Islander.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. intercensal
population estimates for 2000-2009, U.S. Census Bureau Vintage
2019 estimates for 2010-2019, and Census Bureau 2017
population projections for 2020-2060 .

10. 10
Asians projected to become the largest immigrant group in
the U.S., surpassing Hispanics
% of immigrant population
Note: White, Black and Asian populations include those who report
being only one race and are not Hispanic. Asians include Pacific
Islanders. Hispanics are of any race. Other races shown but not
labeled.
Source: Pew Research Center estimates for 1965-2015 based on
adjusted census data; Pew Research Center projections for 2025-

11. 11
+ 2,118
+ 883
+ 617
+ 382
+ 377
California
Texas
New York
Washington
New Jersey
The Asian American population grew fastest in North and
South Dakota between 2000 and 2019 –
but the more populated states saw the largest increases in
overall numbers
% increase in Asian population, by state, 2000-2019
Increase in Asian population,
2010-2019, in thousands
Note: Asians include those who report only being
one race and are not Hispanic.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of U.S.
intercensal population estimates for 2000, and
U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2019 estimates for
2019.

12. 12
Number of U.S. Asian
eligible voters, in millions
Among U.S. Asian eligible voters, 2018
% of U.S. eligible voters
who are Asian
The number and share of
Asian American eligible
voters reached new highs
in 2020
Most are
naturalized citizens
Note: Asians are single-race and include only non-Hispanics. Pacific
Islanders are included under Asians in the 2020 projection estimates.
Eligible voters are adult U.S. citizens.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2018, 2016, 2012 and
2008 American Community Survey and 2000 decennial census
(IPUMS). Data for 2020 from Pew Research Center projections of the
electorate based on U.S. Census Bureau population projections.

13. Between the data:
A DIVERSE GROUP WITH DIFFERENT
ORIGINS AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES

14. 14
All others
iiii15%
Chinese
23%
Indian
20%
Filipino
18%
Vietnamese
9%
Korean
8%
Japanese
6%
Pakistani
2%
Thai
1%
Cambodian
1%
Hmong
1%
Laotian
1%
Burmese
<1%
Indonesian
<1%
Nepalese
<1%
Bangladeshi
<1%
Sri Lankan
<1%
Malaysian
<1%
Mongolian <1%
Bhutanese
<1%
Six Asian origin groups in the U.S. account for 85% of the
nation’s Asian population
% of the U.S. Asian population that is __, 2019
Note: “Chinese” includes those identifying as Taiwanese. “All others” includes the
category “Other Asian, not specified.” Figures may not add up to 100% due to
rounding.
Source: For 2019, Pew Research Center analysis of 2019 American Community
Survey 1-year estimates (Census Data). For 2000 and 2010, population estimates
from U.S. Census Bureau, “The Asian Population: 2010” Census Brief, Table 6.

15. 15
33%
19
15
8
5
4
Japanese
Filipino
Korean
Chinese
Vietnamese
Indian
Multiracial Single race/Hispanic
Single-race, non-Hispanic Asians make up a large majority
of the population
% of the U.S. Asian population that is __,
2019
% of the population that is __, 2019
Note: “Single-race” refers to people who self-identify as Asians alone and do not
identify as Hispanic. “Multiracial” refers to people who self-identify as Asian and one or
more races in combination but does not identify as Hispanic. “Hispanic” refers to
Asians who self-identify as Hispanics and as Asian (multiracial or otherwise).
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey
(IPUMS).

16. April 30, 2021 16
Which Asian origin group is largest varies by state
Note: Figures for all origin groups include mixed-race and mixed-group populations,
regardless of Hispanic origin. “Chinese” includes those identifying as Taiwanese.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey
(IPUMS).

17. 17
Immigrant shares vary by
Asian origin group
% foreign born among Asian origin
groups in the U.S., 2019
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey
(IPUMS)

18. April 30, 2021 18
Median household income varies widely among Asian Americans
Median annual household income, 2019, by origin group
As does the share who live in poverty
% among Asian Americans who live in poverty, 2019, by origin group
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey
(IPUMS)

19. 19
54% of U.S. Asians have
a bachelor’s degree or
more education
% of those ages 25 and older with
a bachelor’s degree or more,
by origin group, 2019
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey
(IPUMS)

20. April 30, 2021 20

21. April 30, 2021 21
31
58
10
26
25
27
22
10
30
17
6
25
5
2
7
All Asians
Foreign born
U.S. born
Gen Z/
Post Gen Z
Milennials Gen X
Baby Boomer
Silent/ Greatest

22. Unseen stories:
THE DIVERSITY OF THE
ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

23. 23
There is much more to learn from the diversity of voices
as it relates to:
immigration experiences, economic mobility, and identity

24. Contact Information
nruiz@pewresearch.org
@neil_ruiz
Neil G. Ruiz
Associate Director of Race and Ethnicity Research