PROFILE AMERICA FACTS FOR FEATURES: CB18-FF.04
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 month-long 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.
The following facts are made possible by the invaluable responses to the U.S. Census Bureau’s surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we continuously measure America’s people, places and economy.
Asian Population
Did You Know? 21.4 million is the estimated number of Asian alone or in combination residents in the United States in 2016. Source: 2016 Population Estimates
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Population
Did You Know? 1.5 million is the estimated number of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination residents of the United States in 2016. Source: 2016 Population Estimates