By Cassie Miller – May 24, 2021
Despite slowing population growth over the past two decades, Asian Americans recorded the fastest population growth of any racial or ethnic group in the United States, according to recent Pew Research Center data.
Between 2000 and 2019, the Asian population in the United States grew 81 percent, making it the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group during the same timeframe, increasing from 10.5 million people in 2000 to a record-setting 18.9 million in 2019.
Similarly, the United States’ Hispanic population has grown by 70 percent since 2000, making it the second-fastest growing racial or ethnic group in the country.
Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) recorded the third fastest growth rate at 61 percent change since 2000.
Over the twenty-year period, the United States’ Black population also grew by a rate of 20 percent.
State Population
Several states saw a significant increase in its Asian population from 2000 to 2019, according to Pew data.
North Dakota (183 percent) and South Dakota (176 percent) recorded the fastest growth in their Asian population during the same period.
Among states, California, Texas, New York, Washington and New Jersey saw the largest increase in their Asian populations from 2010-2019.
The number of Asian Americans grew by over 2 million in California, by 883,000 in Texas and by 617,000 in New York.
In states such as New York, Illinois, Michigan and Rhode Island, Asian population growth outpaced overall population growth.
In Michigan, the Asian population grew by more than four times as much as the state’s overall population.
Projections by the Pew Research Center, using U.S. Census Bureau data, show that the Asian population will triple its 2000 numbers by 2060, increasing from 10.5 million in 2000 to an estimated 35.8 million by 2060.
