By Larry Wheeler
Gannett News Service
WASHINGTON — The nation’s Asian population grew by 3.3 million people during the past decade, a 48.3 percent increase from 1990.
There are 10.2 million Americans who identified themselves as "Asian only" in the 2000 census, representing 3.6 percent of the population. Ten years ago, Asians comprised 2.8 percent of the population.
Direct comparisons of race data between 1990 and 2000 are difficult because the census expanded the number of racial and ethnic choices on its form in an attempt to more accurately capture the nation’s racial diversity. For the first time, individuals filling out a census form could check as many race categories as necessary to detail their racial heritage.
The number of respondents checking Asian and at least one other racial category was 11.8 million.
Also, for the 2000 Census, Asian and Pacific Islander were split into separate race categories.
The Census Bureau reported 398,835 individuals identified themselves as "Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander" in 2000.
In previous decades, the Asian population has expanded by more than 100 percent, so the 1990s represented something of a slowdown, said Karen Narasaki, executive director of the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium.
The mixed race category is an interesting piece of information, Narasaki said.
"The intermarriage rate for Asians is relatively high compared to some of the other racial and ethnic categories," she said.
Specific figures for Hawai‘i are scheduled for release later this week.
[back to top] |
