% Asian*

A Demographics measure

About

Percentage of population identifying as Asian. The 2025 Annual Data Release used data from 2023 for this measure.

Measuring differences in health between racialized groups helps to highlight unfair policy, practice and traditions that produce differences in how long and how well people live.

In the United States and many other countries, racial and ethnic groups are created to establish and maintain social hierarchies and divisions. The use of power to systematically value and devalue groups of racialized people is called racism. Categories of racialized people change over time, and have been based on varying criteria, including nationality, ethnicity and observable physical traits. As such, racial and ethnic groupings are constructed by society. There is no genetic basis for racial categories currently in use.

Measures of race and ethnicity can help communities monitor where racism may lead to differential access to societal resources like high quality education, affordable housing in places where people feel safe and welcome, and economic wealth. Racism shapes community conditions. It is a fundamental cause of differences in health between groups. People and communities can build power to structure society so historical and current injustices are addressed and resources are allocated according to need.

Data and methods

Data Source

Census Population Estimates Program

The Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program (PEP) uses data on births, deaths, and migration to estimate population changes occurring since the most recent decennial census and produce a vintage, or annual time series of estimates. Each vintage includes the current data year and revised estimates for any earlier years since the last decennial census.

Because each vintage of estimates includes all years since the most recent decennial census, the latest vintage supersedes all other estimates produced since the previous decennial census.

See the Population Estimates Program methodology for statements and release notes for each vintage of population estimates. See the Limitations section for specific details pertaining to the current vintage year population estimates.

Website to download data
For more detailed methodological information

Key Measure Methods

% Asian is a percentage

% Asian is the percentage of the resident population identifying as Asian.

Numerator

The numerator is the number of residents identifying as Asian.

Denominator

The denominator is the total county resident population.

The method for calculating % Asian has changed

Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes to confidentiality protections for the 2020 decennial census, the 2020 census could not be used as the base population, or starting point, to estimate changes in the population. For the Vintage 2022 population estimates, the census created a Blended Base using 2020 census data, 2020 Demographic Analysis Estimates, and Vintage 2020 Population Estimates for April 1, 2020. At the national level, race and Hispanic origin characteristics for the Blended Base come from the Vintage 2020 estimates for April 1, 2020. At the county level, race and Hispanic origin estimates for the base population come from a blend of these three datasets.

There were also methodological changes to the estimates of births, deaths, and migration, partially to adjust for the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.1

Caution should be used when comparing these estimates across years

The population estimates vintage data used for this measure include estimates for all years since the most recent decennial census and therefore supersede all previously produced estimates for those dates. For this reason, population and demographic estimates are best compared within the same vintage series. CHR&R data draw from the most recent vintage available each year and therefore include multiple vintage series over time.

Measure limitations

The data for this measure come from the Population Estimates Program, which uses survey data from the decennial census and American Community Survey and administrative records such as birth and death certificates. The measure is subject to the limitations of these data sources.

Specifically, race and Hispanic origin data come from a mix of decennial census data and administrative records. The race and ethnicity characteristics in the base population for the Vintage 2022 population estimates are from the Vintage 2020 population estimates.1 Respondents can self-identify their race on the decennial census. Race and Hispanic origin information on birth certificates is reported by the mother when a baby is born.2,3 Race and Hispanic origin information on death certificates is reported by the funeral director based on information provided someone related to the deceased person, or if that is not possible, based on observation.3 In this case, race and ethnicity are not self-identified. Additionally, when creating estimates of people who have migrated, race and Hispanic origin may be imputed if that information is not available from decennial census data or administrative records.1

Racial and ethnic categorization masks variation within groups. This measure includes individuals of Hispanic and non-Hispanic ethnicity who are Asian alone. It does not include mixed-race individuals.

Finding More Data

Disaggregation means breaking data down into smaller, meaningful subgroups. Disaggregated data are often broken down by characteristics of people or where they live. Disaggregated data can reveal inequalities that are otherwise hidden. These data can be disaggregated by:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Race
  • Subcounty Area

Population estimates are available by age, sex, race, and subcounty from the U.S. Census Bureau.

References

  1. U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program. Methodology for the United States population estimates: Vintage 2022. 2022. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/methodology/2020-2022/methods-statement-v2022.pdf
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics. Hispanic origin. 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/sources-definitions/hispanic-origin.htm
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics. Race. 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/sources-definitions/race.htm