Absence of Asians

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Asian Americans are a pan-ethnic group that includes various groups, which have roots in East, South, Southeast Asia.

According to U.S. Census Bureau, in 1870, approximately 63 thousand people were listed as Asian. In 1960, respondents the first time could choose their race. The results of the survey showed that 980 thousand citizens identified themselves as Asian. The Asian population in the United States grew to almost 12 million by 2000 and approximately doubled to 22.5 million by 2019 (7% of the U.S. population). The Asian population in America is predicted to touch 46 million by 2060, outdoing Hispanics in 2055.

The largest Asian groups in the U.S. are Chinese, Indian, and Filipino of origin, with 5 million (23%), 4.3 million (20%), and 4 million (18%) people, sequentially.

The map below shows the U.S. counties with fewer than 0, 5, and 25 Asian American residents.

Absence of Asians in 2020

Almost half (45 percent) of American Asians live in the Western part of the country, with approximately a 3rd (30 percent) in California alone. Los Angeles metropolitan area has more Asians than any other U.S. county, with 1.6 million in 2018.

Top 10 U.S. counties with the highest number of Asians (2020)

1. Los Angeles (California): 1558134
2. Santa Clara (California): 764100
3. Orange (California): 711753
4. Queens (New York): 610301
5. Alameda (California): 551814
6. King (Washington): 464002
7. San Diego (California): 427698
8. Cook (Illinois): 413443
9. Honolulu (Hawaii): 409654
10. Harris (Texas): 353338

Top 10 U.S. counties with Highest Percentage of Asians (2020)

1. Aleutians East (Alaska): 43.9
2. Honolulu (Hawaii): 42.5
3. Aleutians West (Alaska): 40.6
4. Santa Clara (California): 40.1
5. San Francisco (California): 36.5
6. Alameda (California): 33.2
7. San Mateo (California): 31.5
8. Kauai (Hawaii): 30.5
9. Maui (Hawaii): 28.7
10. Queens (New York): 27.4

Here is the animated version of this map showing how the absence of Asians changed from 1990 to 2020.

Absence of Asian (1990 – 2020)

The current migration flow from Asia has been estimated for 1/4 of all newcomers who have appeared in the United States since 1965. Now 59 percent of the Asian American population was born in another nation.

Percent change of Asian population by U.S. county from 1990 to 2020

Top 10 counties with the most significant percentage increase in the Asian population

1. Forsyth (Georgia): +52158
2. Greene (Georgia): +20700
3. Hancock (Georgia): +8900
4. Teton (Idaho): +8500
5. Dallas (Iowa): +7137
6. Hodgeman (Kansas): +6600
7. Calhoun (Georgia): +5700
8. Moore (Tennessee): +5550
9. McKenzie (North Dakota): +5267
10. Todd (South Dakota): +4771

Top 10 counties with the most significant percentage decrease in the Asian population

1. Jones (South Dakota): -100
2. Garden (Nebraska): -100
3. Kalawao (Hawaii): – 93
4. Daniels (Montana): -83
5. Hamilton (Kansas): -79
6. Golden Valley (North Dakota): -75
7. Grant (Nebraska): -67
8. Alexander (Illinois): -67
9. Keweenaw (Michigan): -67
10. Stanton (Kansas): -61