US: Indian Americans surpass other Asian-alone groups in population

Washington, US

In 2020, the Asian Indian population in the United States became the largest Asian-only group, marking a remarkable growth of over 50 per cent since 2010, with a total of 4,397,737 individuals. Chinese Americans still hold the top spot in overall Asian people. When considering individuals who identify as either a single race or multiracial, Chinese Americans (excluding Taiwanese) continue to hold the top spot as the most populous Asian identification, with a total of 5.2 million people.

The next four largest Asian alone or in any combination groups and their population growth from 2010 to 2020 are Filipino alone or in any combination, 4,436,992 (up 29.9 per cent), Vietnamese alone or in any combination, 2,293,392 (up 32.0 per cent), Korean alone or in any combination, 1,989,519 (up 16.6 per cent) and Japanese alone or in any combination, 1,586,652 (up 20.6 per cent).

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While most Asian groups experienced population growth, the Japanese alone population and the Laotian alone population were exceptions, as they both saw a decrease in their numbers during the past decade.

"The Japanese alone population and the Laotian alone population were the only detailed Asian groups to experience a decrease during the decade but their alone or in any combination populations increased by 20.6 per cent and 9.5 per cent respectively." 

Nepalese Americans, fastest growing Asian group

The Nepalese population exhibited the most significant growth, surging by over 250 per cent. They were the fastest-growing Asian group, both in the Asian alone and Asian alone or in any combination categories, among populations exceeding 50,000 in 2010.

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The Nepalese alone population increased by an astonishing 295.5 per cent, rising from 51,907 in 2010 to 205,297 in 2020.

The Nepalese population, whether alone or in any combination, grew from 59,490 to 219,503, marking a 269.0 per cent increase over the decade.

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“It is momentous,” Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder of nonprofit group AAPI Data reportedly said.

“Americans’ perception of who is Asian is still very much informed by demographic patterns from a century ago. They think of East Asians as quintessentially Asian and are less likely to think of South Asians as Asian … Well, the demographic realities have shifted away from the stereotype.”