From the US Census Bureau:
In 1978, a joint congressional resolution established Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. The first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two important milestones in Asian/Pacific American history: the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and contributions of Chinese workers to the building of the transcontinental railroad, completed May 10, 1869. In 1992, Congress expanded the observance to a monthlong celebration. Per a 1997 U.S. Office of Management and Budget directive, the Asian or Pacific Islander racial category was separated into two categories: one being Asian and the other Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. Thus, this Facts for Features contains a section for each.

Asians

18.9 million
The estimated number of U.S. residents in 2012 who were Asian, either one race or in combination with one or more additional races.
Source: 2012 Population Estimates http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2012/PEPSR5H?slice=Year~est72012

6.0 million
The Asian alone or in combination population in California in 2012. The state had the largest Asian population, followed by New York (1.7 million). The Asian alone population represented 56.4 percent of the total population in Hawaii.
Source: 2012 Population Estimates http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2012/PEPSR5H?slice=Year~est72012

46.0%
Percentage growth of the Asian alone or in combination population between the 2000 and 2010 censuses, which was more than any other major race group.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, Custom Table 3, www.census.gov/2010census/news/xls/cb11cn123_us_2010redistr.xls

4.2 million
Number of Asians of Chinese, except Taiwanese, descent in the U.S. in 2012. The Chinese (except Taiwanese) population was the largest Asian group, followed by Filipinos (3.6 million), Asian Indians (3.3 million), Vietnamese (1.9 million), Koreans (1.8 million) and Japanese (1.3 million). These estimates represent the number of people who reported a specific detailed Asian group alone, as well as people who reported that detailed Asian group in combination with one or more other detailed Asian groups or another race(s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table B02018 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B02018

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

$70,644
Median income of households headed by the Asian alone population in 2012.
Median household income differed greatly by Asian group. For Asian Indians, for example, the median income in 2012 was $96,782; for Bangladeshi, it was $44,293. (These figures represent the Asian alone population.)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201,http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~012 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~013|014

13.0%
The poverty rate for the Asian alone population in 2012. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~012

15.0%
Percentage of Asian alone population without health insurance coverage in 2012.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~012

Education

50.5%
The percentage of the Asian alone population 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education. This compared with 29.1 percent for all Americans 25 and older.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201, http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~012 and http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201

85.7%
The percentage of the 25-and-older Asian alone population who had at least a high school diploma. This compares with 86.4 percent of the total population.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201, http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~012 and http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201

21.2%
The percentage of 25-and-older Asian alone population who had a graduate or professional degree. This compared with 10.9 percent for all Americans 25 and older.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201, http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~012 and http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201

Voting

547,000
The additional number of the Asian alone population who voted in the 2012 presidential election than in the 2008 election. All in all, 47 percent of Asians turned out to vote in 2012. A total of 3.9 million Asians voted in 2012.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, The Diversifying Electorate—Voting Rates byRace and Hispanic Origin in 2012 (and Other Recent Elections) http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-568.pdf

Serving Our Nation

270,630
The number of the Asian alone population who were military veterans in 2012. About one in three Asian veterans was 65 and older.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table B21001D, http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B21001D

Jobs

49.1%
The proportion of civilian employed Asian alone population 16 and older who worked in management, business, science and arts occupations, such as financial managers, engineers, teachers and registered nurses in 2012. Additionally, 17.3 percent worked in service occupations, 20.6 percent in sales and office occupations, 9.7 percent in production, transportation and material moving occupations and 3.2 percent in natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201,http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~012

Internet Use

88.6%
Percentage of Asian alone population in 2012 living in a household with Internet use — the highest rate among race and ethnic groups.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Reported Internet Usage for Individuals 3 years and Older, by Selected Characteristics; Current Population Survey: 2012 Table 1 http://www.census.gov/hhes/computer/publications/2012.html

Age Distribution

36.0
Median age of the Asian alone population in 2012. The corresponding figure was 37.4 for the population as a whole.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Tables S0201, http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~012 and http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201

21.3%
Percentage of the Asian alone population that was under age 18 in 2012, while 10.3 percent was 65 or older.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~012

Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders

1.4 million
The estimated number of U.S. residents in 2012 who were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, either alone or in combination with one or more additional races.
Source: 2012 Population Estimates http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2012/PEPSR5H

364,395
Population in Hawaii which had the largest population of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone or in combination, followed by California (333,893) in 2012. The Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders represented the largest population portion in Hawaii at 26 percent.
Source: 2012 Population Estimates http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2012/PEPSR5H

528,991
Number of Native Hawaiians in the U.S. in 2012. The Native Hawaiian population was the largest detailed Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders (NHPI) group, followed by Samoan (172,595) and Guamanian or Chamorro (130,223). These estimates represent the number of people who reported a specific detailed NHPI group alone, as well as people who reported that detailed NHPI group in combination with one or more other detailed NHPI groups or another race(s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table B02019 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B02019

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

$51,322
The median income of households headed by Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone in 2012.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~050

21.3%
The poverty rate in 2012 of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone population.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201, http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~050

18.0%
The percentage without health insurance in 2012 for Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201,http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~050

Education

14.8%
The percentage of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone age 25-and-older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2012. This compared with 29.1 percent for the total population. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Tables S0201 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~050 and http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201

85.4%
The percentage of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone age 25-and-older who had at least a high school diploma in 2012. This percentage is not statistically different from the 86.4 percent of the total population who have at least a high school diploma or the 85.7 percent of Asians with at least a high school diploma.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey Tables S0201 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~050 and http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201

4.7%
The percentage of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone age 25-and-older who had obtained a graduate or professional degree in 2012. This compared with 10.9 percent for the total population this age.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Tables S0201 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~050 and http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201

Serving Our Nation

32,303
The number of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone who were military veterans. About one in four Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander veterans was 65 and older.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, B21001E, http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B21001E

Jobs

23.2%
The proportion of civilian employed Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone 16 and older who worked in management, business, science and arts occupations, such as financial managers, engineers, teachers and registered nurses in 2012. Additionally, 24.6 percent worked in service occupations, while 27.7 percent worked in sales and office occupations; 15.9 percent in production, transportation and material moving occupations; and 8.7 percent in natural resources, construction and maintenance occupation. The 23.2 percent in management business, science and arts occupations, such as financial managers, engineers, teachers and registered nurses occupations is not statistically different from the 24.6 percent in service occupations.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201, http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~050

Age Distribution

30.4
The median age of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone population in 2012. The median age was 37.4 for the population as a whole.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Tables S0201 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~050 and http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201

28.1%
Percentage of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone population that was under age 18 in 2012, while 6.1 percent was 65 or older.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0201, http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0201//popgroup~050

43.1 million

The number of people who were 65 and older in the United States on July 1, 2012. This group accounted for 13.7 percent of the total population. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2012/PEPAGESEX

92.0 million

Projected population of people 65 and older in 2060. People in this age group would comprise just over one in five U.S. residents at that time. Of this number, 18.2 million would be 85 or older. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2012.html

2.4 million

Projected number of baby boomers in 2060. At that time, the youngest baby boomers would be 96 years old. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2012.html

2056

The year in which, for the first time, the population 65 and older would outnumber people younger than 18 in the U.S. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2012.html

Income and Poverty

$33,848
The 2012 median income of households with householders 65 and older, not significantly different from the previous year. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2012, Table 1 http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p60-245.pdf

9%
The percent of people 65 and older (3.9 million) who were in poverty in 2012. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2012, Table 3 http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p60-245.pdf

$170,516
Median net worth for householders 65 and older in 2011, down from $203,015 (in 2011 dollars) in 2005. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Net Worth and Asset Ownership of Households: 2011 http://www.census.gov/people/wealth

14.8%
Percent supplemental poverty rate for those 65 and older, equating to 6.4 million people. Excluding Social Security would leave the majority of this population (54.7 percent or 23.7 million) in poverty. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2012 http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p60-247.pdf

Serving Our Nation

9.6 million
Estimated number of people 65 and older who were veterans of the armed forces in 2012. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B21001

Jobs

21.3%
Labor force participation rate for men 65 and older in 2012, up from 17.6 percent in 1990 and significantly higher than the rate for women 65 and older at 13.4 percent (8.4 percent in 1990).Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey Table B23001 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B23001

4.3 million
Number of full-time, year-round workers 65 and older with earnings in 2012, up from 1.3 million in 1992. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Historical Income Tables: People, Table P-32 http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/data/historical/people/

Education

82.6%
Proportion of people 65 and older in 2013 who had completed high school or higher education. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2013, Table 1 All Races http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2013/tables.html

25.3%
Percentage of the population 65 and older in 2013 who had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2013, Table 1 All Races http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2013/tables.html

Marital Status and Living Arrangements

58%
Percentage of people 65 and older who were married in 2013. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements, Table A1http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2013A.html

26%
Percentage of people 65 and older in 2013 who were widowed. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements, Table A1 http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2013A.html

Computer and Internet Use

61.8%
The percentage of those 65 and older who reported living in homes with computers in 2011. Additionally, 45.5 percent accessed the Internet either from home or elsewhere. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Computer and Internet Use, Table 2 http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-569.pdf

Voting

71.9%
Percentage for those 65 and older who reported casting a ballot in the 2012 presidential election. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, The Diversifying Electorate—Voting Rates by Race and Hispanic Origin in 2012 (and Other Recent Elections), Table 6 http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-568.pdf

Homeownership

80.7%
Percentage of householders 65 and older who owned their homes as of fourth quarter 2013. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey, Table 7 http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/q413ind.html

On the Map

18.2%
Percentage of Florida’s population that was 65 and older in 2012, followed by Maine (17.0 percent) and West Virginia (16.8 percent). Alaska had the lowest percentage (8.5 percent), followed by Utah (9.5 percent) and Texas (10.9 percent). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb13-112.html

49.3%
Percentage of the population in Sumter, Fla., that was 65 and older in 2012 – which led all of the nation’s counties. Other counties were Charlotte, Fla. (36.0 percent) and La Paz, Ariz. (34.9 percent). Chattahoochee, Ga. (3.6 percent) had the lowest percentage. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb13-112.html

Centenarians

53,364
The number of people age 100 and older counted by the 2010 Census. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010 http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

20.7
For every 100 centenarian women, the number of centenarian men in 2010. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010 http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

43.5%
In 2010, percentage of centenarian men who lived with others in a household, the most common living arrangement for this group. For their female counterparts, the most common living arrangement was residing in a nursing home (35.2 percent). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010 http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

3.29
Number of centenarians per 10,000 people in North Dakota in 2010. North Dakota was the only state with more than three centenarians per 10,000 people. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010 http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf