In the United States, May is officially designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. So, in light of this recognition that traces its origins back to 1978, I thought it would be good to use the occasion to provide you with a glimpse of the Asian and Pacific American peoples in this country. 
Part of thinking missiologically requires that we understand the peoples living in our communities. This understanding is not only important for reaching people with the gospel in our neighborhoods, but also for working with them to reach across their local and global social networks so that others may come to know Jesus.
The Asian migrations to this country date back to the nineteenth century. The first Japanese immigrants arrived in the 1840s. And the Chinese assisted with the development of the transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869. Following these years, the country restricted the number of Asians allowed to enter. By the mid-1960s, however, such restrictions were lifted and a flood of Asians soon followed. Their numbers–along with Hispanics–continue to dominate the migration trends in the United States.
While there are large numbers of Kingdom citizens migrating from Asia, there are large numbers coming who represent some of the world’s unreached people groups.
Pay particular attention to the numbers found in “The Future” category listed below for Asians. How does this projected reality alone influence your approach to ministry in the United States?
The following information was taken from the U. S. Census Bureau’s May Edition of “Facts for Features”:
Asians
17.3 million
The estimated number of U.S. residents of Asian descent according to the 2010 Census. This estimate includes those who said they were both Asian alone or Asian in combination with one or more other races.
5.6 million
The Asian population in California; the state had the largest Asian population in the 2010 Census, followed by New York (1.5 million). Texas was next, reaching 1 million for the first time. In Hawaii, our nation’s only majority-Asian state, Asians made up the highest proportion of the total population (57 percent). This includes both Asian alone or Asian in combination with one or more other races.
46%
Percentage growth of the Asian population between the 2008 and 2010 censuses, the second fastest-growing minority group (following the Hispanic population). This includes both Asian alone or Asian in combination with one or more other
3.8 million
Number of Asians of Chinese descent in the U.S. in 2009. Chinese-Americans were the largest Asian group, followed by Filipinos (3.2 million), Asian Indians (2.8 million), Vietnamese (1.7 million), Koreans (1.6 million) and Japanese (1.3 million). These estimates represent the number of people who reported a specific Asian group alone, and people who reported that Asian group in combination with one or more other Asian groups or races.
Income, Poverty and Health Insurance
$68,780
Median household income for single-race Asians in 2009. Median household income differed greatly by Asian group. For Asian Indians, for example, the median income in 2009 was $90,429; for Bangladeshi, it was $46,657. (These figures represent the single-race population.)
12.5%
The poverty rate for single-race Asians in 2009, not statistically different from the 2008 poverty rate. Between 2008 and 2009, the poverty rate increased for non-Hispanic whites (from 8.6 percent to 9.4 percent), for blacks (from 24.7 percent to 25.8 percent) and for Hispanics (from 23.2 percent to 25.3 percent).
17.2%
Percentage of single-race Asians without health insurance coverage in 2009, not statistically different from 2008.
Education
50%
The percentage of single-race Asians 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education. This compared with 28 percent for all Americans 25 and older.
85%
The percentage of single-race Asians 25 and older who had at least a high school diploma. This is not statistically different from the percentage for the total population or the percentage of Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander alone, 85 and 86 percent respectively.
20%
The percentage of single-race Asians 25 and older who had a graduate (e.g., master’s or doctorate) or professional degree. This compared with 10 percent for all Americans 25 and older.
Businesses
1.5 million
Number of businesses owned by Asian-Americans in 2007, an increase of 40.4 percent from 2002.
$507.6 billion
Total receipts of businesses owned by Asian-Americans, up 55.4 percent from 2002.
In 2007, 44.7 percent of Asian-owned businesses were in repair and maintenance; personal and laundry services; and professional, scientific and technical services.
47.2%
Percentage of businesses in Hawaii owned by people of Asian descent. It was 14.9 percent in California and 10.1 percent in New York.
Languages
2.6 million
The number of people 5 and older who spoke Chinese at home in 2009. After Spanish, Chinese was the most widely spoken non-English language in the country. Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean were each spoken at home by more than 1 million people.
Jobs
49%
The proportion of civilian employed single-race Asians 16 and older who worked in management, professional and related occupations, such as financial managers, engineers, teachers and registered nurses. Additionally, 17 percent worked in service occupations, 22 percent in sales and office occupations and 10 percent in production, transportation and material moving occupations.
Internet Use
80%
Percentage of Asians living in a household with Internet use — the highest rate among race and ethnic groups.
Counties
1.4 million
The number of Asians (self-identified as Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races) in Los Angeles County, Calif., in 2009, which topped the nation’s counties.
17,000
Gain in Santa Clara County, Calif.’s Asian population (self-identified as Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races) from 2008 to 2009, the largest in the nation.
57%
Percent of the population of Honolulu County, Hawaii, that was Asian (self-identified as Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races) in 2009, which led the country. Honolulu was the only majority-Asian county in the nation.
Age Distribution
35.3
Median age of the single-race Asian population in 2009. The corresponding figure was 36.8 years for the population as a whole.
23.6%
Percent of the single-race Asian population that was under age 18 as of July 1, 2009 while 9.6 percent was 65 or older.
The Future
40.6 million
The projected number of U.S. residents in 2050 who will identify themselves as Asian or Asian in combination with one or more other races. They would comprise 9 percent of the total population by that year.
161%
The projected percentage increase between 2008 and 2050 in the population of people who identify themselves as Asian or Asian in combination with one or more other races. This compares with a 44 percent increase in the population as a whole over the same period of time.
Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders
1.2 million
The estimated number of U.S. residents in the 2010 Census who said they were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, either alone or in combination with one or more other races. This group comprised 0.4 percent of the total population.
Hawaii had the largest population of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (356,000), followed by California (286,000). California had the largest numerical increase in this group between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009 (6,000). In Hawaii, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders comprised the largest proportion (26 percent) of the total population. This includes Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone and in combination with one or more other races.
40%
Percentage growth of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population between the 2008 and 2010 censuses — third among race groups. This includes Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone and in combination with one or more other races.
Income, Poverty and Health Insurance
$53,455
The median income of households headed by single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders.
15.1%
The poverty rate for those who classified themselves as single-race Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. This is not significantly different from the 2008 poverty rate.
17.3%
The percentage without health insurance for single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders.
Education
14%
The percentage of single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 25 and older who had at least a bachelor’s degree. This compared with 28 percent for the total population.
86%
The percentage of single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 25 and older who had at least a high school diploma. This is not statistically different from either the percentage for the total population or the percentage of Asian alone, both 85 percent.
4%
The percentage of single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 25 and older who had obtained a graduate or professional degree. This compared with 10 percent for the total population this age.
Businesses
37,809
The number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses in 2007, up 30.6 percent from 2002.
$6.3 billion
Total receipts of these businesses, up 48.0 percent from 2002.
44.4 %
The percent of all Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses that were repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services, and construction.
9.5%
The percent of businesses in Hawaii owned by Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islanders, highest among all states.
Jobs
24%
The proportion of civilian employed single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 16 and older who worked in management, professional and related occupations, such as financial managers, engineers, teachers and registered nurses. This is not significantly different from the 25 percent worked in service occupations, while 28 percent worked in sales and office occupations and 14 percent in production, transportation and material moving occupations.
Counties
176,000
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population (alone or in combination with one or more other races) in Honolulu County, Hawaii, in 2009, which led the nation. Among counties, Harris County, Texas had the largest numerical increase in this race since July 2008 — 722. Hawaii County, Hawaii, had the highest percentage of people of this race (30 percent).
Age Distribution
29.9
The median age of the single-race Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population in 2009. The median age was 36.8 for the population as a whole.
34%
Percentage of the single-race Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population that was under age 18 as of July 1, 2009 while 6.3 percent was 65 or older.
The Future
2.6 million
The projected number of U.S. residents in 2050 who will identify themselves as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander in combination with one or more other races. They would comprise 0.6 percent of the total population by that year.
132%
The projected percentage increase between 2008 and 2050 in the population of people who identify themselves as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander in combination with one or more other races. This compares with a 44 percent increase in the population as a whole over the same period of time.
