May 2022:
By the Numbers

Join us as we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and World Trade Month.

Get the facts about America's public servants. Explore statistics about the states of Minnesota, South Carolina, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. Learn more about Census Academy, and don't miss our Exploring Census Data webinar series.

May 2022: By the Numbers

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🌏May Is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month  

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with Census Bureau data about the AAPI community’s population, educational attainment, and more.  

Did you know? In 1978, a joint congressional resolution established Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. This observance would become the now month-long celebration we know as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 1992.  

Per a 1997 U.S. Office of Management and Budget directive, the Asian or Pacific Islander racial category was separated into two categories:   

  • Asian  
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander  

Thanks to the public’s invaluable responses to Census Bureau surveys and censuses, we’re able to share the following statistics about the AAPI community as we continuously measure America’s people, places, and economy. 

A family is sitting with a child.
A woman is holding flowers in a greenhouse.

5️⃣ Facts About the Asian Population

1. An estimated 24.0 million people identified as Asian alone or in combination in the United States in 2020. Source: 2020 Census 

2. An estimated 5.1 million people identified as Asian alone or in combination population of Chinese descent (except Taiwanese) in the United States in 2020. Source: 2016-2020 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates

3. At 5.1 million, the Chinese (except Taiwanese) population was the largest Asian group, followed by Asian Indian (4.5 million), Filipino (4.1 million), Vietnamese (2.2 million), Korean (1.9 million) and Japanese (1.6 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 or races. Source: 2016-2020 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 

4. There were 7.2 million people who identified as Asian alone who were 25 years and older and had a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education. Source: 2016-2020 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 

5. There were 11.4 million people who identified as Asian alone who were 25 years and older and had at least a high school diploma or equivalency. Source: 2016-2020 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 

5️⃣ Facts About the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Population 

1. An estimated 1.6 million people identified as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination in the United States in 2020. Source: 2020 Census 

2. An estimated 619,855 people identified as Native Hawaiians in the United States in 2020. Source: 2016-2020 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 

3. At 619,855, the Native Hawaiian population was the largest detailed Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) group, followed by Samoan (211,876) and Chamorro (156,083). 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 or races. Source: 2016-2020 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates

4. There were 71,224 people who identified as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone who were 25 years and older and had a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education. Source: 2016-2020 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates

5. There were 337,408 people who identified as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone who were 25 years and older and had at least a high school diploma or equivalency. Source: 2016-2020 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 

You can find more facts about America’s people, places, and economy from the American Community Survey at census.gov/acs.  

You May Be Interested In: 

Webinars and Data Training

Infographics and Data Visualizations 

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A young graduate is holding a diploma while wearing a cap and gown.
A man is wearing a traditional headdress.
Several students are wearing a cap and gown for graduation.
A ship transporting goods across the ocean.
World Trade Month Webinar Series
A row of trucks in a port ready to transport goods.

🚢World Trade Month and Week

We’re celebrating World Trade Month and World Trade Week during the month of May as we recognize the importance of trade to the U.S. economy. 

Did you know? World Trade Week was established in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and has been recognized annually since 1948 by presidential proclamation. 

In February 2022, U.S. exports of goods amounted to $228.6 billion, while at the same time we imported $317.8 billion worth of goods. Source: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services (FT900) 

You May Be Interested In

Infographics and Data Visualizations

  • Global Market Finder: An Interactive Tool for U.S. Exporters 
  • Economic Indicators Briefing Room: For each principal economic indicator, find a card with a data summary, the percent change from the prior month and prior year, the date of recent/upcoming releases, and links to more information.   

For More Information

Soldier holding a child's hand.

🚑 Serving Our Communities

May 6-12, we’ll mark National Nurses Week to honor the critical role nurses play in keeping Americans healthy. The COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified the essential role that nurses play and the immense contributions they’ve made to our communities.

May 15-21, we’ll mark National Police Week. The observance was signed into law in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy to acknowledge the service and its associated risks.

On May 21, we’ll celebrate Armed Forces Day. President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish the holiday – a single holiday for us to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service to our country. On August 31, 1949, U.S. Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force days.  

On May 30, we’ll celebrate Memorial Day to honor those who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. The first official observance of Memorial Day was on May 30, 1868 when Gen. John Logan ordered that flowers be placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. 

Visit our Stats for Stories page to learn more about these and other important observances.

🎂Happy Birthday MN, SC, RI, and WI!

This month, we celebrate the following anniversaries of statehood: 

May 11, 2022: Minnesota’s 164th anniversary  

May 23, 2022: South Carolina’s 234th anniversary

May 29, 2022: Rhode Island’s 232nd anniversary 

May 29, 2022: Wisconsin’s 174th anniversary 

💻 Explore Census Academy

Census Academy is our free training hub with a focus on digital content. Users of all skill levels can learn how to access and use Census Bureau data through courses, how-to videos, and webinars.   

Let us show you how to find and use Census Bureau data for everyday uses, like informing your business plan or supporting grant proposals and research projects. Whether you’re looking for economic or demographic data, we can help you leverage Census Bureau data for your needs.  

Get started with Census Academy at census.gov/academy. And check out our free webinars this month, including new entries from our Back to Data Basics series and our Exploring Census Data series.

If you’d like to request free workshops and trainings for your organization, you can request a data training here

Back to Basics Webinar Series
Exploring Census Data Webinar Series