Every Texan recognizes and applauds the valuable contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Texans. Explore our Storymap Data Brief on AAPI Texans and find a summary of our main findings below.
Asian and Pacific Islanders Have Lived in Texas for 150+ Years.
Trends in AAPI Texans over time reveal how their history has been influenced by globalization, the state’s workforce needs, and immigration policy. In 1870, the first Asian people to immigrate to Texas were Chinese, followed by the first Japanese immigrants in 1890. This story, as with many aspects of Texas’ history, is complicated and shaped by racist policies such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese Internment, and “alien land laws.” By understanding and acknowledging our past, we can work towards a future that ensures rights and opportunities for all Texans.
America passed the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1965, which allowed for increased immigration to the country and a much-needed increase in the U.S. workforce. Following this legislation, the U.S. and Texas saw a major immigration flux from all parts of Asia. Between 1960 and 1970, the AAPI population of Texas more than doubled. The number of AAPI Texans has grown five-fold since 1990 and is expected to continue expanding. While Chinese and Japanese immigrants were the first to come to the state at the end of the 19th century, today the majority of AAPI Texans are Indian or Vietnamese.
AAPI Texans Are Diverse.
In the latest 2022 American Community Survey Data, we find that:
- 5% of Texans are AAPI. Texas is home to more than 1.5 million Asian people and about 27,000 Pacific Islander people, together making up 5% of the state’s total population. An additional 274,000 people are Asian in combination with another race, and an additional 42,000 people are Pacific Islander in combination with another race. In total, that’s almost 1.9 million AAPI Texans who make up 6% of the Texas population.
- Asian Indian people make up the largest share of Asian Texans at 32% (about 479,000 people). Vietnamese people make up 19%, and Chinese people (excluding Taiwanese people) make up 14% of all Asian people in Texas.
- The median age of Asian Texans is 36.5, which is close to Texas’ overall median age of 35.2. The median age of Pacific Islander Texans is slightly lower at 32.9. Additionally, 5% of Texas children under 18 are AAPI
- After English and Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese are the most commonly spoken languages in Texas homes. About 230,000 people live in households where Vietnamese is spoken, and about 122,000 people live in households where Chinese is spoken. 841,000 Texans aged 5 and older speak an Asian or Pacific Island language, 41% of whom do not speak English very well. Of the 111,000 children aged 5-17 who speak an Asian or Pacific Island language, 22% do not speak English very well.
AAPI Texans Enrich Texas’ Economy, yet Still Face Financial Barriers.
AAPI Texans bring unique skills, talents, and perspectives that drive economic growth and foster innovation. In 2021, there were an estimated 62,350 Asian-owned businesses in Texas, making up 14% of all employer-firms in the state. Asian-owned businesses in Texas employed 539,680 people and paid out $20.7 billion in 2021. From technology to health care, education to entrepreneurship, AAPI Texans are employed in a variety of industries and occupations.
AAPI Texans are not a monolith, and their experiences vary based on the intersectionality of identities. While AAPI Texans support the Texas economy, many experience economic barriers.
If we look at aggregate earnings for the AAPI population, both men and women AAPI Texans make more on average than other racial and ethnic groups in the state. This is likely due to their participation in high-paying industries and high education levels. However, it is important to disaggregate by detailed ethnicity to understand the full picture.
Although Asian Texans earn more than other racial/ethnic groups on average, disparities become clear when we disaggregate by more detailed ethnic groups within the population. On average, the Indian, Taiwanese, Chinese, and Japanese populations earn more than other AAPI groups, while the Burmese, Chamorro, and other Pacific Islander ethnicities earn less.
Data Disaggregation Is an Equity Issue.
Without disaggregating data by detailed race and ethnicity, we are less likely to understand the disparities occurring nationally and statewide. The American Community Survey is the primary source for the demographic information in this data brief, as it provides a wealth of detailed statistics at small geographies. As an organization, Every Texan is committed to disaggregating data as often as we can in an effort to better understand the trends occurring in the state. While the aggregated data might tend to show that Asian Texans are better off than Black or Hispanic Texans, the disaggregated data show more nuanced trends. Read more about the importance of disaggregating data at the end of this Storymap.