The United States Census Bureau’s data for 2020 reveals a significant shift in the demographic landscape, with the Asian Indian population emerging as the largest Asian-alone group in the country. This group witnessed remarkable growth, surging by over 50 percent, reaching a total of 4,397,737 individuals between 2010 and 2020. The “alone” population category includes individuals who reported a single race, such as Indian.
Asian Indians have now surpassed Chinese Americans to become the largest Asian-alone population group in the United States. However, when accounting for populations that include multiracial individuals, Chinese Americans continue to hold the largest share of the overall Asian population, totaling 5.2 million individuals.
The Chinese, excluding Taiwanese, alone or in any combination population, which held the top position in 2010, retained its status in 2020. It experienced a notable increase of 37 percent, rising from 3,794,673 to 5,205,461. Over the same period, the Asian Indian alone or in any combination population witnessed significant growth of 49.8 percent, reaching 4,768,846 individuals, making it the second-largest group in 2020.
Furthermore, the 2020 Census data highlighted the geographical distribution of the Indian population in the United States. California claimed the largest share at 18.9 percent, followed by Texas (10.6 percent), New Jersey (9.1 percent), New York (9 percent), and Illinois (5.8 percent). Cook County, Illinois, stood out as the location with the largest detailed Asian-alone or in any combination group of Asian Indians, totaling 134,169 individuals.
The Census report acknowledged the significance of this demographic shift in the context of the country’s increasing diversity and multiracial composition, emphasizing the importance of understanding evolving demographics in the United States.
