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Burmese in the U.S. Fact Sheet

Burmese population in the U.S., 2000-2019


YearPopulation
200017,000
2010100,000
2015168,000
2019189,000

Note: Based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: 2000 and 2010 population estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, “The Asian Population: 2010” Census Brief, Table 6. 2015 and 2019 population estimates from 2015 and 2019 American Community Survey 1-year estimates (Census Data).

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English proficiency of Burmese population in the U.S., 2019


% among those ages 5 and older who are English proficient

CategoryEnglish proficient
All38%
U.S. born75%
Foreign born32%
Adults30%
 
All Asians72%

Note: Proficient English speakers are those who speak only English at home, or if they speak a non-English language at home, they indicate they can speak English at least “very well.” Due to data limitations, figures for Burmese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. Figures for all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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Length of time in the U.S. for Burmese immigrants, 2019


% of foreign-born population who have lived in the U.S. …

Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
2000  
2010  
201581%19%
201968%32%

Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Due to data limitations, figures for Burmese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2000 decennial census, 2008-2010, 2013-2015 and 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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% of foreign-born population who have lived in the U.S. …

Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
200044%56%
201036%64%
201534%66%
201934%66%

Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2000 decennial census, 2008-2010, 2013-2015 and 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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Educational attainment of Burmese population in the U.S., 2019


% of those ages 25 and older, by educational attainment

CategoryHigh school or lessSome collegeBachelor’s degreePostgrad degree
All65%12%16%7%
U.S. born***************
Foreign born66%12%16%7%
      
All Asians27%19%30%24%
All Americans39%29%20%13%

The symbol *** indicates insufficient number of observations to provide a reliable estimate.
Note: “High school” refers to those who have attained a high school diploma or its equivalent, such as a General Education Development (GED) certificate. “Some college” includes those with an associate degree and those who attended college but did not obtain a degree. Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Due to data limitations, figures for Burmese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. Figures for all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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U.S. Burmese population living in poverty, 2019


% living in poverty

GroupAll AmericansAll AsiansAll Burmese
All13%10%25%
U.S. born13%9%25%
Foreign born14%11%25%

Note: Poverty status is determined for individuals in housing units and noninstitutional group quarters. It is unavailable for children younger than 15 who are not related to the householder, people living in institutional group quarters and people living in college dormitories or military barracks. Due to the way in which the IPUMS assigns poverty values, these data will differ from those provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Due to data limitations, figures for Burmese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. Figures for all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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Top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas by Burmese population, 2019


Metro areaBurmese population
Minneapolis-St. Paul11,000
Indianapolis10,000
Dallas10,000
Fort Wayne, IN8,000
New York7,000
Milwaukee6,000
Los Angeles6,000
San Francisco5,000
Atlanta5,000
Des Moines, IA5,000

Note: Due to data limitations, figures for Burmese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2013-2015 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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Demographic characteristics of U.S. Burmese population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Burmese in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN AGE (in years) 34 28 6 33
AGE
Younger than 5 7 10 40 2
5-17 17 24 46 18
18-29 18 19 7 22
30-39 17 18 3 23
40-49 14 14 1 18
50-64 16 10 1 13
65+ 11 5 1 6
NATIVITY
U.S. born 43 22
Foreign born 57 78
YEARS IN U.S. (among foreign born)
0-5 years 21 34
6-10 years 13 35
11-15 years 11 14
16-20 years 12 7
21+ years 44 10
CITIZENSHIP (among foreign born)
U.S. citizen 59 36
Not a U.S. citizen 41 64
MARITAL STATUS (18 and older)
Married 59 65 *** 66
Divorced/Separated/Widowed 11 8 *** 8
Never married 30 28 *** 26
FERTILITY (among women ages 15 to 44)
Women who have given birth in the past 12 months 6 9 *** 9
HOUSEHOLD TYPE, BY PERSONS
Married-couple household 71 80 85 79
Other family household 13 14 11 15
Non-family household 15 6 4 7
IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD
Multigenerational household 27 24 22 25

The symbol *** indicates insufficient number of observations to provide a reliable estimate.
Note: Family households are those with a household head and one or more persons living in the household who are related to the household head by birth, marriage or adoption. Households with a household head and an unmarried partner are only considered family households if there are other persons in the household who are related to the household head by birth, marriage or adoption. Multigenerational households are households with two or more adult generations or one that includes grandparents and grandchildren. Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Due to data limitations, figures for Burmese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. Figures for all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

Pew Research Center


Economic characteristics of U.S. Burmese population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Burmese in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S.
born
Foreign
born
MEDIAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $85,800 $44,400 *** $44,200
MEDIAN ANNUAL PERSONAL EARNINGS (ages 16 and older with positive earnings)
All $40,000 $26,000 *** $26,000
Full-time, year-round workers $60,000 $30,000 *** $30,000
EMPLOYMENT STATUS (civilians ages 16 and older)
Employed 64 60 *** 61
Not employed 3 3 *** 2
Not in labor force 34 37 *** 37
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (civilians ages 16 and older in the labor force) 4 4 *** 4
LIVING IN POVERTY
All ages 10 25 25 25
Younger than 18 10 31 27 37
18-64 10 22 *** 22
65 and older 12 16 *** 16
HOMEOWNERSHIP (households)
Owner-occupied 59 46 *** 46
Renter-occupied 41 54 *** 54

The symbol *** indicates insufficient number of observations to provide a reliable estimate.
Note: The household population excludes persons living in institutions, college dormitories and other group quarters. Households are classified by the race or detailed Asian group of the head. “Full-time, year-round workers” are defined as people ages 16 and older who usually worked at least 35 hours per week and at least 48 weeks in the past year. The share of the population ages 16 and older who are not employed differs from the unemployment rate because the share not employed is based on the total population, while the unemployment rate is based on those who are in the labor force (i.e. working or looking for work). Poverty status is determined for individuals in housing units and non-institutional group quarters. It is unavailable for children younger than 15 who are not related to the householder, people living in institutional group quarters and people living in college dormitories or military barracks. Due to the way in which the IPUMS assigns poverty values, these data will differ from those provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Due to data limitations, figures for Burmese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. Figures for all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

Pew Research Center


Find out more

Explore fact sheets on other Asian groups in the U.S.

Read the methodology.