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Filipinos in the U.S. Fact Sheet

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


YearPopulation
20002,365,000
20103,417,000
20153,899,000
20194,211,000

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 Filipino population in the U.S., 2019


% among those ages 5 and older who are English proficient

CategoryEnglish proficient
All84%
U.S. born98%
Foreign born72%
Adults81%
   
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.” Figures for Filipinos and 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 Filipino immigrants, 2000-2019


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

Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
200036%64%
201031%69%
201528%72%
201925%75%

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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% 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 Filipino population in the U.S., 2019


% of those ages 25 and older, by educational attainment

CategoryHigh school or lessSome collegeBachelor’s degreePostgrad degree
All22%30%38%10%
U.S. born22%35%31%12%
Foreign born22%27%41%9%
      
All Asians27%19%30%24%
All Americans39%29%20%13%

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. Figures for Filipinos and 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. Filipino population living in poverty, 2019


% living in poverty

GroupAll AmericansAll AsiansAll Filipinos
All13%10%7%
U.S. born13%9%7%
Foreign born14%11%6%

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. Figures for Filipinos and 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 Filipino population, 2019


Metro areaFilipino population
Los Angeles506,000
San Francisco310,000
New York236,000
Honolulu214,000
San Diego201,000
Las Vegas147,000
Chicago145,000
Riverside-San Bernardino, CA136,000
Seattle115,000
San Jose, CA109,000

Note: 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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Demographic characteristics of U.S. Filipino population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Filipinos in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN AGE (in years) 34 36 21 50
AGE
Younger than 5 7 6 11 <0.5
5-17 17 17 31 4
18-29 18 17 24 10
30-39 17 14 14 14
40-49 14 14 9 19
50-64 16 18 7 29
65+ 11 13 3 23
NATIVITY
U.S. born 43 50
Foreign born 57 50
YEARS IN U.S. (among foreign born)
0-5 years 21 14
6-10 years 13 11
11-15 years 11 12
16-20 years 12 11
21+ years 44 52
CITIZENSHIP (among foreign born)
U.S. citizen 59 71
Not a U.S. citizen 41 29
MARITAL STATUS (18 and older)
Married 59 54 37 65
Divorced/Separated/Widowed 11 14 9 17
Never married 30 32 54 19
FERTILITY (among women ages 15 to 44)
Women who have given birth in the past 12 months 6 5 4 6
HOUSEHOLD TYPE, BY PERSONS
Married-couple household 71 69 68 71
Other family household 13 17 17 17
Non-family household 15 14 15 12
IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD
Multigenerational household 27 34 29 39

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. Figures for Filipinos and 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. Filipino population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Filipinos in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $85,800 $90,400 $87,000 $93,200
MEDIAN ANNUAL PERSONAL EARNINGS (ages 16 and older with positive earnings)
All $40,000 $38,000 $35,000 $40,000
Full-time, year-round workers $60,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000
EMPLOYMENT STATUS (civilians ages 16 and older)
Employed 64 67 70 65
Not employed 3 3 4 2
Not in labor force 34 30 27 33
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (civilians ages 16 and older in the labor force) 4 4 5 3
LIVING IN POVERTY
All ages 10 7 7 6
Younger than 18 10 7 7 6
18-64 10 6 8 5
65 and older 12 7 7 7
HOMEOWNERSHIP (households)
Owner-occupied 59 61 53 65
Renter-occupied 41 39 47 35

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. Figures for Filipinos and 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.