Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Koreans in the U.S. Fact Sheet

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


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

 

YearPopulation
20001,228,000
20101,707,000
20151,822,000
20191,908,000

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 Korean population in the U.S., 2019


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

% among those ages 5 and older who are English proficient

CategoryEnglish proficient
All67%
U.S. born94%
Foreign born50%
Adults62%
 
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 Koreans 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 Korean immigrants, 2000-2019


Length of time in the U.S. for Korean immigrants, 2000-2019

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

Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
200038%62%
201034%66%
201526%74%
201920%80%

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 Korean population in the U.S., 2019


% of those ages 25 and older, by educational attainment

CategoryHigh school or lessSome collegeBachelor’s degreePostgrad degree
All23%20%35%22%
U.S. born13%24%39%24%
Foreign born26%19%34%21%
    
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 Koreans 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. Korean population living in poverty, 2019


% living in poverty

GroupAll AmericansAll AsiansAll Koreans
All13%10%11%
U.S. born13%9%9%
Foreign born14%11%12%

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 Koreans 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 Korean population, 2019


Metro areaKorean population
Los Angeles326,000
New York220,000
Washington96,000
Seattle67,000
Chicago62,000
San Francisco60,000
Atlanta51,000
Philadelphia42,000
Dallas41,000
San Jose, CA36,000

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).

PEW RESEARCH CENTER


Demographic characteristics of U.S. Korean population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Koreans in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN AGE (in years) 34 36 20 48
AGE
Younger than 5 7 6 13 <0.5
5-17 17 16 33 4
18-29 18 17 24 12
30-39 17 16 17 16
40-49 14 16 8 21
50-64 16 17 4 26
65+ 11 12 1 20
NATIVITY
U.S. born 43 41
Foreign born 57 59
YEARS IN U.S. (among foreign born)
0-5 years 21 12
6-10 years 13 8
11-15 years 11 11
16-20 years 12 12
21+ years 44 57
CITIZENSHIP (among foreign born)
U.S. citizen 59 64
Not a U.S. citizen 41 36
MARITAL STATUS (18 and older)
Married 59 56 34 65
Divorced/Separated/Widowed 11 12 7 14
Never married 30 32 59 21
FERTILITY (among women ages 15 to 44)
Women who have given birth in the past 12 months 6 5 4 5
HOUSEHOLD TYPE, BY PERSONS
Married-couple household 71 69 69 69
Other family household 13 13 14 12
Non-family household 15 18 18 19
IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD
Multigenerational household 27 20 17 22

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 Koreans 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. Korean population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Koreans in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $85,800 $72,200 $88,100 $68,000
MEDIAN ANNUAL PERSONAL EARNINGS (ages 16 and older with positive earnings)
All $40,000 $40,000 $40,000 $42,000
Full-time, year-round workers $60,000 $60,000 $60,000 $59,000
EMPLOYMENT STATUS (civilians ages 16 and older)
Employed 64 62 68 59
Not employed 3 3 4 2
Not in labor force 34 36 28 39
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (civilians ages 16 and older in the labor force) 4 4 5 3
LIVING IN POVERTY
All ages 10 11 9 12
Younger than 18 10 8 7 13
18-64 10 11 11 11
65 and older 12 19 12 19
HOMEOWNERSHIP (households)
Owner-occupied 59 52 48 53
Renter-occupied 41 48 52 47

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 Koreans 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.