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Laotians in the U.S. Fact Sheet

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


YearPopulation
2000198,000
2010232,000
2015271,000
2019254,000

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 Laotian population in the U.S., 2019


% among those ages 5 and older who are English proficient

CategoryEnglish proficient
All64%
U.S. born93%
Foreign born44%
Adults59%
 
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 Laotians 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 Laotian immigrants, 2000-2019


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

Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
200018%82%
201010%90%
20159%91%
20198%92%

Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Due to data limitations, figures for Laotians 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 Laotian population in the U.S., 2019


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

% of those ages 25 and older, by educational attainment

CategoryHigh school or lessSome collegeBachelor’s degreePostgrad degree
All56%27%14%3%
U.S. born38%39%20%4%
Foreign born61%23%12%3%
    
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. Due to data limitations, figures for Laotians 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. Laotian population living in poverty, 2019


U.S. Laotian population living in poverty, 2019

% living in poverty

GroupAll AmericansAll AsiansAll Laotians
All13%10%13%
U.S. born13%9%16%
Foreign born14%11%11%

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 Laotians 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 Laotian population, 2019


Metro areaLaotian population
Sacramento, CA11,000
San Francisco9,000
Minneapolis-St. Paul8,000
Dallas8,000
Fresno, CA8,000
San Diego7,000
Nashville, TN7,000
Seattle6,000
Portland, OR5,000
Los Angeles5,000

Note: Due to data limitations, figures for Laotians based on single-race population only, 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. Laotian population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Laotians in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN AGE (in years) 34 38 21 49
AGE
Younger than 5 7 4 9 <0.5
5-17 17 14 32 1
18-29 18 17 36 3
30-39 17 19 19 18
40-49 14 17 2 28
50-64 16 19 1 33
65+ 11 10 1 17
NATIVITY
U.S. born 43 43
Foreign born 57 57
YEARS IN U.S. (among foreign born)
0-5 years 21 4
6-10 years 13 4
11-15 years 11 5
16-20 years 12 5
21+ years 44 83
CITIZENSHIP (among foreign born)
U.S. citizen 59 75
Not a U.S. citizen 41 25
MARITAL STATUS (18 and older)
Married 59 47 22 58
Divorced/Separated/Widowed 11 15 5 20
Never married 30 38 73 22
FERTILITY (among women ages 15 to 44)
Women who have given birth in the past 12 months 6 6 7 4
HOUSEHOLD TYPE, BY PERSONS
Married-couple household 71 59 54 63
Other family household 13 22 25 20
Non-family household 15 19 21 17
IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD
Multigenerational household 27 40 35 43

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 Laotians 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. Laotian population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Laotians in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $85,800 $61,000 $58,000 $64,000
MEDIAN ANNUAL PERSONAL EARNINGS (ages 16 and older with positive earnings)
All $40,000 $33,000 $26,000 $35,000
Full-time, year-round workers $60,000 $40,000 $38,500 $40,000
EMPLOYMENT STATUS (civilians ages 16 and older)
Employed 64 65 67 63
Not employed 3 3 6 2
Not in labor force 34 32 27 35
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (civilians ages 16 and older in the labor force) 4 5 8 3
LIVING IN POVERTY
All ages 10 13 16 11
Younger than 18 10 20 20 ***
18-64 10 11 13 10
65 and older 12 16 *** 16
HOMEOWNERSHIP (households)
Owner-occupied 59 62 41 68
Renter-occupied 41 38 59 32

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 Laotians 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.