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


 
YearPopulation
2000204,000
2010409,000
2015519,000
2019554,000

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 Pakistani population in the U.S., 2019


% among those ages 5 and older who are English proficient
CategoryEnglish proficient
All75%
U.S. born93%
Foreign born67%
Adults71%
All Asians72%
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Length of time in the U.S. for Pakistani immigrants, 2000-2019


% of foreign-born population who have lived in the U.S. …
Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
200059%41%
201041%59%
201536%64%
201937%63%
Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Due to data limitations, figures for Pakistanis 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).

PEW RESEARCH CENTER



% 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 Pakistani population in the U.S., 2019


% of those ages 25 and older, by educational attainment
CategoryHigh school or lessSome collegeBachelor’s degreePostgrad degree
All26%17%31%26%
U.S. born15%19%37%29%
Foreign born28%17%30%25%
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 Pakistanis 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. Pakistani population living in poverty, 2019


% living in poverty
GroupAll AmericansAll AsiansAll Pakistanis
All13%10%15%
U.S. born13%9%16%
Foreign born14%11%15%
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 Pakistanis 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 Pakistani population, 2019


Metro areaPakistani population
New York98,000
Houston38,000
Washington38,000
Chicago37,000
Dallas25,000
Los Angeles18,000
San Francisco15,000
Baltimore13,000
Stockton, CA12,000
Philadelphia11,000
Note: Due to data limitations, figures for Pakistanis 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. Pakistani population, 2019

% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Pakistanis in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN AGE (in years) 34 31 14 41
AGE
Younger than 5 7 7 19 1
5-17 17 19 43 6
18-29 18 21 26 18
30-39 17 17 8 21
40-49 14 13 3 19
50-64 16 16 1 23
65+ 11 8 1 11
NATIVITY
U.S. born 43 35
Foreign born 57 65
YEARS IN U.S. (among foreign born)
0-5 years 21 21
6-10 years 13 15
11-15 years 11 12
16-20 years 12 16
21+ years 44 35
CITIZENSHIP (among foreign born)
U.S. citizen 59 66
Not a U.S. citizen 41 34
MARITAL STATUS (18 and older)
Married 59 66 31 74
Divorced/Separated/Widowed 11 7 3 8
Never married 30 26 65 17
FERTILITY (among women ages 15 to 44)
Women who have given birth in the past 12 months 6 8 4 10
HOUSEHOLD TYPE, BY PERSONS
Married-couple household 71 82 85 81
Other family household 13 11 9 12
Non-family household 15 6 6 7
IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD
Multigenerational household 27 35 28 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. Due to data limitations, figures for Pakistanis 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. Pakistani population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Pakistanis in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $85,800 $78,000 $90,000 $75,500
MEDIAN ANNUAL PERSONAL EARNINGS (ages 16 and older with positive earnings)
All $40,000 $35,000 $27,900 $36,000
Full-time, year-round workers $60,000 $57,000 $60,000 $56,000
EMPLOYMENT STATUS (civilians ages 16 and older)
Employed 64 59 55 60
Not employed 3 3 3 3
Not in labor force 34 38 41 37
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (civilians ages 16 and older in the labor force) 4 5 6 5
LIVING IN POVERTY
All ages 10 15 16 15
Younger than 18 10 19 18 27
18-64 10 14 13 15
65 and older 12 11 *** 11
HOMEOWNERSHIP (households)
Owner-occupied 59 54 47 55
Renter-occupied 41 46 53 45

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 Pakistanis 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.