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Sri Lankans in the U.S. Fact Sheet

Sri Lankan population in the U.S., 2000-2019


 

YearPopulation
200025,000
201045,000
201560,000
201956,000

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 Sri Lankan population in the U.S., 2019


% among those ages 5 and older who are English proficient

CategoryEnglish proficient
All79%
U.S. born98%
Foreign born75%
Adults77%
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 Sri Lankans 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).nn

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


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

Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
200053%47%
201052%49%
201540%60%
201942%58%

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

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

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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 Sri Lankan population in the U.S., 2019


% of those ages 25 and older, by educational attainment

CategoryHigh school or lessSome collegeBachelor’s degreePostgrad degree
All20%20%29%31%
U.S. born***************
Foreign born21%21%29%30%
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 Sri Lankans 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).nn

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U.S. Sri Lankan population living in poverty, 2019


% living in poverty

GroupAll AmericansAll AsiansAll Sri Lankans
All13%10%8%
U.S. born13%9%7%
Foreign born14%11%9%

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 Sri Lankans 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.n

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

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Top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas by Sri Lankan population, 2019


Metro areaSri Lankan population
New York8,000
Los Angeles7,000
Washington3,000
Houston2,000
Boston2,000
Chicago2,000
Dallas2,000
San Francisco1,000
Atlanta1,000
Riverside, CA1,000

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

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

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Demographic characteristics of U.S. Sri Lankan population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Sri Lankans
in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN AGE (in years) 34 37 13 41
AGE
Younger than 5 7 5 20 1
5-17 17 12 42 5
18-29 18 17 25 15
30-39 17 21 8 25
40-49 14 17 4 21
50-64 16 17 1 21
65+ 11 10 <0.5 12
NATIVITY
U.S. born 43 20
Foreign born 57 80
YEARS IN U.S. (among foreign born)
0-5 years 21 25
6-10 years 13 17
11-15 years 11 15
16-20 years 12 16
21+ years 44 28
CITIZENSHIP (among foreign born)
U.S. citizen 59 49
Not a U.S. citizen 41 51
MARITAL STATUS (18 and older)
Married 59 64 *** 69
Divorced/Separated/Widowed 11 11 *** 11
Never married 30 25 *** 20
FERTILITY (among women ages 15 to 44)
Women who have given birth in the past 12 months 6 7 *** 8
HOUSEHOLD TYPE, BY PERSONS
Married-couple household 71 74 79 73
Other family household 13 9 11 8
Non-family household 15 17 10 18
IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD
Multigenerational household 27 23 22 23

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 Sri Lankans 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. Sri Lankan population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Sri Lankans
in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $85,800 $85,000 *** $84,000
MEDIAN ANNUAL PERSONAL EARNINGS (ages 16 and older with positive earnings)
All $40,000 $40,000 *** $42,000
Full-time, year-round workers $60,000 $60,000 *** $64,000
EMPLOYMENT STATUS (civilians ages 16 and older)
Employed 64 73 *** 74
Not employed 3 3 *** 2
Not in labor force 34 24 *** 23
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (civilians ages 16 and older in the labor force) 4 4 *** 3
LIVING IN POVERTY
All ages 10 8 7 9
Younger than 18 10 10 7 ***
18-64 10 8 *** 8
65 and older 12 *** *** ***
HOMEOWNERSHIP (households)
Owner-occupied 59 52 *** 53
Renter-occupied 41 48 *** 47

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 Sri Lankans 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.