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


YearPopulation
2000150,000
2010238,000
2015295,000
2019343,000

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 Thai population in the U.S., 2019


% among those ages 5 and older who are English proficient
CategoryEnglish proficient
All58%
U.S. born93%
Foreign born48%
Adults56%
   
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 Thai 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 Thai immigrants, 2000-2019


% of foreign-born population who have lived in the U.S. …
Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
200037%63%
201039%61%
201535%65%
201935%65%
Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Due to data limitations, figures for Thai 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 Thai population in the U.S., 2019


% of those ages 25 and older, by educational attainment
CategoryHigh school or lessSome collegeBachelor’s degreePostgrad degree
All34%21%28%17%
U.S. born17%28%36%19%
Foreign born37%20%27%16%
    
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 Thai 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. Thai population living in poverty, 2019


% living in poverty
GroupAll AmericansAll AsiansAll Thai
All13%10%14%
U.S. born13%9%12%
Foreign born14%11%14%
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 Thai 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 Thai population, 2019


Metro areaThai population
Los Angeles33,000
New York11,000
Washington10,000
Chicago8,000
Dallas7,000
Seattle6,000
San Francisco6,000
Las Vegas6,000
Riverside, CA4,000
Atlanta4,000
Note: Due to data limitations, figures for Thai 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. Thai population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Thai in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN AGE (in years) 34 41 25 46
AGE
Younger than 5 7 3 11 <0.5
5-17 17 10 25 6
18-29 18 16 26 13
30-39 17 18 19 17
40-49 14 19 14 21
50-64 16 17 4 21
65+ 11 17 2 22
NATIVITY
U.S. born 43 24
Foreign born 57 76
YEARS IN U.S. (among foreign born)
0-5 years 21 19
6-10 years 13 16
11-15 years 11 12
16-20 years 12 9
21+ years 44 44
CITIZENSHIP (among foreign born)
U.S. citizen 59 57
Not a U.S. citizen 41 43
MARITAL STATUS (18 and older)
Married 59 57 36 62
Divorced/Separated/Widowed 11 16 7 18
Never married 30 27 57 21
FERTILITY (among women ages 15 to 44)
Women who have given birth in the past 12 months 6 4 3 4
HOUSEHOLD TYPE, BY PERSONS
Married-couple household 71 63 58 65
Other family household 13 18 21 17
Non-family household 15 19 21 18
IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD
Multigenerational household 27 25 25 25

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 Thai 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. Thai population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Thai in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $85,800 $63,000 $89,000 $59,000
MEDIAN ANNUAL PERSONAL EARNINGS (ages 16 and older with positive earnings)
All $40,000 $30,000 $40,000 $30,000
Full-time, year-round workers $60,000 $40,000 $60,000 $38,000
EMPLOYMENT STATUS (civilians ages 16 and older)
Employed 64 59 73 56
Not employed 3 2 3 2
Not in labor force 34 38 24 42
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (civilians ages 16 and older in the labor force) 4 4 4 3
LIVING IN POVERTY
All ages 10 14 12 14
Younger than 18 10 23 16 36
18-64 10 13 9 14
65 and older 12 8 *** 8
HOMEOWNERSHIP (households)
Owner-occupied 59 58 58 59
Renter-occupied 41 42 42 41

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 Thai 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


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