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Vietnamese in the U.S. Fact Sheet

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


YearPopulation
20001,224,000
20101,737,000
20151,980,000
20192,183,000

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 Vietnamese population in the U.S., 2019


% among those ages 5 and older who are English proficient

CategoryEnglish proficient
All54%
U.S. born90%
Foreign born35%
Adults48%
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 Vietnamese 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 Vietnamese immigrants, 2000-2019


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

Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
200047%53%
201024%76%
201524%76%
201922%78%

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 Vietnamese population in the U.S., 2019


% of those ages 25 and older, by educational attainment

CategoryHigh school or lessSome collegeBachelor’s degreePostgrad degree
All45%23%22%10%
U.S. born19%26%37%18%
Foreign born51%22%19%8%
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 Vietnamese 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. Vietnamese population living in poverty, 2019


% living in poverty

GroupAll AmericansAll AsiansAll Vietnamese
All13%10%12%
U.S. born13%9%12%
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 Vietnamese 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 Vietnamese population, 2019


Metro areaVietnamese population
Los Angeles346,000
Houston143,000
San Jose, CA143,000
Dallas96,000
San Francisco84,000
Seattle74,000
Washington69,000
San Diego58,000
Atlanta55,000
Sacramento, CA42,000

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).

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Demographic characteristics of U.S. Vietnamese population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Vietnamese in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN AGE (in years) 34 37 17 49
AGE
Younger than 5 7 5 12 <0.5
5-17 17 17 38 4
18-29 18 18 30 11
30-39 17 13 12 14
40-49 14 16 4 24
50-64 16 19 2 29
65+ 11 12 1 19
NATIVITY
U.S. born 43 38
Foreign born 57 62
YEARS IN U.S. (among foreign born)
0-5 years 21 13
6-10 years 13 10
11-15 years 11 9
16-20 years 12 9
21+ years 44 60
CITIZENSHIP (among foreign born)
U.S. citizen 59 76
Not a U.S. citizen 41 24
MARITAL STATUS (18 and older)
Married 59 55 25 65
Divorced/Separated/Widowed 11 13 5 15
Never married 30 32 70 20
FERTILITY (among women ages 15 to 44)
Women who have given birth in the past 12 months 6 5 3 6
HOUSEHOLD TYPE, BY PERSONS
Married-couple household 71 69 69 70
Other family household 13 18 17 18
Non-family household 15 13 15 12
IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD
Multigenerational household 27 34 26 38

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 Vietnamese 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. Vietnamese population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Vietnamese in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $85,800 $69,800 $82,400 $66,000
MEDIAN ANNUAL PERSONAL EARNINGS (ages 16 and older with positive earnings)
All $40,000 $31,000 $30,000 $32,000
Full-time, year-round workers $60,000 $45,000 $50,000 $42,000
EMPLOYMENT STATUS (civilians ages 16 and older)
Employed 64 64 63 64
Not employed 3 3 4 2
Not in labor force 34 34 33 34
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (civilians ages 16 and older in the labor force) 4 4 5 3
LIVING IN POVERTY
All ages 10 12 12 12
Younger than 18 10 12 11 17
18-64 10 11 12 11
65 and older 12 16 11 16
HOMEOWNERSHIP (households)
Owner-occupied 59 67 50 70
Renter-occupied 41 33 50 30

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. Figures for Vietnamese 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.