Asian fastest growing racial group in U.S., with N.J. as magnet

by Frank Kummer, philly.com Staff

Posted: March 21, 2012

A new U.S. Census study shows that Asians are the fastest growing racial group, with a 46 percent jump from 2000 to 2010.

And, it shows New Jersey remains a top magnet for those of Asian descent.

The Census study released today looked at the population identifying itself as Asian, either alone or in combination with one or more other races.

The percent of those identifying themselves as being partially of Asian descent grew by 45.6 percent. Those who say they are solely of Asian descent grew by 43.3 percent.

That puts the number of Asians in the U.S. at about 17 million or nearly 6 percent of the total U.S. population.

In fact, Asian groups grew by nearly 30 percent or higher in nearly every state.

New Jersey had the third highest proportion of people identifying themselves as Asian alone or in combination with another race. In all, 9 percent of New Jerseyans say they have some Asian in their background.

Hawaii and California were first.

Most of those throughout the U.S. saying they were of Asian descent and another race identified that other race as white.

The 2010 Census looked at Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese populations, among others.