Portrait of Vietnamese Americans By Census 2010

The official documentation of the Census 2010, which has been released, suggests that a Vietnamese community that is dynamic,  younger than the national average, and the fourth largest among Asian immigrants in the United States. Although the population growth rate of Vietnamese origin is slower  in 10 years, our community “which speaks Vietnamese at home” is higher than the other races. In 10 years, the population of Vietnamese origin has increased by nearly half million , bringing the total number of Vietnameese in the United States to 1,548,449

The Vietnamese community in the United States is comprised of a total of 1,548,449 people, according to official announcement of the 2010 census (Census 2010).

10 counties have the largest community of Vietnamese origin in the United States, according to Census 2010 population statistics. All three belong to the district head of the state of California. (Image: Khoa Vu / Nguoi-Viet)

Therefore, within a decade, from 2000 to 2010, the Vietnamese community in the United States has increased by 425.921 people, or 38%.

The Vietnamese community ranks 4th among the Asian communities in the United States, after China (nearly 3.5 million), India (almost 3 million) and Philippines (2.5 million).

Asian Population in the United States:

• China 3,347,229
• India: 2,843,391
• Philippines: 2,555,923
• Vietnam: 1,548,449
• South Korea 1,423,784
• Japan: 763.325
• The other Asian ethnicities: 2,192,151

About 3/4 Vietnamese-Americans are concentrated in 10 states; the largest concentration is in  California;  second largest is in Texas ,and third is in Washington.

 

Vietnamese immigrants make up more than 9% of Asian immigrants in the United States. (Image: Khoa Vu / Nguoi-Viet)

The ten states with the most populous of Vietnamese origins include: California (581,000), Texas (210,000) Washington (67.000), Florida (58.000), Virginia (54.000), Georgia (45.000), Massachusetts (43.000), Pennsylvania (39.000) ; New York (29.000) and Louisiana (28.000).

Vietnamese Community, 2000-2010:

2000: 1,122,528 people
2010: 1,548,449 people
Increased by 425.921 people (37.9%)

Among the urban areas (metropolitan area), Los Angeles – Long Beach – Santa Ana is concentrated with the most Vietnamese, with 271,000 people. Next is the San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara with 126,000 people; the Houston – Sugar Land – Baytown with 104,000 people; Dallas – Fort Worth – Arlington with 72.000 people, and Washington DC – Arlington – Alexandria 59.000 people.

 

In 10 years, from 2000 to 2010, the community of Vietnamese origin population increased 37.9%, lower than other Asian ethnic groups. (Image: Khoa Vu/ Nguoi-Viet)

Among the cities and in absolute numbers, the most populous cities of Vietnamese origin include: San Jose 59.000 people, Garden Grove 47.000 people, Westminster 36,000 people,  Houston 35,000, and San Diego 33.000.

The highest relative percentage of Vietnamese residents in areas or county is Midway, California, with 41% of residents are of Vietnamese origin.

Behind Midway, the next areas with highest percentage of Vietnamese residents are also located in California: Westminster (40%), Garden Grove (27.7%), and  Fountain Valley (21%).

Morrow City of Georgia has a high percentage of Vietnamese origin: 20%.

10 States with the most Vietnamese in:

• California: 581.946 (30% increase in 10 years)
• Texas: 210.913 (56% increase in 10 years)
• Washington: 66.575 (up 44% in 10 years)
• Florida: 58.470 (up 76% in 10 years)
• Virginia: 53.529 (up by 43 % in 10 years)
• Georgia: 45.263 (up 56% in 10 years)
• Massachusetts: 42.915 (up 26% in 10 years)
• Pennsylvania: 39.008 (up 30% in 10 years)
• New York: 28.764 (up 21% in 10 years)
• Louisiana: 28.352 (up 16% in 10 years)

 

Every 100 people of Vietnamese origin in the U.S., 12 people are living in poverty. Under this standard, the Vietnamese community ranks only “richer” than the other two Asian community, the Hmong and Cambodia. (Image: Khoa Vu / Nguoi-Viet)

From the 1970s to the 1990s, the population of Vietnamese origin in the United States increased significantly, partly due to high waves of immigrants. Since 2000, the population growth rate of Vietnamese origin has begun to slow down, at 38%.

Census 2010 statistics cited the results of American Community Survey (ACS), which was published in 2007, which compared to other communities, Vietnamese immigrants have high rates “of speaking their mother language at home,” the largest increase (511%), from 1980 to 2007.

Regarding to age, ACS said the median age of the community of Vietnamese origin was 35.4, compared with 35.7 of Asian ethnicity, and 36.8 of the entire United States.

10 Cities of largest Vietnamese concentrations in:

• San Jose, California: 100.486
• Garden Grove, California: 47.331
• Westminster, California: 36.058
• Houston, Texas: 34.838
• San Diego, California: 33.149
• Santa Ana, California: 23.167
• Los Angeles, California: 19.969
• Anaheim, California: 14.706
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 14.431
• New York City, New York: 13.387

Among a total of  1.6 million Vietnamese people living in the U.S., Vietnamese youth group of age under 17  accounts for 26%, compared with 44% of the Hmong community, 28% of the Cambodians, and 27% of Laotians, and compared with 20% of national average.

The Vietnamese origin over 65 years in the United States accounts for 8%, compared with the oldest Japanese community (22%) and compared with 13% nationally.

In regarding to marital status,  57% of Vietnamese are married, 31% have never married, about 7% divorced , 1% separated, and 4% widowed

22% Vietnamese-Americans born in the United States; the rest born outside the United States. (Image: khoa Vu / Nguoi-Viet)

Economically,  Vietnamese family living below the poverty line accounts for 12%, compared with 25% of the Hmong (poorest), and with 10% national average. Poverty level in 2011 defined by the federal government  for a family of 4 with income under $ 22.350 a year.

The average family’s income  and the median income of a Vietnamese family of 4 is $ 59,000 a year compared with $ 47,000 of the Hmong (lowest), $ 99,000 of India (highest), and $ 62,000 nationally.

The percentage of Vietnamese aged over 16 having a job is 67%, ranking 4th in the Asian communities, which is slightly higher  than the national rate, 65%.

Approximately 65% of Vietnamese are  homeowers (same percentage with the Filipino community) compared with 48% of Hmong and 66% of the country.

Census 2010 cited the report of the Survey of Business Owners (SOB) published in 2007, which indicates the number of businesses owned by Vietnamese people has increased by 56% since 2002, compared to 40% increase among the other Asian communities.

Also according to the same report of the SOB in 2007, the Vietnamese business owners have increased  to 229,000, which represents the same rate of 15% as other Asian communities, with revenues of $ 28.8 billion a year.

 

In five years, from 2002 to 2007, the Vietnamese business community in the U.S. has generated more revenues. (Image: Khoa Vu / Nguoi-Viet)

Nearly 30,000 of these businesses employ a total of 166,00 employees, with revenues of $ 21 billion in 2007, which has increased by 82% compared to 2002.

Nearly 67% of the Vietnamese American business concentrates in maintenance, repair, personal services, laundry and retail, accounting for the highest among Asian immigrant groups.
In the exercise of citizenship, the overall Asian-American registration to vote and actually vote is less than the national average.

Census 2010 cited the results of Current Population Survey (CPS) published in 2008,  which showed that the voting rate of Asian Americans in the voting age is quite low, 55% compared with 71% of the country.

Moreover, only 48% of the voting age are registered to vote, compared with 64% on national average.

According to CPS results, the naturalized Asian Americans  are registered to vote more than native-born Asian Americans.

According to the ACS data for the period from 2007 to 2009, approximately 68% of Vietnamese were born outside of the  United States, of which 73% had American citizenship.

Generally speaking, the Vietnamese community in the United States is relatively young, in terms of age (35.4), the proportion of young people under 17 years of age (26%), and the percentage of people older than 65 (8%) compared to the national average 36.8, 20% and 13%, respectively.

With family trends, the Vietnamese American divorce rate is 6%, which is  lower than  national average (11%), and  the family size (3.9 persons / family) is also larger  than national average, (3.1 persons/family).

In economic status, the Vietnamese community earns an annual average slightly lower ($59,000) than the national average with $ 62,000 . However, the percentage of  homeownerships in the Vietnamese community is 65%, comparable to 66% of the national average, which  shows the trend of economy saving and successful settling of the Vietnamese community in America.

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