A procession at Wat Thai Buddhist Temple in North Hollywood. Los Angeles Almanac Photo
Los Angeles is home to the largest Thai population outside of Thailand.
See also: Asian Ethnic Origin by City and Community
and 2000 Census Figures
Los Angeles County has, by far, the largest Asian population of any county in the United States. According to U.S. Census 2016 estimates (5-year estimates), Los Angeles County has 1.59 million persons of Asian descent, followed by 2) less than half that number, 701,117, in Santa Clara County, California; 3) 666,748 in Orange County, California; 4) 606,230 in Queens County, New York (one of the New York City boroughs); 5) 603,193 in Honolulu County, Hawaii. In terms of the percentage of the total population that is Asian, however, these other four counties push past Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County’s Asian population makes up only 16 percent of the county’s total population (compared to 37 percent for Santa Clara County, 21 percent for Orange County, 26 percent for Queens County and 61 percent for Honolulu County).
| Ethnic Origin | Population | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Total Asian categories tallied | 1,550,573 | 100.00% |
| Asian Indian | 92,179 | 5.94% |
| Bangladeshi | 5,162 | 0.33% |
| Bhutanese | 42 | 0.00% |
| Burmese | 5,254 | 0.34% |
| Cambodian | 37,450 | 2.42% |
| Chinese (except Taiwanese) | 403,730 | 26.04% |
| Filipino | 374,285 | 24.14% |
| Hmong | 760 | 0.05% |
| Indonesian | 13,001 | 0.84% |
| Japanese | 138,983 | 8.96% |
| Korean | 230,876 | 14.89% |
| Laotian | 4,067 | 0.26% |
| Malaysian | 1,496 | 0.10% |
| Nepalese | 1,229 | 0.08% |
| Pakistani | 10,930 | 0.70% |
| Sri Lankan | 5,380 | 0.35% |
| Taiwanese | 45,808 | 2.95% |
| Thai | 29,792 | 1.92% |
| Vietnamese | 104,024 | 6.71% |
| Other Asian, specified | 2,323 | 0.15% |
| Other Asian, not specified | 43,802 | 2.82% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
In 1850, the U.S. Census recorded 15 blacks, 8 Jews and 2 Chinese residing in Los Angeles County.
