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Fastest Growing Asian Ethnic Groups
Los Angeles County

Indian Girl

Photo by Sonamabcd, via Pixabay.com.


Although Chinese Americans have continued to be the largest and one of the fastest growing Asian ethnic groups in Los Angeles County (having grown 50 percent since 2000), South Asian populations have grown considerably since 2000 and added to the incredible diversity of the county. The Bangladeshi population in Los Angeles County grew 346 percent between 2000 and 2021 (from about 1,300 persons in 2000 to an estimated 5,900 in 2021). The Pakistani population grew 145 percent over the same period (from about 4,700 persons in 2000 to more than 11,000 in 2021). The Sri Lankan and Asian Indian populations grew 75 percent and 70 percent respectively. Also of note from Southeast Asia, is the tiny Hmong population in Los Angeles County, which has nearly tripled in size since 2000.

Asian Ethnic Origin Population Changes
Los Angeles County, 2000 through 2021

After Asian population total, groups are in descending order in 2021 by percent gain since 2000.

Ethnic Origin 2021 Census* Growth: 2000 to 2021 2020 Census* Growth: 2000 to 2020 2010 Census Growth: 2000 to 2010 2000 Census
Total Asian 1,478,561 30.35% 1,488,626 31.24% 1,346,865 18.74% 1,134,263
Bangladeshi 5,907 345.81% 5,080 283.40% 4,550 243.40% 1,325
Hmong 1,148 160.91% 1,109 152.05% 660 50.00% 440
Pakistani 11,577 144.81% 11,797 149.46% 9,530 101.52% 4,729
Sri Lankan 4,282 75.42% 4,108 68.29% 4,680 91.72% 2,441
Ethnic Origin 2021 Census* Growth: 2000 to 2021 2020 Census* Growth: 2000 to 2020 2010 Census Growth: 2000 to 2010 2000 Census
Malaysian 918 71.91% 767 43.63% 883 65.36% 534
Asian Indian 100,451 70.29% 103,124 74.82% 79,169 34.21% 58,987
Indonesian 9,071 61.23% 9,341 66.03% 8,804 56.49% 5,626
Chinese, except Taiwanese 437,680 50.23% 445,822 53.02% 350,119 20.17% 291,347
Filipino 340,982 30.14% 339,427 29.54% 322,110 22.93% 262,020
Ethnic Origin 2021 Census* Growth: 2000 to 2021 2020 Census* Growth: 2000 to 2020 2010 Census Growth: 2000 to 2010 2000 Census
Vietnamese 96,778 23.67% 99,342 26.94% 87,468 11.77% 78,258
Thai 23,371 19.46% 24,670 26.10% 25,014 27.86% 19,564
Korean 205,016 10.56% 207,483 11.89% 216,501 16.75% 185,440
Cambodian 32,085 6.76% 31,881 6.09% 32,125 6.90% 30,052
Laotian 3,092 -1.90% 3,223 2.25% 2,847 -9.68% 3,152
Ethnic Origin 2021 Census* Growth: 2000 to 2021 2020 Census* Growth: 2000 to 2020 2010 Census Growth: 2000 to 2010 2000 Census
Taiwanese 31,235 -10.10% 29,400 -15.39% 40,336 16.09% 34,746
Japanese 95,459 -15.18% 96,810 -13.98% 102,287 -9.12% 112,548

* U.S. Census estimates based upon data and surveys collected by the American Community Survey over the preceding five-year period. These estimates are issued annually between full Decennial Census counts conducted each decade.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau