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Communities of Asian and Pacific Islander descent

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People of Asian descent are projected to become the largest immigrant group in the U.S. by 2055. Six percent of immigrants in the U.S. are from China, 6% are from India, and 4% are from the Philippines. Over 4 million people in the U.S. are Asian in combination with another race.

The Asian Pacific Islander (API) community is made up of people from all the different parts of Asia. These communities include:

  • Central Asia: Afghan, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgians, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Mongolian, Tajik, Turkmen, Uzbek
  • East Asia: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Okinawan, Taiwanese, Tibetan
  • Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands: (in the U.S. Jurisdictions & Territories) Carolinian, Chamorro, Chuukese, Fijian, Guamanian, Hawaiian, Kosraean, Marshallese, Native Hawaiian, Niuean, Palauan, Pohnpeian, Papua New Guinean, Samoan, Tokelauan, Tongan, Yapese
  • Southeast Asia: Bruneian, Burmese, Cambodian, Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Laotian, Malaysian, Mien, Singaporean, Timorese, Thai, Vietnamese
  • South Asia: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Indian, Maldivians, Nepali, Pakistani, Sri Lankan
Quick facts
and statistics
Challenges, strengths, and heroes
Historical context and cultural beliefs

Mental health resources for communities of Asian and Pacific Islander descent

A note on language: Terminology around cultural identity evolves over time. These materials will primarily use "communities of Asian and Pacific Islander descent" to encompass the diversity of people from various countries, regions, and cultural backgrounds within Asia and the Pacific Islands. This includes groups that are traditionally underrepresented in API data such as South Asians and Native Hawaiians. Government and academic data cited may use additional identifiers such as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) or Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (NHOPI).

Take a Mental Health Test

If you are struggling with your mental health, take an anonymous, free, and private mental health test. It only takes a few minutes, and after you are finished you will be given information about the next steps you can take based on the results.

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If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting HELLO to 741741.

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