Introduction to Census 2000 Data on South Asians

South Asians are those who trace their origins to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.  Although the Census does not capture all members of the South Asian population including undocumented peoples, the Census 2000 data can help us identify key elements and emerging trends in the South Asian population based in the United States. 

Serving the Many Communities

• Indians make up the highest population of South Asians, and are the fastest growing, but we must also play close attention to the emerging Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities.   
• This is important as we choose languages, conduct outreach, and recruit our own staff.
• Particularly, as they are the communities that face higher instances of poverty and overcrowded housing and are found in lower paying jobs.  
  

 
Our Emerging Youth Community

• Across the board, in every community and state, youth make up a quarter of the community.
• This is important to consider both as services that we provide, such as youth groups, youth activities, and as the possibilities it opens up for organizing – intergenerational, multi-lingual, and accessing families through young people.  

Protecting Those Most Vulnerable – Poor, working poor and non-citizens

• The majority of the South Asian communities are not citizens – making them vulnerable to anti-immigrant policies as well as not having access to certain benefits and services.
• Within this data, we are also aware that we are missing the undocumented communities.
• Nonetheless, we have a community that is particularly vulnerable to racism, anti-immigrant policies and abusive work conditions and so must ensure that we have available the necessary resources to address these concerns and issues.
• Furthermore, coupled with those living in poverty, there is impact on people’s access to healthcare, goods and ability to organize.
• So as we combat anti-immigrant policies, we must also advocate for wage and labor rights, rights of the poor and for a livable wage and organizing along welfare, labor and immigrant rights.

Accessing Education and Advancement Opportunities 

• We find that educational levels are varied from less than high school to those as high with graduate degrees.
• We need to ensure that those that are below the college level (often because degrees from abroad aren’t recognized here) that are working in low wage sectors have opportunities for advancement and education and are protected from exploitative jobs. 

Right to Housing and Fair Housing Conditions

• South Asians have lower home ownership rates than the national average.
• In addition to wage and immigrant rights, there is significant focus that must be given to accessing affordable housing, good housing and to home ownership.
• We must also watch for overcrowding that speaks to the inability of households to access affordable housing and are being affected by gentrification and displacement.

Fair Wages and Living Conditions

• Household sizes are higher for South Asians than the national average.
• This is important to consider when organizing in a community and taking the entire household into account.
• For example, working with youth can be one outlet, or through organizing around housing, labor or immigrant rights.
• The household incomes are near the national average because of the number of members living in the house whereas the per capita figures show significant socio-economic disparities. 

 
Organizing in States – Need for Organizations Across the Issues-areas Across the Country

• Certain states like New York, California and Illinois that have high populations of South Asians also have high numbers of organizations.
• Other states such as Pennsylvania, Virginia and Georgia have one or two organizations.  There is a clear need in all the states for South Asian serving organizations.
• The data have shown significant needs in the areas of labor, immigrant rights, youth services, housing rights, and access to education.   
  

Download the Entire Fact Sheet