Southeast Asian Americans

(This group includes Filipino Americans, Indonesian Americans, Malaysian Americans, Thai Americans, and Vietnamese Americans)

 

Malaysian Americans

Malaysians have been coming to New York City, the West Coast of the U.S., and Chicago since the 70s to fine employment and for education opportunities. Malaysian Americans come from a variety of ethnic groups, all of which speak different languages and profess different cultures, including Malay, Malaysian Chinese, and Malaysian Indian.

The Largest Malaysian Communities in the United States:

  • New York
  • Los Angeles
  • San Francisco
  • Boston
  • San Jose, CA
  • 3,000
  • 2,000
  • 1,000
  • 1,000
  • 1,000

Filipino American

Filipino American also known as “Fil-Ams” or “Pinoy” have been coming to America since the 1920s. According to the United States Department of State, the current number of Filipino Americans in the US is around 4 million. Filipinos remain one of the largest immigrant groups to date, with over 40,000 arriving annually in the United States since 1979.

The Largest Filipino Communities in the United States:

  • California
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Texas
  • Washington
  • 1,474,707
  • 342,095
  • 139,090
  • 137,713
  • 137,083

Indonesian Americans

In the 1960s, when a number of political and ethnic skirmishes arose in Indonesia, several thousand Indonesians, the majority of whom were Chinese Indonesian, came to the United States. Indonesian American are found to be more attached to the traditions of their homeland. They were the 15thlargest group of Asian Americans.

The Largest Indonesian Communities in the United States:

  • Los Angeles
  • Riverside, CA
  • New York
  • Washington, DC
  • San Francisco
  • 14,000
  • 7,000
  • 5,000
  • 5,000
  • 3,000

Thai Americans

The Thai American population in the US is made up of those of native Thai and Thai Chinese descent. Thai immigration to the United States proceeded very slowly during and after the Vietnam War. Since then, immigration has enjoyed a steady rise. Reportedly 253,585 Thai people immigrated to the in 2016.

The Largest Thai Communities in the United States:

  • Los Angeles
  • New York
  • Washington
  • San Francisco
  • Riverside, CA
  • 27,000
  • 12,000
  • 8,000
  • 8,000
  • 6,000