The Survey of the Cambodian Population in America

By Mark E. Pfeifer, PhD

In September 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau released 2006 American Community Survey (ACS) figures for Cambodian Americans. The ACS data are now being released annually. It should be noted that the survey is only given to a sample of the U.S. population as opposed to the census which is intended to be administered to all U.S. households every 10 years. Despite this weakness, the availability of annual ACS data does provide for the first time a wealth of frequently updated data pertaining to racial, ethnic, and ancestral groups in the United States including Cambodian-Americans.The top 10 states for Cambodian Americans according to the 2006 ACS were California (86,700), Massachusetts (22,106), Washington (13,055), Texas (11,646), Minnesota (7,790), Pennsylvania (6,787), Virginia (6,153), New York (5,720), Rhode Island (5,030), and Georgia (4,592). The total estimated Cambodian population in the U.S. according to the 2006 ACS was 238,943.The 2006 ACS estimates that the median age of Cambodian-Americans was 25.9 years (compared to about 36 years among all Americans). The average size of Cambodian households was 3.90 persons compared to 2.6 among the entire U.S. population. According to the 2006 ACS figures, the percentage of Cambodian Americans with a Bachelor’s Degree was 11.0% compared to 17.1% among the entire American population. The 2006 ACS figures show that about 24% of foreign-born Cambodians arrived in the U.S. after 1990 while ¾ of the population came to the U.S. before this time. About 80% of Cambodian-Americans reported speaking a language other than English at home. In addition, the 2006 ACS figures show a concentration of Cambodian-Americans in Manufacturing jobs (Production, Transportation, and Materials Moving Occupations), and Sales and Office Occupations. The enumerated 2006 ACS data put the median Cambodian-American family income at $47,000. The poverty rate among Cambodian-American families was 16%. The 2006 ACS also makes apparent the ongoing gains of Cambodian-Americans in homeownership. A majority of Cambodian households now own their own homes (52.9%).

Mark E. Pfeifer, PhD is an academic librarian at Texas A and M University in Corpus Christi. He is the author of Hmong-Related Works: 1996-2006, an Annotated Bibliography (2007, Scarecrow Press). He is also editor of the Hmong Studies Journal. His website is at HYPERLINK "http://www.hmongstudies.org" www.hmongstudies.org. He can reached by e-mail at editor@hmongstudies.org

Cambodian Population Estimates
2006 American Community Survey

California – 86,700 Massachusetts – 22,106 Washington – 13,055 Texas – 11,646 Minnesota – 7,790 Pennsylvania – 6,787? Virginia – 6,153 New York – 5,720 Rhode Island – 5,030 Georgia – 4,592 Ohio – 4,586 Florida – 3,752 Illinois – 2,839 Maryland – 2,827 Oregon – 2,819 Tennessee – 2,808 Michigan – 2,298? North Carolina – 2,105 Connecticut – 1,968 Utah – 1,799 Colorado – 1,771 Indiana – 1,342 Arizona – 1308 Louisiana – 1,187 Iowa – 1,006 Nebraska – 917 Missouri – 863 New Jersey – 821 Nevada – 766 Alabama – 559? Kansas – 541 Oklahoma – 460 Alaska – 407? South Carolina – 350 Wisconsin – 345 New Hampshire – 286 Hawaii – 63? Arkansas – 0? District of Columbia – 0? Wyoming – NA? Puerto Rico – NA 2006

American Community Survey,?
B02006. ASIAN ALONE BY SELECTED GROUPS - Universe:
TOTAL ASIAN ALONE ?POPULATION

Cambodian Profile U.S.

Population

Total Cambodian Population in America= 238,943

Age:Median Age = 25.9 (36.4)Average Household Size3.90 Persons (2.61)Divorce Rate (Persons 15 Years and Over)% Divorced = 6.1% (10.5%)Educational Attainment (Persons 25 Years and Over)% Bachelor’s Degree = 11.0% (17.1%)% Graduate or Professional Degree = 2.6% (9.9%)Period of Arrival in U.S.Entered 2000 or later = 11.3%Entered 1990 to 1999 = 13.1%Entered before 1990 = 75.6%Language Spoken at Home (Persons 5 Years and Over) English Only = 19.8%Language Other than English = 80.2%Speak English “Less than Very Well” = 42.4%Occupation (Civilian employed population 16 Years and Over)Management, Professional and Related Occupations = 20.2% (34.0%)Service Occupations = 18.9% (16.5%)Sales and Office Occupations = 27.8% (25.9%)Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations = 0.1% (0.7%)Construction, Extraction, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations = 6.3%(10.0%)Production, Transportation, and Material Moving Occupations = 26.6% (13.0%)IncomeMedian Family Income = $47,136 ($58,526)Poverty Rate (All Families) = 16.4% (9.8%)Housing TenureOwner Occupied Housing Units = 52.9% (67.3%)Renter Occupied Housing Units = 47.1% (32.7%).

(Total U.S. Population Figures in Parentheses)S0201. Selected Population Profile in the United StatesPopulation Group: Cambodian Alone or in any combinationData Set: 2006 American Community Survey U.S. Census Bureau.