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Texas’ Asian American population is rapidly growing.
Asian Texans grew significantly from 2022 to 2023, faster than any other racial group in the state, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. The number increased by 5.5%, or 91,921 people, from the previous year. This was faster than the state’s overall population growth rate (up 1.6%).
This increase reflects the group’s steady population growth over several decades and the state’s diversity. And within that increase, the numbers reflect another trend seen across the state: an increase in the number of older adults. As Texas ages, research groups are raising questions about the resources available to older adults.
The increase in the number of Asian Americans in Texas can be attributed to increased domestic and international migration. The state receives the most immigration from Latin American countries, but has also seen an increase in immigration from Asian countries over the past decade.
Shuhong “Helen” Yu, associate director and senior demographer at the Texas Demographic Center, said the biggest takeaway from the data is “a continuation of the trends we’ve seen over the past decade.” .
Despite its growth, the group remains relatively small. Non-Hispanic Asians make up approximately 5.8% of Texas’ total population. This represents an incredible growth rate from a relatively small increase in numbers.
“Additional changes lead to higher percentage increases,” said Holly Hurd, vice president of data and analytics at Texas 2036, a nonprofit research group. “But certainly immigration also contributes to population growth, and while Texas is a state that receives a lot of immigrants, it also receives a lot of immigrants from Asia.”
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington had the highest growth in Asian American population among U.S. metropolitan areas, increasing by 44,437 people from 2022 to 2023, bringing the group’s population to 692,382 .
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The fastest growing areas were the Austin, Round Rock, and San Marcos metropolitan areas, which saw a 10.5% increase in Asian Americans from 2022 to 2023, the most among metropolitan areas with at least 10,000 Asian Americans. It took first place.
Of all Asian Texan age groups, the largest increases were among older adults, with those 80 and older increasing by 11.4% and those 70 to 79 increasing by 7.6%. The next largest age group was 30 to 39, with an increase of 6.6%.
This increase among older Texans was more widespread across all groups in the state.
From 2020 to 2023, the elderly population saw the largest increase overall. The number of Texans 65 and older increased by 11%, nearly double the growth in the next fastest growing age group.
Texas remains a relatively young state, with the median age of Texans in 2023 being 35.7 years, compared to the national median age of 39.1 years. But the share of Texans age 65 and older will continue to increase as the youngest baby boomers reach that age. group, survival rates increase and birth rates decrease for older Texans.
“We found that since 2010, all birth cohorts are actually smaller than before,” You said.
He warned that falling birth rates could lead to labor shortages, something the state has so far avoided citing international and domestic immigration.
“Currently, our rates are stable, but imagine when these populations of under-18s start reaching workforce age,” You said. “We’ll probably see a decline in that.”
Hurd said he worries that as the senior population grows, there will be a shortage of the resources they need, especially since many seniors are delaying retirement.
“Texas is interesting in that we have a large elderly population, some of whom are more likely to be in the workforce than the rest of the country,” Hurd said. So, as we continue to work, we need to address questions about what kind of work they will have and what their needs and accommodations will be.
She is also interested in related questions. “Are they working as needed?” Are they getting the support they need? And is that support available in rural areas as well as in big cities?
“Do we have enough services and enough care to provide them?” she added.
You said the growing number of older Texans could increase demand for health care services and raise questions about whether seniors will be able to afford housing and other benefits in retirement.
Hurd, a data expert at Texas 2036, also looked ahead, saying, “The population is aging, and we need to be prepared.”
Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Disclosure: Texas 2036 is a financial supporter of the Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization funded in part by contributions from members, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. See the complete list of them here.
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