I asked ChatGPT to write about the breakdown of mixed Asians

I asked ChatGPT to write about the breakdown of the mixed Asians in the U.S. and sadly, it answered that the U.S. Census does not breakdown this population. ChatGPT was not correct. The 2020 Census showed roughly 20 million Asian-alone and another 4 million Asian In-Combination living in the U.S. We examined the demographics of the Asian In-Combination population and found surprising insights.

Asian Americans recorded the fastest population growth rate among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States between 2000 and 2019, such that the latest U.S. Census showed roughly 20 million Asian-Only and another 4 million Asian In-Combination living in the U.S. We barely know much about the Asian-In-Combination population. How many are Inter-Asian, Asian-Black, Asian-Hispanic, and Asian-White?

Increase in mixed Asian Americans and families

Mixed-race Americans grew over 276% from 2010 to 2020 such that 1 in 10 or 33.8 million Americans are of mixed-race per the U.S. Census. For Asian Americans, we know that marriages within Asian sub-groups have increased, while marriages outside of our racial group have decreased. Of the 4 million Asian Americans in the U.S. of mixed-race, who are likely U.S. born and younger, any conversation about color and identity, especially with children, can become fraught with challenges as it is unfamiliar territory for many Asian families.

Lack of mixed Asian demographics data

There is a lack of published data of how many mixed Asians and in what racial combination there are within the U.S. population. I asked ChatGPT to write about the breakdown of the mixed Asians in the U.S. and sadly, it answered that the U.S. Census does not breakdown this population.

ChatGPT was not correct, but it does show the limitations of artificial intelligence on topics that have little available information. Fortunately, the latest U.S. Census does provide some breakdown. For the 4 million mixed Asians in America the breakdown from the latest U.S. Census show:

A young population

• The median age is 20 years-old
• 57.7% are under the age of 25 and 4.5% are seniors

Asian-White represent over two-thirds of mixed Asians

• 2.8 million are Asian-White
• 661k are mixed Asian of 3 or more races
• 278k are Asian-Black
• 211k are Asian-Some Other
• 98k are Asian-NHPI (Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander)

Differences in the mixed Asian population by ethnicity

• Nearly 1 of 2 Japanese Americans are of mixed-race
• One-third (1.5 million) of all mixed Asians are Filipinos of mixed-race
• South Asians have one of the lowest percentage of mixed-race population

Society does not have answers to multi-racial families

Multi-racial families are likely aware of race related issues and face challenges to raising mixed-race children. What isn’t as clear is how to raise children in our modern world to navigate race, culture and identity.

Pew Research Center published in Jan 2023 their “Parenting in America Today” survey showed 47% of Asian parents are raising their children very/somewhat different than how they were raised. And another 16% of Asian parents responded to raising their children as neither different nor similar to how they were raised – the highest among all racial groups. A lower percentage of Asian parents found parenting to be enjoyable (70% vs. 82% for all parents) and rewarding (66% vs. 80% for all parents).

Society currently does not have the answers to multi-racial families. Parents raising mixed-race children are looking for more research and resources to address and navigate conversations about race, culture and identity. For now, multi-racial families are ahead of society and are navigating the best they know how by embracing their multi-cultures.

Helpful Resources

Demographics of Asians of 2 or more races (U.S. Census)

2020 Census Shows Increase in Multiracial Population in All Age Categories (U.S. Census)

Project Race, the national advocates for Multiracial community

Community of mixed Asians across TV, film, theater (Mixed Asian Media)

1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed (W. Kamau Bell, 2023 HBO documentary on the mixed-race experience)