State Profiles
The American Community Survey
Data on Americans of Arab descent have been available from the U.S. Census Bureau since 1980. Population estimates and socio-economic characteristics on the Arab Americans have been published using the question on "ancestry" in the decennial census between 1980 and 2000. Since 2003 however, ancestry data has been available through the the American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is collected as a rolling sample to replace the "long form" of the decennial census, which used to ask the question on "ancestry" ; it captures demographic details of the U.S. population and its subgroups to provide an updated profile of American characteristics. Whereas the decennial census is meant to be a snapshot of our country and only asks questions like race, age and household size, the ACS is constantly in circulation and asks many more questions ranging from education and income to language and ancestry. For more information about the ACS, please click here.
Using the ACS
The Following profiles and population figures are drawn from the most recently published ACS;It is important to note that census ancestry data have historically undercounted the Arab American population, and community leaders estimate the undercount to be by as much as two-thirds. Arab ancestry responses do, however, provide valuable information on the changing demographics of this population, such as trends in family size, education levels, language proficiency, occupation, etc. The Arab American Institute s to work with the Census Bureau to improve the accuracy and availability of data concerning our community.
Use the map below to find demographic information about your state. Detailed profiles are available for states in dark blue.
Alabama
Total Population: 4,520,883
Arab Ancestry Population: 10,180
Alaska
Total Population: 861,794
Arab Ancestry Population: 1,221
Arizona
Total Population: 7,472,757
Arab Ancestry Population: 28,961
Arkansas
Total Population: 2,919,720
Arab Ancestry Population: 4,011
California
Total Population: 42,051,939
Arab Ancestry Population: 247,785
Colorado
Total Population: 5,991,890
Arab Ancestry Population: 16,398
Connecticut
Total Population: 4,507,205
Arab Ancestry Population: 17,983
Delaware
Total Population: 1,042,501
Arab Ancestry Population: 3,769
District of Columbia
Total Population: 634,070
Arab Ancestry Population: 3,950
Florida
Total Population: 20,477,061
Arab Ancestry Population: 101,267
Georgia
Total Population: 9,788,513
Arab Ancestry Population: 25,491
Hawaii
Total Population: 1,646,165
Arab Ancestry Population: 1,868
Idaho
Total Population: 1,783,539
Arab Ancestry Population: 1,811
Illinois
Total Population: 15,321,190
Arab Ancestry Population: 67,798
Indiana
Total Population: 6,900,040
Arab Ancestry Population: 14,852
Iowa
Total Population: 3,594,237
Arab Ancestry Population: 4,618
Kansas
Total Population: 3,269,584
Arab Ancestry Population: 7,902
Kentucky
Total Population: 4,200,328
Arab Ancestry Population: 9,250
Louisiana
Total Population: 4,709,407
Arab Ancestry Population: 16,267
Maine
Total Population: 1,650,970
Arab Ancestry Population: 3,707
Maryland
Total Population: 6,527,345
Arab Ancestry Population: 24,098
Massachusetts
Total Population: 8,194,080
Arab Ancestry Population: 62,866
Michigan
Total Population: 12,398,010
Arab Ancestry Population: 153,046
Minnesota
Total Population: 6,995,585
Arab Ancestry Population: 19,400
Mississippi
Total Population: 2,869,296
Arab Ancestry Population: 7,094
Missouri
Total Population: 6,711,693
Arab Ancestry Population: 15,760
Montana
Total Population: 1,216,884
Arab Ancestry Population: 1,791
Nebraska
Total Population: 2,256,259
Arab Ancestry Population: 6,489
Nevada
Total Population: 3,024,575
Arab Ancestry Population: 12,604
New Hampshire
Total Population: 1,740,315
Arab Ancestry Population: 7,651
New Jersey
Total Population: 10,613,157
Arab Ancestry Population: 83,420
New Mexico
Total Population: 2,195,651
Arab Ancestry Population: 4,462
New York
Total Population: 23,090,615
Arab Ancestry Population: 148,334
North Carolina
Total Population: 9,425,440
Arab Ancestry Population: 28,128
North Dakota
Total Population: 864,744
Arab Ancestry Population: 1,614
Ohio
Total Population: 13,474,523
Arab Ancestry Population: 66,611
Oklahoma
Total Population: 3,896,481
Arab Ancestry Population: 11,418
Oregon
Total Population: 4,581,857
Arab Ancestry Population: 13,092
Pennsylvania
Total Population: 15,562,297
Arab Ancestry Population: 61,793
Rhode Island
Total Population: 1,382,830
Arab Ancestry Population: 9,241
South Carolina
Total Population: 4,496,758
Arab Ancestry Population: 10,231
South Dakota
Total Population: 1,015,970
Arab Ancestry Population: 1,164
Tennessee
Total Population: 6,146,090
Arab Ancestry Population: 21,791
Texas
Total Population: 25,952,379
Arab Ancestry Population: 86,923
Utah
Total Population 3,161,748
Arab Ancestry Population: 4,517
Vermont
Total Population: 777,103
Arab Ancestry Population: 2,630
Virginia
Total Population: 8,501,686
Arab Ancestry Population: 52,350
Washington
Total Population: 8,080,119
Arab Ancestry Population: 19,312
West Virginia
Total Population: 1,812,704
Arab Ancestry Population: 4,808
Wisconsin
Total Population: 7,367,499
Arab Ancestry Population: 11,010
Wyoming
N/A
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