Arab Americans

Demographics

This diversity in origin, religion, language, and the like, serves to account for the respective variety of [Page 986]demographics within the Arab American population in the United States.

The 2000 U.S. Census was the first opportunity for selected respondents to indicate their affiliation with ethnic groups. Among all self-identified Arab Americans surveyed, 39% indicated Lebanese ancestry, 18% Arab, 12% Egyptian and Syrian ancestries, and smaller groups of Palestinians, Moroccans, Iraqis, and those signifying “other Arab.”

Most metropolitan cities have sizeable Arab populations, with some identifiable community center, such as a church or mosque, community center, or even restaurant. Larger established Arab American communities, rich in Arab heritage and traditions, can be found in New York, Dearborn (Michigan), Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Detroit, San Diego, Jersey City, Boston, and Jacksonville (Florida). States with the largest populations of Arab Americans are California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Although the U.S. Census numbers the Arab American community in the United States at just over 1 million, most Arab American advocacy groups consistently estimate the population to be over 3 million. These groups attribute the Census Bureau's undercount of Arab Americans, like for that of other ethnic groups, to problems in the methodological procedures of the census, particularly pertaining to the study of ethnic minority populations. Census data identify a 40% increase in Arab Americans over the decade of 1990 to 2000. The Arab American Institute (AAI), one of the leading national advocacy groups within the Arab American community, works closely with the U.S. Census Bureau, as well as conducting its own independent census and cultural research. Many of the statistics cited in this entry are taken from either U.S. Census Bureau data or AAI's Internet and written resources.

Contrary to the stereotype of Arab Americans as being Muslim, the majority are actually non-Muslim. Approximately 42% of Arab Americans are Catholic, representing Roman, Maronite, and Melkite (Greek) traditions; 23% are Orthodox, including Antiochian, Syrian, Greek, and Coptic faiths. Twenty-three percent of the Arab Americans who are Muslim represent Sunni, Shi'a, and Druze traditions.

Compared with other ethnic groups, the Arab American population comprises more younger and foreign-born individuals, as well as being somewhat more educated. According to AAI, 85% have high school diplomas, over 40% have at least a bachelor's degree (compared with the national average of 24%), and 17% have postgraduate degrees (compared with 9% of U.S. citizens).

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