The Federation, a nonprofit leadership organization, released the population portrait as part of a series of profiles prepared by its Census Information Center (CIC), a source of census data and analysis established in cooperation with the U.S. Census Bureau. The profile is available on the CIC�s Web site at www.aafny.org/cic/.

To raise awareness and stimulate discussion, the Federation will hold a community briefing on its Indian American profile Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 6 to 7 p.m. on the lower level of the Queens Borough Public Library - Flushing Branch, at 41-17 Main St. in Flushing. Media are welcome.

"The significant size, remarkable growth and recent immigration that distinguish New York City�s Indian American population call for increased attention to the economic opportunities and quality-of-life concerns of this group, particularly in the communities where Indian Americans live," said Cao K. O, executive director of the Asian American Federation. "The Federation is committed to promoting dialogue and fostering partnerships to address these needs."

Key profile facts include the following (referring to 2000 census data unless stated otherwise):

• Nearly 1 in 4 Asian American New Yorkers (24 percent) were Indian American.
• From 1990 to 2000, New York City�s Indian American population climbed by 118 percent, from 94,590 to 206,228 - surpassing a 71 percent increase in the city�s total Asian American population.
• More than three-quarters (77 percent, or 157,140) of Indian Americans in New York City were immigrants - compared with 36 percent of all city residents. Of the city�s Indian immigrants, 52 percent came to the United States in the last decade, and 87 percent arrived in this country in the 20 years preceding Census 2000.
• The majority (63 percent, or 129,715) of Indian American New Yorkers lived in Queens. Brooklyn was home to 16 percent (32,498), followed by the Bronx, with 9 percent (19,305); Manhattan, with 9 percent (17,592); and Staten Island, with 3 percent (7,118).
• Working-age adults (age 18 to 64) comprised the bulk (71 percent, or 143,909) of New York City�s Indian American population, while about one-fourth (26 percent, or 51,950) were children and 4 percent (7,787) were senior citizens.
• Almost 1 in 5 Indian American New Yorkers (18 percent, or 35,666) lived below the poverty line. Poverty was more common among children and senior citizens, 23 percent and 20 percent of whom were poor, respectively.
• The average household size for Indian Americans in New York City was 3.41 people - much larger than the city-wide average of 2.59 people per household.
• Slightly more than half (51 percent) of Indian American adults in the city had a post- secondary education. At the other end of the academic spectrum, more than one-fourth (27 percent) of Indian American adults had not graduated from high school and 13 percent had not completed ninth grade.

The Asian American Federation of New York is a nonprofit leadership organization that works collaboratively to meet the critical needs of Asian Americans in the New York metropolitan area. Operating since 1990, the Federation strengthens community-based health and social services capacity by supporting its 35 member agencies and other grassroots organizations; amplifies the Asian American civic voice by defining, analyzing, and advocating for policies to address key community issues; and encourages strategic, high-impact philanthropy within the Asian American community by increasing opportunities for connecting time, talent and financial resources with pressing community needs. For more information, visit www.aafny.org or call 212-344-5878.

The U.S. Census Bureau selected the Federation to operate the only Census Information Center (CIC) in the New York metropolitan area focused on serving the Asian American community. Established in 2000, the Federation�s CIC provides census information, conducts data and policy analysis, and encourages census participation. The CIC is publishing a series of neighborhood, population and issue profiles to increase understanding of the rapidly growing and diverse Asian American community in the New York metropolitan area. The Citigroup Foundation and the C.J. Huang Foundation have provided funding to support the profile series.

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Download the Indian American Profile (PDF 561kb)