We surveyed 1,778 U.S. adults across the country to uncover the most pressing issues AAPIs are facing today.
Now in its sixth year, the landmark survey finds Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) navigating an anxious new reality, confronting federal crackdowns on immigration and DEI, escalating trade tensions, and persistent questions about who belongs in America.
It also offers granular analysis of how public knowledge of—and opinion on—the country’s most ethnically diverse communities is actively shaped by longstanding stereotypes, deep-seated misperceptions, and ongoing gaps between policy and lived experiences.
Half of the American public ties “true” American identity to birthplace, but most AAPIs reject that definition, and are more likely than other groups to decouple American identity from being white or Christian. Yet even as AAPIs push back on narrow definitions of belonging, others tend to place them near the top of the social ladder—a perception that sits in tension with the worry, harassment, and exclusion many AAPIs report in their daily lives.
% of American public that says being born in the U.S. is important or unimportant for being “truly American,” by racial and ethnic group
Somewhat or very important
Not at all or not very important
Note: Those who did not answer are not shown.
From immigration enforcement to tariffs, federal policy has always shaped the lives of AAPI communities, but this year’s data reveals a significant disconnect. While less than half of all U.S. adults see recent federal actions as harmful to Asian Americans, a majority of AAPIs say otherwise.
% of all U.S. adults vs. AAPIs who describe the impact of the following federal policies as somewhat or very harmful to Asian American communities
All U.S. adults
AAPIs
% of U.S. adults who express support for DEI programs, by racial and ethnic group
Strongly/somewhat support
Neither support nor oppose
Somewhat/strongly oppose
Note: Those who did not answer are not shown.
While most of the American public doesn’t view Chinese Americans as a threat, a significant minority does, and its views are concentrated around national security and job market competition. But when the public is presented with arguments on both sides of the political spectrum, support for restrictive policies changes significantly.
% of concerned U.S. adults who cite each area as a reason for their concern about Chinese Americans
AAPIs shape American life in ways that are increasingly hard to ignore—in kitchens, on screens, and across online spaces. Yet formal recognition hasn’t kept pace. About half of U.S. adults still say AAPIs have little or no cultural influence, and nearly half can’t name a famous Asian American. The gap between contribution and credit remains wide.
Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. adults say AAPIs have gained cultural influence in the last five years. AAPIs themselves are even more likely to feel it: Half say their own community has grown in influence. Younger adults (18-24) are more likely than older ones (50+) to recognize that shift. The needle may be moving, but hasn’t moved far enough yet.
Years after the pandemic-era surge in anti-Asian violence, the data shows safety concerns are still present realities. Like other groups of color, too many AAPIs still experience adverse treatment based on their race or ethnicity.
Share of U.S. adults who report experiencing the following types of race-based incidents at least once in the last 12 months, by racial and ethnic group
The barriers to understanding aren’t just about bias—they’re also about awareness. Most of the American public lacks relationships with Asian Americans, and more than half can’t name a single significant moment in Asian American history. But the data also points to something hopeful: Americans are open to engagement.
Share of U.S. adults who say they would support or engage in each proposed way of uplifting AAPI communities
Engagement also happens out in the community. When asked what would encourage them to visit ethnic neighborhoods like Chinatowns, Little Indias, Koreatowns, and Little Saigons more often, Americans point to practical draws: More events and local business promotion (40%), new and interesting businesses (32%), and more affordable offerings (28%).
The STAATUS Index is advised by our esteemed Academic Advisory Committee (AAC).
Development of the STAATUS Index 2026 was led by Sruthi Chandrasekaran (Director of Data and Research), Matt Kamibayashi (Data and Research Manager), and Lena Pham (Database and Research Specialist) at TAAF.
Norman Chen (Chief Executive Officer) and Georgette Bhathena (Chief Programs Officer) provided key guidance and support, along with other members of TAAF’s Partnerships Programs, and Data & Research teams.
Members of TAAF’s Communications team provided leadership and support on report design and copy, including Joy Moh (Head of Communications and Marketing), Andrew Peng (Deputy Director of Communications), Polly Fong (Deputy Director of Brand and Creative), Noho Monarch (Graphic Designer), Lakshmi Hutchinson (Content Writer), and Sonia Ching (Deputy Director, Marketing).
We are also grateful to the following groups/individuals for the critical roles they played in the implementation of this year’s study:
