SAN DIEGO — A groundbreaking new report from the San Diego Foundation is shedding light on the diverse needs and experiences of San Diego County’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, revealing both significant achievements and concerning disparities.

The “State of San Diego – Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders Report” provides the most comprehensive look yet at the region’s AANHPI population, which has grown 20% since 2020 and now represents 16.2% of the county’s residents – making it the 7th largest AANHPI community in the nation.

“This is new, we didn’t find any other research like this that we could depend upon, so we reached out to our San Diego Policy and Innovation Center to be able to do this good work,” Mark Stuart, the President and CEO of the San Diego Foundation said.

The report identifies 67 distinct dialects spoken within the local AANHPI community, highlighting what researchers call a “rich cultural mosaic.”

However, the data also reveals significant economic and educational disparities between different ethnic groups. For instance, while nearly 94% of Asian Indians hold at least a bachelor’s degree, just over 10% of other Pacific Islanders have achieved the same level of education. Similar disparities exist in income levels, with Asian Indian households earning a median income of $117,000 – nearly triple that of Cambodian households.

Housing presents another stark contrast. 

“Three out of four Thai families own their home, but among other Pacific Islander families, only one in seven own a home,” Stuart said.

The report also highlighted some notable successes. AANHPI-owned businesses comprise 13% of all regional businesses, generating nearly $5 billion in economic activity and creating 90,000 jobs in 2022 alone.

Perhaps most concerning, the report revealed a significant mental health crisis among AANHPI youth. “For young folks, ages 15 to 24 across the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community, suicide rates are the highest. This is the number one cause of death for our young folks,” explained Amenah Gulamhusein, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at the San Diego Foundation.

The crisis may be exacerbated by discrimination – one in three community members reported being called a racial or ethnic slur in the past year. “Pressure is one [factor], but identity is another. A lot of young folks are experiencing Asian hate and discrimination,” Gulamhusein added.

In response to these findings, the San Diego Foundation has created a 12-person Community Advisory Council to identify the greatest needs and direct investments from their newly created AANHPI Fund, which was established with a $2.5 million endowment. The foundation plans to award $500,000 in grants to AANHPI nonprofits this year. They welcome corporate donors and are matching donations as of the publication of this story.

“We’ve seen collaboration happening, communication happening about not only the data but what can we do together to make this a better place for our young folks and a better place for our elders,” said Gulamhusein.

Looking ahead, researchers project that by 2030, Asians will represent the largest foreign-born population in San Diego. This demographic shift, combined with the report’s findings, underscores the importance of addressing both the successes and challenges within these diverse communities.

“It really points out that each one of these communities is very different in terms of the ways that they’re excelling and the ways that they’re still hurting today,” Stuart said. “Now we have this information, we have a road map to be able to figure out where can we do the best good to help support the community.”

To view the complete report, which spans over 100 pages, click here.