Top U.S. States and Cities with the Largest Korean Communities
Overview — Size & Growth of the Korean American Community
Korean Americans are people in the United States who have origins in Korea or Korean ancestry. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, approximately 1.96 million people (0.59% of the U.S. population) identified as Korean American, making them the fifth-largest Asian ethnic group in the country (after Chinese, Indian, Filipino, and Vietnamese Americans).
As per the Census 2020 data, the Korean alone population is 1,445,315, while the Korean alone or in any combination population is 1,962,184. The estimated Korean American population in 2026 is approximately 2.0 million.
Insight: The Korean American population has shown steady but slower growth in recent years, driven mainly by U.S.-born second-generation families rather than new immigration.
Korean American Population Growth
| Year | Population |
| 2000 | 1,228,000 |
| 2010 | 1,707,000 |
| 2015 | 1,822,000 |
| 2020 | 1,962,184 |
Insight: The largest increase occurred between 2000 and 2010, followed by moderate growth as migration levels stabilized.
also read about Asian Americans
Korean Population by U.S. State
Korean Americans make up 0.59% of the U.S. population. California has the largest Korean American population, followed by New York, Texas, and New Jersey. Hawaii has the highest concentration of Korean Americans relative to its state population.
Let’s have a look at the Top States with Korean Population
| # | State | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 558,338 |
| 2 | New York | 141,745 |
| 3 | Texas | 115,107 |
| 4 | New Jersey | 113,736 |
| 5 | Virginia | 94,275 |
| 6 | Washington | 92,798 |
| 7 | Illinois | 81,340 |
| 8 | Georgia | 75,525 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 57,487 |
| 10 | Maryland | 48,468 |
| – | Other States | 509,870 |
| – | United States Total | 1,962,184 |
Insight: Korean communities are heavily concentrated in coastal metro areas and tech-economy states, reflecting migration, employment, and business patterns.
Top U.S. Metro Areas with the Largest Korean Populations
The Los Angeles metro area has the largest Korean American population, followed by New York and Washington, D.C.
Let’s have a look at the top 10 US metro areas by the Korean population
| # | Metro area | Korean population |
| 1 | Los Angeles | 326,000 |
| 2 | New York | 220,000 |
| 3 | Washington | 96,000 |
| 4 | Seattle | 67,000 |
| 5 | Chicago | 62,000 |
| 6 | San Francisco | 60,000 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 51,000 |
| 8 | Philadelphia | 42,000 |
| 9 | Dallas | 41,000 |
| 10 | San Jose, CA | 36,000 |
Insight: Major Korean enclaves such as Los Angeles Koreatown, Fort Lee (NJ), and Annandale (VA) serve as cultural and economic hubs for Korean American communities.
Source: US Census 2019
FAQs
Q. How many Koreans live in the United States in 2026?
As of 2025, the estimated Korean population in the United States is around 2 million, based on U.S. Census and ACS trend data.
Q. Which U.S. state has the largest Korean population?
California has the largest Korean American population, followed by New York, Texas, New Jersey, and Virginia.
Q. Which U.S. city or metro area has the biggest Korean community?
The Los Angeles metro area has the largest Korean population in the U.S., followed by New York and Washington DC.
Q. Are Korean Americans one of the major Asian groups in the U.S.?
Yes. Korean Americans are the 5th-largest Asian-origin group in the United States.
Q. Is the Korean American population increasing?
Growth is steady but slower than earlier decades, with most increase coming from U.S.-born second-generation Koreans.
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