Quick Demographic Facts for Queens Library Service Areas

Queens is one of the five boroughs (counties) that make up New York City. While communities always change, this �Quick Demographic Facts� sheet tries to capture a snapshot of the most diverse county in the U.S. using the 2006 American Community Survey* (ACS) and other government sources.

The total population estimate is 2,264,661, with 48.5% male and 51.5% female. (2006 Population Estimates) The breakdown of the total population by age is: under 5 years old - 6.6%; 5 to 9 years old - 5.7%; 10-14 years old - 6.4%; 15 to 19 years old - 6.1%; 20-64 years old - 62.1%; and 65 years and over - 13.1%. The median age is 37.5. In terms of race, 98.1% of the people in Queens say they are of one race and 1.9% say they are of two or more races. Of the total population, 30.7% is non-Hispanic White, 26.5% Hispanic, 21.1% is non-Hispanic Asian and 18.3% non- Hispanic Black or African-American. (Chart 1)

Chart 1. Hispanic Origin/Race in Queens, 2006 (11 KB) (Click image to enlarge)

Our foreign-born population comprises 48.5% of our total population, and of that 48.5%, about 49.5% was born in Latin America, 33.5% in Asia, 14.8% in Europe, 1.8% in Africa, 0.4% in North America and 0.03% in Oceania. The Hispanic or Latino population increased 61% between 1990-2006, now accounting for 26.5% of the borough�s total population, for a total of 597,773. Queens has the largest Colombian population in NYC, accounting for 76.6% of the city�s total Colombian population, for a total of 80,116. Queens has the largest Ecuadorian population in NYC, accounting for 62.2% of the city�s total Ecuadorian population, for a total of 101,339. Queens has the largest Peruvian population in NYC, accounting for 69.9% of the city�s total Peruvian population, for a total of 30,825 The Mexican population in Queens has increased 457% to 71,283, the second highest in NYC. Queens has the largest Asian population in NYC (477,390 or 49.6% of the NYC total Asian population). Among the five boroughs, Queens has the largest population of Chinese, Asian Indians, Koreans, Filipinos, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. Chinese: 173,123; 39.8% of the city�s total Chinese population. Asian Indian: 147,525; 64% Asian Indian population. Korean: 65,131; 66.4% of the city�s total Korean population. Filipino: 41,784; 61.3% of the city�s total Filipino population. Bangladeshi: 13,470; 55.1% of the city�s total Bangladeshi population. Pakistani: 10,884; 39.5% of the city�s total Pakistani population. Concerning language spoken at home, 55.6% of the population 5 years and over speaks a language other than English at home. This is a 45.4% increase over 1990 and an 90% increase over 1980. (Census 1980, 1990, and 2006 ACS). (Chart 2)

Chart 2. Languages Spoken at Home in Queens, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2006 (9 KB) (Click image to enlarge)

Chart 3. Major Immigrant Languages Spoken at Home in Queens, 1990 and 2000 (18 KB) (Click image to enlarge)

Among the 5 boroughs in New York City, Queens has the highest number of residents who consider themselves as speaking English less than �very well.� This accounts for approximately 29.4% of the population 5 years and over. Of that 29.4%, 28.4% speak an Asian or Pacific Island language, 25.8% speak an Indo-European language (other than Spanish), and 43.4% speak Spanish. (Charts 4)

Chart 4. Language Spoken at Home by Ability to Speak English for the Population 5 years and over in Queens, 2006 (11 KB) (Click image to enlarge) Among the children in our public schools, about 140 different languages are spoken in addition to English [Office of English Language Learners, New York City Department of Education (2001-2002 figure)]. Median Household Income: $51,190. Below the Poverty Level: 271,980 persons (12%) or 52,124 families (10%).

For more information, please visit the Queens Library�s web site at: http://www.queenslibrary.org/index.aspx?section_id=5&page;_id=98

  *The American Community Survey (ACS) is a Census Bureau nationwide survey designed to provide annual updates on demographic, socio-economic and housing information for America�s communities. All estimates from the ACS are subject to both sampling and non-sampling error.