MC Library is proud to join in the celebration of the achievements and contributions of Arab Americans throughout history. This guide is dedicated to Arab American Heritage. Here, you will learn about Arab American history, stories, and receive several book and video recommendations. You will also find helpful research databases and resources from MC, as well as local, and national sources, all dedicated to Arab American Heritage.
Arab Americans are found in all 50 states, with approximately 95% residing in metropolitan areas, especially in:
The majority of Arab Americans are native born with 85% being U.S. citizens. The community has roots in various Arab countries, mainly Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Iraq.
Based on responses to the ancestry question on the American Community Survey (ACS), Arab Americans primarily identify as Lebanese, Syrian, Egyptian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Palestinian, Moroccan, and Arab or Arabic.
Countries grouped as "Other Arab" include Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Arab Americans can belong to any racial group, and the Arab American Institute includes Afro-Arabs and communities from Arabic-speaking countries like Comoros and Somalia, as well as Assyrians and Chaldeans who aren't categorized as Arab in the ACS data.
Americans who identify as having Arab ancestry has almost quadrupled since the Census Bureau first started recording ethnic origin in 1980, making Arab Americans one of the fastest-growing Arab diaspora populations globally.
Between 2010 and 2022, the Arab American population increased by nearly 30%.
This graph details the largest number of new Arab immigrants to the United states between 2010 and 2022 from the following five countries:
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