Office of Community Partnerships

Arab American Community

Population

• There are 1,275,641 Arab Americans in the United States according to the 2000 U.S. Census (latest data available). Arab Americans live in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. - and more than 90% reside in the metropolitan areas of major cities.
• According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 45% of the Arab American population - 576,000 - reside in California, Michigan, New York, Florida and New Jersey.
• Based on 1980 and 1990 Census data, the estimated Arab American population in the State of Maryland is 26,542 in 2000, and the population is projected to reach 43,494 in 2010. Arab Americans in Maryland accounts for roughly 2% of all Arab Americans in the United States.

Religion

While the majority of the population of the Arab World consists of those adherent to the Muslim faith; contrary to popular belief, two-thirds of Arab Americans are in fact Christians, and only a quarter are Muslims. (Source: The Arab American Institute).

Racial Status

Arab Americans in the United States are officially classified as White Americans by government agencies, including the U.S. Census Bureau.

Educational Attainment

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Eighty-five percent of Arab Americans have at least a high school diploma. More than 40% Americans of Arab decent have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 24% of Americans at large. Seventeen percent of Arab Americans have a post-graduate degree, which is nearly twice the American average (9%).

The Arab League

The twenty-two countries of the Arab League include: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Kuwait, Algeria, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, U.A.E., Mauritania, Somalia, Palestine, Djibouti and Comoros.

Various Contributions

• Some Arab Americans work in our nation’s capital, like veteran Congressmen Nick Joe Rahall II (West Virginia), Ray LaHood (Illinois) who is now Secretary of Transportation in the Obama Administration, Charles Boustany (Louisiana), Darrell Issa (California), Senator John E. Sununu (New Hampshire) and former Congressman John Baldacci who is now the Governor of Maine.
• One of America’s most famous pioneers is Houston surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey, who invented the heart pump, is an Arab American.
• Arab Americans also have made significant contributions to the art world. America’s most honored woodworker, Sam Maloof is an award-winning artisan whose creations have appeared in the White House, the Smithsonian Institution, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Vatican, and other renowned exhibit halls.
• Elie Samaha is chairman and owner of Franchise Pictures, which produced such films as “The Heist,” “Angel Eyes,” “The Whole Nine Yards,” and “Battlefield Earth.” Academy Award-winning film producer Ronald Schwary is best known for his work with “Tootsie,” “Meet Joe Black,” and “Scent of a Woman.” Jehane Noujaim co-directed and co-produced “Startup.com” and in 2004 directed “Control Room”. (Source: The Arab American Institute).

Resources

• Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University: www.ccas.georgetown.edu
• Washington Report on Middle East Affairs: www.wrmea.com
• Arab American Institute (AAI): http://www.aaiusa.org/
• Arab-American Anti Discrimination Committee: www.adc.org
• Middle East Report: http://www.merip.org/mero/mero.html
• Washington Report on the Middle East: http://www.washington-report.org/
• Center for Islamic Education: www.IslamicWeekendSchool.org