Where are the Wasians? Source: census data
What the research says about growing up wasian in America.
Wasian children scored higher in math and reading in kindergarten than both monoracial White and Asian peers in this study. Part of this is explained by the fact that their parents tend to be more educated and wealthier. However, even when parent education, income, and occupation prestige were the same, Wasians outperformed Whites and Asians. It is surprising that Wasians score above both groups, because mixed Black/White and White/Latinx people scored between their groups' averages.
The White+Asian population reached 2.7 million in the 2020 Census, making it the 4th largest multiracial combination in the U.S. The White+Asian adult population grew 87% between 2000 and 2010 alone.
In a nationally representative Pew survey, 58% of White+Asian biracial adults said their mixed-race background has been mainly an advantage in life. Compare that to 25% of White-Black, 14% of White-Native American, and 10% of Black-Native American biracial adults.
Asian-White couples had a divorce rate of ~8.4%, compared to ~10% for White-White couples and ~1.4% for Asian-Asian couples. That makes Asian-White couples 23–27% less likely to divorce than same-race White couples, contradicting the assumption that interracial marriages are less stable.
A UC Davis study found that 34% of biracial Asian Americans had been diagnosed with a psychological disorder (anxiety, depression, or substance abuse), compared to 17% of monoracial Asian Americans — even after controlling for age, gender, and life stress.
An award-winning 2024 study found that wasians stand in solidarity more strongly with Asian people than White people, even when they believe they physically look White. However, monoracial Asian people incorrectly assume that White-passing multiracial individuals side more with White people.
A 2024 study found that biracial Asian-Caucasian faces were rated more trustworthy, attractive, intelligent, healthy, and career-promising than monoracial faces by both American and Chinese participants.
Pew Research Center found that White-Asian biracial adults lean heavily toward their White social networks: 44% say all or most of their close friends are White, compared to just 7% who say the same about Asian friends. They also feel more accepted by White people (62%) than by Asian people (47%), and 61% report a lot of contact with White relatives versus 42% with Asian relatives.
How Wasians compare to White and Asian Americans across key metrics.
Key moments in the story of White-Asian families in America.
As Chinese immigration surged during the Gold Rush, western states like California passed anti-miscegenation laws specifically banning marriages between White and Asian people. These laws made interracial relationships illegal and drove mixed couples underground.
The first major US law restricting immigration by nationality barred nearly all Chinese immigration for over 60 years. By blocking new arrivals — especially women — the law made it nearly impossible for Chinese men already in America to form families, whether with Chinese or White partners.
WikipediaAfter WWII and the Korean War, thousands of Asian women married American servicemen and immigrated to the US under the War Brides Act of 1945. These families were among the first large wave of White-Asian couples in America, often facing discrimination from both communities.
California became the first state to strike down its anti-miscegenation law through the courts. The case involved a Mexican-American and African-American couple, but the ruling also legalized White-Asian marriages in the state — nearly two decades before the rest of the country.
WikipediaThe Hart-Celler Act abolished the racist national-origins quota system and opened US immigration to Asia on a large scale for the first time in decades.
WikipediaThe Supreme Court unanimously struck down all remaining state laws banning interracial marriage, ruling them unconstitutional. Before this decision, White-Asian couples in many states could not legally marry. The ruling opened the door for a dramatic rise in interracial families across the country.
WikipediaFor the first time, the US Census allowed respondents to select more than one race. This was a landmark moment for multiracial Americans — including Wasians — to be officially counted and recognized. Nearly 6.8 million people identified as multiracial in that first count.
Census 2000 BriefThe multiracial population grew by 276% between the 2010 and 2020 censuses — the fastest-growing demographic group in America. White-Asian was consistently one of the most common multiracial combinations reported, reflecting decades of rising intermarriage rates.
The "Wasian Check" trend went viral on TikTok, with mixed White-Asian creators proudly sharing their heritage. The trend helped build a visible online community and sparked broader conversations about mixed-race identity, belonging, and the unique experience of growing up Wasian.