Nearly half of California’s Asian Americans faced anti-Asian hate in 2024: survey

Nearly half of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults in California reported experiencing a hate act in 2024, according to new survey data released by Stop AAPI Hate and NORC at the University of Chicago.

The January 2025 survey found that 48% of AA/PI adults reported being targeted because of their race, ethnicity or nationality last year. The rate showed little change from 2023, confirming that anti-AAPI hate remains persistently high across the state.

The survey identified a broad range of hate incidents taking place in online spaces, public areas and businesses. Experiences included harassment, institutional discrimination, physical harm and property damage. Among those who experienced hate, four in 10 reported negative impacts on their health, and nearly as many said their sense of belonging in their communities was harmed. Despite the widespread nature of these incidents, 72% of AAPI adults who experienced hate did not report the incident to any formal authority.

Participants most often cited a belief that the incident was not serious enough, skepticism that reporting would lead to change, and concerns about the time and effort required as reasons for not reporting. The survey found that half of those who dismissed the seriousness of their experience may have faced a potential hate crime or civil rights violation. In addition, four in 10 AAPI adults who experienced hate said they needed support but did not receive it, while 61% of those who accessed some help felt their needs were not fully met.

“As we witness the dangerous rollback of our rights and deepening federal cuts to public safety funding, California’s leaders have both a responsibility and opportunity to take a firm stance against Trump’s attacks on our communities’ safety, dignity and belonging in this country we call home,” said Cynthia Choi, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate. She emphasized that the report’s recommendations “provide a clear roadmap for action from advancing legislation investing in state programs that promote safe and inclusive environments for AAPI communities.”