About 1.2 million individuals in the United States report Greek ancestry, according to recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) (2024 5-Year Estimates).

 Approximately 494,000 individuals report single Greek ancestry, while about 709,000 report Greek ancestry in combination with other origins. Because ancestry is self-reported and multiple responses are allowed, totals may vary slightly across years. Also see “Greek Ancestry Population by Reporting Category.”

In U.S. Census Bureau data, “Greek ancestry” refers to individuals who self-identify as having Greek ethnic origin or descent in response to the ancestry question.

 Ancestry reflects cultural or familial background rather than citizenship or place of birth. Respondents may report multiple ancestries, and responses are voluntary and self-defined.

No. The U.S. Census Bureau distinguishes between ancestry and place of birth.

• Place of birth refers to individuals born in Greece (approximately 114,913 people in recent American Community Survey estimates).

• Ancestry refers to individuals who report Greek ethnic origin or descent, regardless of where they were born.

• Language spoken at home measures current use of the Greek language in the household.

These measures capture different dimensions of identity, migration history, and assimilation.

According to U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Survey (ACS) data, Greek Americans live throughout the United States but are concentrated in specific states and metropolitan areas.

States with historically large Greek-ancestry populations include New York, Florida, Illinois, California, and Massachusetts. County- and metropolitan-level concentrations often reflect historical immigration networks and urban settlement patterns.

The largest wave of immigration from Greece to the United States occurred between approximately 1890 and 1924, during the era of mass European migration.

Immigration declined sharply after federal immigration restrictions in the 1920s and resumed at lower levels following World War II and U.S. immigration law reforms in 1965.

The share of individuals who speak Greek at home has declined over time, according to U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Survey (ACS) language data.

Language retention remains higher among foreign-born individuals than among U.S.-born descendants, reflecting generational assimilation patterns. For a detailed analysis, see Patterns of Greek Language Use Among Greek Americans, 1980–2023.

The American Community Survey (ACS), conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, asks whether a person age five or older speaks a language other than English at home. If the answer is yes, respondents specify the language spoken.

These responses allow researchers to estimate how many individuals speak Greek at home and to track changes in language use over time.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) provides detailed socioeconomic data on individuals reporting Greek ancestry in the United States, including:

• Educational attainment

• Household income

• Poverty status

• Employment and occupation

• Housing characteristics

These variables allow researchers to analyze patterns of socioeconomic attainment, inequality, and demographic variation within the Greek-ancestry population.

In some metropolitan areas, early Greek immigration led to neighborhood clustering and the formation of ethnic communities. Today, however, Greek Americans are more broadly dispersed across metropolitan regions and suburban communities.

Patterns of residential concentration vary by region and reflect long-term demographic change, suburbanization, and socioeconomic mobility.

Most contemporary estimates come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), which is based on a large, nationally representative sample rather than a full population count.

ACS estimates include margins of error, and smaller geographic areas may have higher statistical uncertainty. Multi-year (5-year) ACS estimates are generally more stable and reliable than single-year estimates.