9 Numbers That Explain How Americans View Sikhs

With more than 150 years of history in the United States, Sikh Americans are still highly misunderstood.

Regularly subjected to discrimination and occasionally even the targets of hate crimes, Sikhs number between 200,000 and 500,000 in the U.S., according to AP. There are an estimated 25 million Sikhs worldwide, making their tradition one of the largest organized religions on the globe.

Sikhism is a monotheistic faith that teaches equality, honesty and the importance of good acts over rituals, among many other beliefs. However, Sikh Americans have become the targets of hate and violence, especially in the years following the Sept. 11.

The increase in percentage points who report “warm” feeling toward Sikh Americans after taking the survey.

The increase in percentage points of women who believe Sikh Americans hold American values after taking the survey. Americans age 65 and older also increased in that category by 45 percentage points.

The Huffington Post