American Indians By the Numbers

Find out how many American Indians live in the United States, where they live, the languages they speak, and more.

From the U.S. Census Bureau

by U.S. Census Bureau

Population

5.1 million

As of the 2011 American Community Survey, the nation's population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one race. They made up 1.6 percent of the total population. Of this total, about half were American Indian and Alaska Native only, and about half were American Indian and Alaska Native in combination with one or more other races.

8.6 million

The projected population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one race, on July 1, 2050. They would comprise 2 percent of the total population.

1.1 million

Increase in the nation's American Indian and Alaska Native population between the 2000 Census and 2010 Census. The population of this group increased by 26.7 percent during this period compared with the overall population growth of 9.7 percent.

689,320

The American Indian and Alaska Native population in California as of the 2011 American Community Survey. California was followed by Oklahoma (502,934) and Arizona (346,380).

14

Number of states with more than 100,000 American Indian and Alaska Native residents as of the 2011 American Community Survey. These states were California, Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Washington, North Carolina, New York, Florida, Michigan, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Minnesota.

19.7%

The proportion of Alaska's population identified as American Indian and Alaska Native as of the 2011 American Community Survey, the highest rate for this race group of any state. Alaska was followed by Oklahoma (13.3 percent), South Dakota (10.4 percent), and New Mexico (10.4 percent).

31.3

Median age for those who are American Indian and Alaska Native, and no other race. This compares with a median age of 37.3 for the U.S. population as a whole.

Reservations

324

Number of federally recognized American Indian reservations in 2010. All in all, excluding Hawaiian Home Lands, there are 617 American Indian and Alaska Native legal and statistical areas for which the Census Bureau provides statistics.

22%

Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives, alone or in combination, who lived in American Indian areas or Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas in 2010. These American Indian areas include federal American Indian reservations and/or off-reservation trust lands, Oklahoma tribal statistical areas, tribal designated statistical areas, state American Indian reservations, and state designated American Indian statistical areas.

Tribes

566

Number of federally recognized Indian tribes.

100,000+

In the 2010 Census, the tribal groupings with 100,000 or more responses for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone-or-in-any combination population were Cherokee (819,105), Navajo (332,129), Choctaw (195,764), Mexican American Indian (175,494), Chippewa (170,742), Sioux (170,110), Apache (111,810) and Blackfeet (105,304).

Families

557,425

The number of American Indian and Alaska Native family households in 2011 (households with a householder who was American Indian and Alaska Native alone). Of these, 56.6 percent were married-couple families, including those with children.

29.3 and 27.7

Median age at first marriage for American Indian and Alaska Native men and women age 15 to 54, respectively, in 2011. For the U.S. population as a whole in this age range, the respective numbers were 28.9 and 26.9 years. The differences in the median age at first marriage between American Indian and Alaska Native women and women overall, and between American Indian and Alaska Native men and men overall, were not statistically significant. These statistics include only the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population 15 to 54 years.

Housing

54%

The percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native alone householders who owned their own home in 2011. This is compared with 65 percent of the overall population.

12.4 million

Number of veterans who voted in the 2010 congressional election. Fifty-seven percent of veterans voted in the 2010 congressional election.

Languages

27%

Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives alone 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home, compared with 20.8 percent for the nation as a whole.

68%

Percentage of residents of the Navajo Nation Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, Ariz.-N.M.-Utah, age 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home.

Education

78.9%

Among American Indians and Alaska Natives alone 25 and older who have a bachelor's degree or higher, the percentage whose bachelor's degree is in science and engineering, or science and engineering- related fields in 2011. This compares with 44 percent for all people 25 and older with this level of education.

65,356

Number of American Indians and Alaska Natives alone 25 and older who had a graduate or professional degree in 2011.

Businesses

$34.4 billion

Receipts for American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses in 2007, a 28.0 percent increase from 2002. These businesses numbered 236,967, up 17.7 percent from 2002.

45,629

Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms in California in 2007, which led the states. Oklahoma and Texas followed. Among the firms in California, 17,634 were in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana metro area, which led all metro areas nationwide.

23,704

Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms that had paid employees in 2007. These businesses employed 184,416 people.

30.5%

Percent of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms that operated in construction; and repair, maintenance, personal and laundry services in 2007.

52.9%

Percent of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned business receipts accounted for by construction, retail trade and wholesale trade in 2007.

4,599

Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms with receipts of $1 million or more in 2007.

162

Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms with 100 or more employees in 2007.

Jobs

26.2%

The percentage of civilian-employed American Indian and Alaska Native alone people 16 and older who worked in management, business, science and arts occupations in 2011. In addition, 24.8 percent worked in service occupations and 22.8 percent in sales and office occupations.

Veterans

153,223

The number of American Indian and Alaska Native alone veterans of the U.S. armed forces in 2010.

Income and Poverty

$35,192

The median income of American Indian and Alaska Native alone households in 2011. This compares with $50,502 for the nation as a whole.

Health Insurance

27.6%

The percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives alone who lacked health insurance coverage in 2011. For the nation as a whole, the corresponding percentage was 15.1 percent.