Summary of Vanishing into Visibility

## Introduction Native Americans — Demographics & Economics presents contemporary population, settlement, health, income, education, employment, natural-resource holdings, and tribal gaming data. This guide breaks the figures and trends into digestible sections with clear examples and practical context for easier study. > Definition: "American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN)" refers to people who identify on the U.S. Census as having American Indian or Alaska Native heritage, either alone or in combination with other races. ## Population size and growth ### National counts - 2020 U.S. Census: **9.7 million** people reported as AI/AN alone or in combination (about **2.9%** of the U.S. population). - 2010 Census: **5.2 million** (1.7%). - 1910 Census: **291,014** (0.3%). Did you know that the AI/AN population reported on the census rose sharply between 2010 and 2020 partly due to changes in self-identification and multiracial reporting? ### Alone vs. in combination - AI/AN alone (2020): about **3.7 million**. - AI/AN in combination with other races (2020): about **5.9 million**. > Definition: "Alone" means respondents identified only as AI/AN. "In combination" means respondents reported AI/AN plus one or more other races. ## Geographic distribution ### States with highest AI/AN share (2020) - Alaska: 14.8% - New Mexico: 8.9% - South Dakota: 8.4% - Oklahoma: 7.9% - Montana: 6.0% - North Dakota: 4.8% - Arizona: 3.7% ### Reservation vs non-reservation residence - Only about **22%** of AI/AN people live on reservations or other Indian lands today; in 1900 it was over **95%**. The term "Indian Country" broadly denotes areas with sizeable Native communities. Table: Ten most populous reservations (2010) | Reservation | Native American Population | | --- | --- | | Navajo Nation Reservation (AZ-NM-UT) | 169,321 | | Pine Ridge Reservation (SD-NE) | 16,906 | | Fort Apache Reservation (AZ) | 13,014 | | Gila River Reservation (AZ) | 11,712 | | Osage Reservation (OK) | 9,920 | | San Carlos Reservation (AZ) | 9,901 | | Rosebud Reservation (SD) | 9,809 | | Tohono O’odham Nation (AZ) | 9,278 | | Blackfeet Reservation (MT) | 9,149 | | Flathead Reservation (MT) | 9,138 | ### Cities with largest AI/AN populations (2010) - New York, NY: 111,749 - Los Angeles, CA: 54,236 - Phoenix, AZ: 43,724 - Oklahoma City, OK: 36,572 - Anchorage, AK: 36,062 ### Cities with highest AI/AN share - Anchorage, AK: 12.4% - Tulsa, OK: 9.2% - Norman, OK: 8.1% - Oklahoma City, OK: 6.3% - Billings, MT: 6.0% Fun fact: Many Native Americans live in large metropolitan areas; New York City has the single largest number of residents who identify as AI/AN. ## Tribal counts and recognition - As of 2020: **574 federally recognized tribes** and more than **200 unrecognized tribes** (55 state-recognized across 13 states). - Ten largest tribes by 2010 census membership include Cherokee (819,105), Navajo (332,129), Choctaw (195,764), Chippewa (170,742), Sioux (170,110), Apache (111,810), Blackfeet (105,304), Iroquois (81,002), Lumbee (73,169, not federally recognized), Inupiat + Yupik (67,249). > Definition: "Federally recognized tribe" means the U.S. government recognizes a tribe’s sovereign status and government-to-government relationship. State recognition is a different legal status. ## Health and mortality patterns Table: Mortality rates (AI/AN vs U.S. all races; rates per 100,000) | Cause | AI/AN Rate (2008–2010) | U.S. All Races Rate (2009) | Ratio (AI/AN : U.S.) | | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | | All causes | 986.5 | 749.6 | 1.3 | | Heart disease | 189.7 | 182.8 | 1.0 | | Cancer | 180.6 | 173.5 | 1.0 | | Accidents (unintentional) | 94.7 | 37.5 | 2.5 | | Diabetes | 63.6 | 21.0 | 3.0 | | Chronic liver disease & cirrhosis | 43.7 | 9.1 | 4.8 | | Influenza & pneumonia | 26.0 | 16.5 | 1.6 | | Drug-induced deaths | 23.9 | 12.6 | 1.9 | | Suicide | 20.2 | 11.8 | 1.7 | | Homicide | 11.6 | 5.5 | 2.1 | Key takeaways: - AI/AN mortality is higher t