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The American Indian population, also known as Native Americans or indigenous peoples of the Americas, comprises a diverse group of ethnicities, cultures, and languages. They are the descendants of the original inhabitants of the Americas before European colonization. The ancestors of modern American Indians arrived in America at least 15 thousand years ago from Asia. Historically, the country’s indigenous people had a population of nearly 10 million before European settlers explored America.
Native American populations were decimated by diseases brought by European settlers, as well as by warfare, forced relocation, and cultural suppression. Despite these challenges, Native American cultures have endured and continue to be an integral part of American society. Nowadays, there are 574 federally recognized tribes that govern more than one of the 326 Indian reservations in the United States.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there were approximately 9.7 million people who identified as American Indian or Alaska Native alone or in combination with one or more other races in 2020, representing about 2.9% of the total U.S. population. However, it’s important to note that the Native American population is not monolithic, and there are significant variations in culture, language, and history among different tribes and communities.
Today, Native Americans live throughout the United States, with the largest populations found in the southwestern, southeastern, and northern regions. The map below shows American Indian population by U.S. county in 2022.
Five states account for over half (50.9%) of the American Indian population in the US. Oklahoma has the largest American Indian population (14.2%), followed by Arizona (12.9%), California (9.9%), New Mexico (9.1%), and Texas (4.8%).
Here is the top 20 U.S. counties with the highest percentage of American Indians.
U.S. Counties with the highest percentages of American Indians
Rank
County
State
Percentage
1
Kusilvak
Alaska
92.1
2
Oglala Lakota
South Dakota
89.5
3
Bethel
Alaska
84.8
4
Todd
South Dakota
84.5
5
Sioux
North Dakota
81.1
6
Northwest Arctic
Alaska
80.4
7
McKinley
New Mexico
79.9
8
Menominee
Wisconsin
79.5
9
Buffalo
South Dakota
78.1
10
Rolette
North Dakota
77.7
11
Nome
Alaska
76.2
12
Dewey
South Dakota
73.6
13
Apache
Arizona
73.4
14
Dillingham
Alaska
72.6
15
Ziebach
South Dakota
68.7
16
Yukon-Koyukuk
Alaska
68.4
17
Big Horn
Montana
66.7
18
Corson
South Dakota
65.7
19
Glacier
Montana
65.0
20
Roosevelt
New Mexico
61.3
As per the U.S. Census Bureau report of 2020, about 61% of the American Indian and Alaska Native population resided in metropolitan areas, and the remaining 39% lived in non-metropolitan areas. This data includes both the people living on reservations and those living off reservations.
American Indian Population Changes
The growth or decline of the American Indian population in the United States varies widely by state and county. Generally, states with larger Native American populations, such as those in the Southwest and Northern Plains regions, tend to have both growing and declining populations, depending on the specific tribal communities and local factors.
Below is an animated map showing the changes in the Indian population by U.S. county from 1990 to 2022.
States with growing Native American populations include those experiencing expanding tribal economies, improved access to education and healthcare, and efforts to preserve and revitalize Native American cultures. Examples of such states may include Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
On the other hand, states in the Great Plains region, such as South Dakota and North Dakota, face challenges like outmigration, limited economic opportunities, and lack of access to essential services, leading to declines in certain Native American populations within these states.
Nevertheless, in recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest and pride in Native American heritage, with efforts to preserve languages, traditions, and cultural practices. Native American tribes have also become more politically active, advocating for their rights and sovereignty.
Interested in learning more about North American Indigenous peoples? Explore these insightful books.
