The American Indian an

Alaska Native Population: 

Tina Norris Nicholas A. JoAnalyst, Racial Statistics Branch Chief, Racial StatisticPopulation Division Population DivisionU.S. Census Bureau U.S. Census Bureau
Topics Presented

• Race concepts and definition of

“American Indian or Alaska Native”

• Population size and growth• Multiple-race reporting• Geographic distribution• American Indian and Alaska Native

tribal grouping information
2010 Census Race Questio
Definition of “American India

Alaska Native” Used in the 2010 C

• According to the U.S. Office of Management an

(OMB), “American Indian or Alaska Native” refeperson having origins in any of the original peoNorth and South America (including Central Amand who maintains tribal affiliation or communitattachment.
OMB Definition of “American Ind

Alaska Native” Used in the 2010 C

• Includes people who marked the “American Ind

Alaska Native” (AIAN) checkbox category

• Also includes respondents who reported entrie

- North American Indian groups (e.g., Navajo)- Alaska Native groups (e.g., Yup’ik) - Central American Indian groups (e.g., Mayan- South American Indian groups (e.g., Taino)
Race Concepts

• Race alone population –

people who reported a single race group (e.g., American Indian and Alaska Native alon

• Race in combination population –

people who reported more than one race grou(e.g., American Indian and Alaska Native and 

American Indian and Alaska Native and Black

• Race alone or in combination population –

all people who reported a particular race groueither alone, or in combination with one or moother race groups
POPULATION SIZE

AND GROWTH
AIAN Population: 2000 and 20

2000 

AIAN alone orin combination 4,119,301 5

AIAN alone 2,475,956 2

AIAN in combination 1,643,345 2

Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native.Sources: Census 2000 and 2010 Census
AIAN Population: 2000 and 20

2000 2010 

AIAN alone orin combination

4,119,301 5,220,579 1

AIAN alone 2,475,956 2,932,248 AIAN in 

combination

1,643,345 2,288,331 

Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native.Sources: Census 2000 and 2010 Census
0.7%

0.9%

0.6%

0.9%

American Indian

and Alaska Native

in combination

American Indian

and Alaska Native

alone

American Indian

and Alaska Native

alone or in

combination

2010 2000

AIAN Population as a Percenta

the Total Population: 2000 and 

Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native. Sources: Census 2000 and 2010 Census
Growth of the AIAN Populatio

2000 to 2010

Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native.Sources: Census 2000 and 2010 Census
MULTIPLE-RACE REPORT

OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN 

ALASKA NATIVE POPULAT
Percentage Distribution of t

AIAN Alone or in Combinatio

Population: 2010

Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native.

43.8%

56.2%

AlIn 

5.2 million
Percentage Distribution of t

Multiple-Race AIAN Population: 

Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native. SOR refers to Some Other Race.Percentages may not add to 100.0 due to rounding.

11.8% 62.6%

10.1%

5.1%

10.5%

AIAN ; WAIAN ; AIAN ; WAIAN ; All otheincludin

2.3 million
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTI

OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN 

ALASKA NATIVE POPULAT
Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native.

Source: 2010 Census

Percentage Distribution of t

AIAN Population by Region: 2
Percentage Distribution of t

AIAN Population by State: 20

Note: Percentages may not add to 100.0 due to rounding.Source: 2010 Census
Percentage Distribution of the 

Population by Area of Residence

1Includes 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 AmericanIndian statistical areas.Note: Percentages may not add to 100.0 due to rounding. AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native.Source: 2010 Census

American Indian and 

Alaska Native alone or in 

combination

American Indian and 

Alaska Native alone

American Indian and Alaska 

Native in combination
American Indian and A

Native Areas in the Un

States: 2010 

Source: 2010 Census
AIAN Alone or in Comb

as a Percentage of Co

Population: 2010 

Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native.Source: 2010 Census
American Indian and A

Native Areas and Popu

Distribution Overlay : 

Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native.Source: 2010 Census
Percent Change in AIAN 

or in Combination Popu

2000 to 2010

Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native. Sources: Census 2000 and 2010 Census
Top Five Places with Highest Pro

AIAN Alone or in Combination: 

12.4

9.2

8.1

6.3 

Anchorage, AK Tulsa, OK Norman, OK Oklahoma City, 

OK

B

* Places of 100,000 or more total population.

Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native.

Source: 2010 Census
Top Five Places with Highest Pro

AIAN Alone : 2010*

7.9

5.3

4.7 4.6 

Anchorage, AK Tulsa, OK Norman, OK Albuquerque, 

NM

* Places of 100,000 or more total population.

Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native.

Source: 2010 Census
Top Five Places with Highest Pro

AIAN in Combination: 2010

4.4

3.9

3.3

2.8

Anchorage, AK Tulsa, OK Norman, OK Oklahoma City, 

OK

* Places of 100,000 or more total population.Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native.Source: 2010 Census
Top 20 Reservations With 

AIAN Alone Populat

Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native. Source: 2010 Census
Note: AIAN refers to American Indian and Alaska Native. 

Source: 2010 Census

Top 20 Alaska Native Statistical Villag

With Largest AIAN Alone Population
AMERICAN INDIAN AND

ALASKA NATIVE

TRIBAL GROUPING

INFORMATION
Percentage Distribution of Largest Am

Indian Tribal Groupings by Response Ty

Source: 2010 Census
Percentage Distribution of Alaska 

Tribal Groupings by Response Typ

Source: 2010 Census
The American Indian and Alaska 

Population: 2010

<www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-10.
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