The US Native American population is increasing, with a growth rate of about 26.7% between 2000 and 2010. About 5.2 million people identify as either Native American or Alaskan Native in the US, making up about 1.6% of the total population. Alaska has the highest percentage of Native Americans, at about 13.1% of its population, followed by New Mexico and South Dakota, at 9.7% and 8.6%, respectively. Pennsylvania has the lowest percentage, at 0.1%.
More about Native Americans:
- There are 566 federally recognized Native American tribes in the US.
- Native Americans and Alaskan natives are much less likely than those of other ethnicities in the US to have a bachelor's degree, but 78% of those who do have a bachelor's degree or higher have it in a science or engineering-related field.
- The median income for Native American households is about $15,000 US Dollars (USD) less than that of Americans in general, with Native Americans and Alaska Natives having a median income of about $35,000 USD.
- The Navajo tribe is the largest federally recognized Native American tribe in the US, followed by the Cherokee tribe.