Native Americans are a diverse population with communities across the United States, and their outcomes vary by income, housing, education, employment, and access to health and technology. This page compares American Indian and Alaska Native households and adults—from renter rates and home broadband subscriptions to schooling, unemployment, and labor force participation. We also map key health and well-being patterns, including disability, asthma, mental health conditions, and cancer incidence, alongside the role of federal funding and discrimination.
Key Takeaways
- 2.7 million Native Americans (alone) were living in the United States in 2020
- In 2022, the median household income for American Indian and Alaska Native households was $52,563
- In 2022, 32.2% of AIAN households were renters
- In 2022, 7.5% of AIAN people had a disability
- In 2022, 31.3% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults had at least a high school diploma but less than a bachelor’s degree
- In 2022, the labor force participation rate among American Indians/Alaska Natives was 61.8%
- In 2022, 90.4% of American Indian/Alaska Native children completed high school
- In 2022, American Indians/Alaska Natives had cancer incidence of 404.7 per 100,000 people
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Hispanic populations experienced the lowest homeownership rates among U.S. race/ethnicity groups in 2022, at 46% for American Indian and Alaska Native households
- In 2022, 17.0% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults had a mental health condition (any past-year diagnosis)
- 11.7% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults had asthma in 2021
- 3.3% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults aged 25+ had a graduate or professional degree in 2022
- In 2022, 9.5% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults were unemployed (U-3 unemployment rate)
- In 2022, 58.6% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults aged 25–64 were employed
- In 2023, federal funding for Native American programs through Indian Affairs was $6.4 billion
In 2020, 2.7 million Native Americans lived in the US, and 2022 data shows strong education but ongoing economic and health gaps.
Related reading
- Statistics · Special Populations IdentitiesNative American Statistics
- Statistics · Mental Health PsychologyNative American Substance Abuse Statistics
- Statistics · Social Issues Societal TrendsNative American Poverty Statistics
- Statistics · Special Populations IdentitiesNative American Alcoholism Statistics
01 · Category
Education And Work6 stats
01
In 2022, 31.3% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults had at least a high school diploma but less than a bachelor’s degree[1]
02
In 2022, the labor force participation rate among American Indians/Alaska Natives was 61.8%[2]
03
In 2022, 90.4% of American Indian/Alaska Native children completed high school[3]
04
In 2022, 34.5% of American Indians/Alaska Natives aged 18–24 were enrolled in school[3]
05
In 2022, 13.9% of American Indians/Alaska Natives were in poverty while working[1]
06
In 2022, 1.8% of American Indians/Alaska Natives worked in information technology occupations[2]
Interpretation
Education And Work Interpretation
In 2022, Native American education signals strong completion with 90.4% of American Indian and Alaska Native children finishing high school, while work outcomes show mixed economic stability and limited specialization as only 1.8% worked in information technology and 13.9% were in poverty while working.
02 · Category
Education & Work5 stats
01
3.3% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults aged 25+ had a graduate or professional degree in 2022[3]
02
In 2022, 9.5% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults were unemployed (U-3 unemployment rate)[2]
03
In 2022, 58.6% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults aged 25–64 were employed[2]
04
In 2022, 31.2% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults had attained a bachelor’s degree or higher[4]
05
In 2021, 2.1% of American Indian and Alaska Native students enrolled in STEM fields[3]
Interpretation
Education & Work Interpretation
Across Education and Work outcomes, Native Americans show a clear gap at the top end of educational attainment and STEM representation, with just 3.3% holding a graduate or professional degree in 2022 and only 2.1% of students enrolled in STEM fields in 2021, even though 58.6% were employed and unemployment stood at 9.5% that same year.
03 · Category
Socioeconomics3 stats
Interpretation
Socioeconomics Interpretation
In 2022, Native American households faced socioeconomics challenges marked by a median household income of $52,563, with 32.2% of American Indian and Alaska Native households renting and 7.5% of AIAN people reporting a disability.
More related reading
04 · Category
Health Outcomes2 stats
Interpretation
Health Outcomes Interpretation
For Health Outcomes, in 2022 about 17.0% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults reported a mental health condition, showing a notable burden, while 11.7% had asthma in 2021.
05 · Category
Culture & Community2 stats
Interpretation
Culture & Community Interpretation
In the Culture and Community space, Native American adults still report meaningful social strain, with 1 in 5 experiencing discrimination in the prior year, even as 12% report high cultural engagement in 2022.
06 · Category
Overview6 stats
01
2.7 million Native Americans (alone) were living in the United States in 2020[1]
02
In 2022, American Indians/Alaska Natives had cancer incidence of 404.7 per 100,000 people[8]
03
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Hispanic populations experienced the lowest homeownership rates among U.S. race/ethnicity groups in 2022, at 46% for American Indian and Alaska Native households[9]
04
In 2023, federal funding for Native American programs through Indian Affairs was $6.4 billion[10]
05
In 2022, American Indian and Alaska Native people were 1.6x as likely as the total U.S. population to lack home broadband subscriptions[11]
06
In 2022, tribal governments received $4.7 billion in federal grants[12]
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
In the industry overview for Native American communities, federal support is substantial with $6.4 billion in 2023 funding for Native American programs through Indian Affairs and $4.7 billion in federal grants to tribal governments, yet key services still lag with 1.6 times higher rates of lacking home broadband subscriptions among American Indian and Alaska Native people than the overall U.S. population.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Native American Population Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/native-american-population-statistics
MLA
Stefan Wendt. "Native American Population Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/native-american-population-statistics.
Chicago
Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Native American Population Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/native-american-population-statistics.
Sources & references
12 sources cited across this report