A Look at the Latest Population Trends for Native Children
The United States is located on the ancestral lands of Native nations and its founding includes acts of oppression, genocide and the cultural erasure of Indigenous peoples. This long and unsettling history occurred before and after the creation of the United States. Despite this, Native nations continue to show resilience and leadership, and they are contributing positive values and expertise in all sectors of society today. As our nation continues to face the consequences of this painful legacy, removing barriers to opportunities for Indigenous peoples is crucial.
A Word on Native American Terms
Several terms are commonly used to encompass the widely heterogenous original peoples of North, Central and South America, including:
- American Indian and Alaska Native;
- American Indian;
- First Nations;
- Native American;
- Native; and
- Indigenous.
While using specific Native nation names is preferable when referring to individuals or single groups, these broader terms are meant to refer to the many different Native nations in what we now call the United States. Terminology is evolving and deeply personal, and preferences vary on which labels to use. This post primarily uses American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) to be consistent with the data sources referenced.
American Indian and Alaska Native Children Have Decreased in Number but Not Percentage
Over the last two decades, the number of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children has declined by nearly 100,000, from 693,726 in 2000 to 595,703 in 2021, although their share of the U.S. child population has remained steady at 1%. These figures represent those who identify as AI/AN alone, not in combination with another race or ethnicity. Among child age groups, the largest child population decrease over the last decade occurred for young children birth to age 4 compared with older children. The young adult population ages 18 to 24 has declined as well, by nearly 15,000 in the last 10 years.
AI/AN adults, overall, also comprise 1% of the nation’s adult population but, unlike children and youth, their numbers increased by almost 450,000 since 2000, reaching 1,856,213 in 2021.
When looking at those who identify as AI/AN in combination with another race, the numbers are significantly larger and growing. For instance, in 2021, the total AI/AN population, including all ages and AI/AN in combination with another race, was approximately 8.75 million, up by 73% from 5 million in 2010.
Where Do American Indian and Alaska Native Children Live?
The majority (56% in 2021) of AI/AN children live in seven states: Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, California, South Dakota and North Carolina.
AI/AN children represent about one-fifth (19%) of the child population in Alaska, the largest share of any state in 2021 and prior years. In South Dakota, AI/AN kids comprise more than 1 in 10 (12%) children. That’s the second largest share in the country, followed closely by New Mexico and Oklahoma, with 1 in every 10 kids representing Native nations.
See a map of young adult populations
Population data for the Indigenous peoples of Hawaii, American Samoa and other Pacific Islands are captured separately by U.S. Census Bureau and typically presented as a broader group, “Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders.”
See child population data for this group
State-Level Trends for American Indian and Alaska Native Children
A 2023 report on child population trends, commissioned by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, found the following changes for AI/AN children between 2010 and 2020. The analysis is based on the decennial census, recognizing that the 2020 census undercounted AI/AN children and the total child population.
The largest increases in the number of AI/AN children occurred in three states:
- Montana (922)
- Alaska (648)
- North Dakota (455)
The largest increases by percentage occurred in D.C. and two states:
- District of Columbia (20%)
- Montana (4%)
- North Dakota (4%)
The biggest loss in numbers of AI/AN children occurred for:
- Oklahoma (-8,598)
- Arizona (-7,762)
- North Carolina (-5,983)
The biggest loss in percentages of AI/AN children occurred for:
- Puerto Rico (-43%)
- Hawaii (-36%)
- New Hampshire (-35%)
More About Native Nations
There are 574 federally recognized Native nations, each with its own distinct ethnic identities, cultures and histories. These sovereign nations share land with 35 states, according to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), and they are eligible to receive services from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. While these diverse nations span many states, approximately 40% (229 of 574) are located in Alaska. However, the federally recognized nations do not represent all. Native nations include all Indigenous peoples in the United States and its territories, such as those in Hawaii, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam and other Mariana Islands.
State governments can also recognize Native nations separate from the federal government. The NCAI reports that there are 334 federally- and state-recognized American Indian reservations, although most AI/AN people live off-reservation in urban settings.
Inequities in Health and Well-Being
While the resilience and assets of Native peoples remain strong today, historical wrongs have led to disproportionately worse health and socioeconomic experiences for AI/AN children, youth and families compared to the general population. These disparities stem from social determinants of health, including generations of policies, discrimination and past trauma. AI/AN communities also face the current crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. A forthcoming blog post will focus on inequities in health and well-being among these children and families. It will recommend ways to work together to ensure that all AI/AN children have equitable opportunities to thrive.
More Data and Resources on Native Communities
General Resources
- Association on American Indian Affairs
- Center for Native American Youth
- Community Commons: Native Americans and First Nations
- First Nations Development Institute
- National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
- Native Governance Center
- Rural Health Information Hub
- Urban Indian Health Institute
Selected Reports
- Tribal Nations & the United States: An Introduction, National Congress of American Indians
- The Generational Impact of Racism on Health: Voices From American Indian Communities, Health Affairs
- American Indian and Alaska Native Cultural Wisdom Declaration in the National Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Land Rights and Health Outcomes in American Indian/Alaska Native Children, American Academy of Pediatrics Journal
- Changing the Narrative About Native Americans: A Guide for Allies, Reclaiming Native Truth
Data Resources
- All Data by Race and Ethnicity on the KIDS COUNT Data Center
- County-level Mapping Tool on the Rural Health Information Hub
- My Tribal Area Data Tool, detailed data tables and maps and other resources from the U.S. Census Bureau
- Maps and Data and Federally Recognized Tribes by State from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs
- Native Data Sovereignty Can Address Data Gaps and Improve Equity, Urban Institute
- Best Practices for American Indian and Alaska Native Data Collection, Urban Indian Health Institute
- The Changing Child Population of the United States: First Data from the 2020 Census, The Annie E. Casey Foundation
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