Skip Navigation Links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Home Search CDC CDC Health Topics A-Z    
   
small bar spacer OMHD Home About Us Sitemap Contact Us bar spacer    
Small horizontal bar collage containing four portraits; each of person of a different racial or ethnic background.
About Minority Health
Cooperative Agreements
Executive Orders
Reports & Publications
Minority Health Resources
All Populations
Racial & Ethnic Minority Populations
Training Opportunities

 

Página principal de la OMH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Reviewed: Dec. 3, 2009
Last Modified: Nov. 30, 2010
Content Source:
Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities (OMHD)


American Indian & Alaska Native (AI/AN) Populations

red, orange, yellow, brown and turquoise American Indian artistic band by Sonny Del Castillo
 

Demographics 10 Leading Causes of Death High Prevalence Health Issues Health Disparities
Health Statistics Brochures Slides Government Resources
   
EpiCenters
   
Health Boards
   
Tribes
Non-Government Resources Tribal Consultation Policy TCAC Tribal Consultation Advisory Committee (TCAC) Funding

Sources

Notes

 

Demographics
American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) are people having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment.1
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, those who identified only as AI/AN constituted 0.9 percent of the United States population, or approximately 2.5 million individuals.2
The Census Bureau projects modest growth by AI/AN communities in the next few decades, topping 5 million individuals by the year 2065 and comprising 1.1 percent of the population.2
The population of AI/AN including those of more than one race, was estimated at 4.9 million, making up 1.6 percent of the total population as of July 1, 2008 according to the Census Bureau; this is projected to rise to 8.6 million, 2 percent of the total population, by the year 2050.3
The greatest concentrations of AI/AN populations are in the West, Southwest, and Midwest, especially in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.2
There are 562 federally recognized AI/AN tribes, plus an unknown number of tribes that are not federally recognized. Each tribe has its own culture, beliefs, and practices. 
Statistics
The American Indian and Alaska Native Population, 2000 (pdf)  US Census Bureau Brief
American Indian & Alaska Native (AI/AN) Data & Links, US Census Bureau
Facts for Features: American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month November, 2009, US Census Bureau
American Indian & Alaska Native Tribes for the United States, Regions, Divisions, and States US Census Bureau

Top of Pageto top of page, arrow up

10 Leading Causes of Death
American Indian/Alaska Native Population, U.S., 2007
  1. Heart disease 6. Chronic lower respiratory disease
  2. Cancer 7. Stroke
  3. Unintentional injuries 8. Suicide
  4. Diabetes 9. Nephritis, Nephrotic syndrome, and Nephrosis
  5. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis 10. Influenza and pneumonia
Statistics
Leading Causes of Death by Race/Ethnicity (pdf)
Health, U.S., 2010, Table 26.
 
Other High Prevalence Health Issues
In addition, American Indians/Alaska Natives have disproportionately high prevalence of the following conditions and risk factors:
Obesity
  topic page
  fastStats
SIDS/Infant Mortality
    topic page
    highlight
    factsheet
Mental Health
     factsheet

     topic page
     fastStats
Substance Abuse
Alcohol
    fastStats

    topic page
Illegal Drugs
     fastStats

Top of Pageto top of page, arrow up

Health Disparities
AI/ANs have a unique relationship with the federal government due to historic conflict and subsequent treaties. Tribes exist as sovereign entities, but federally recognized tribes are entitled to health and educational services provided by the federal government.
Though the Indian Health Service (IHS) is charged with serving the health needs of these populations, more than half of the AI/AN population does not permanently reside on a reservation,4 and therefore have limited or no access to IHS services.
Geographic isolation, economic factors, and suspicion toward traditional spiritual beliefs are some of the reasons why health among AI/ANs is poorer than other groups
Other factors that contribute to poorer health outcomes for AI/ANs include cultural barriers, geographic isolation, inadequate sewage disposal, and economic factors.5
For more information on some of the health disparities faced by the AI/AN community, see Highlight on AI/ANs and click below for brochures, slides and statistics on that topic.
Statistics
Mortality Rates by Race/Ethnicity, (pdf) Health, U.S., 2006, Table 29
Mid Course Review, Healthy People 2010
Data 2010, Healthy People 2010

Top of Pageto top of page, arrow up

Brochures & Handouts
Main Menu
  AI/AN Brochure (pdf)
  AI/AN Handout (pdf)
 
Slides
  Slides showing Disparity (ppt)
PowerPoint Presentation on the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (OMHD) containing data slides (beginning with slide 21) comparing U.S. incidence or mortality rates by race/ethnicity.
To view these slides in PDF format, see Slides (PDF)

Top of Pageto top of page, arrow up

Health Statistics
CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
  Health of AN/AN Population, Fast Stats
  Health Data Interactive
  Health, United States, 2008
  American Indian or Alaska Native Population
  Mortality Rates by Race/Ethnicity, (pdf) Table 28
  Leading Causes of Death by Race/Ethnicity, (pdf) Table 30
  Injury
  Healthy People 2010
  Data 2010
  Mid Course Review
HHS Office of Minority Health Resource Center
  American Indian/Alaska Native Profile
U.S. Census Bureau
  The American Community - American Indians and Alaska Natives:  2004 (pdf)
  The American Indian and Alaska Native Population, 2000 (pdf)
  American Indian & Alaska Native (AI/AN) Data & Links
  American Indian & Alaska Native Tribes for the United States, Regions, Divisions, and States
  American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month November 2009

Top of Pageto top of page, arrow up

Government Resources
  CDC
  AI/AN NEWS Page
MMWR and other articles related to the topics of AI/ANs and Health Disparities.
  American Indian & Alaska Native National, RegionalLocal Health Boards
  CDC FY 2009 Annual Tribal Budget & Consultation Report  (PDF)
  CDC 2008 Annual Tribal Colleges & Universities (TCUs) Performance Report  (PDF)
  CDC FY 2008 Annual Tribal Budget & Consultation Report  (PDF)
  CDC 2006 Inventory of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Programs and Projects (PDF)
  National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)
    Atlas of Heart Disease & Stroke Among AI/ANs
    The Eagles Nest
    Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC)
Cancer Incidence in American Indians and Alaska Natives
  National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP)
    Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention
      HIV/AIDS among American Indians & Alaska Natives Fact Sheet
    Division of STD Prevention
      HPV Brochures for American Indians (AI) & Alaska Natives (AN)
    Office of Health Disparities, NCHHSTP
  National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)
    Injuries among Native Americans
  National Immunization Program (NIP)
  TCAC Tribal Consultation Advisory Committee (TCAC)
  Tribal Consultation Policy (PDF)
  Tribal Epidemiology Centers
  564 American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes
  Indian Health Service (IHS)
  Facts on  Indian Health Disparities (pdf)
  National Council of Urban Indian Health
  National Epidemiology Program
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  Eliminating Health Disparities in the American Indian and Alaska Native Community
  FirstGov for Tribal Governments and American Indians
  National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  Native American Health Medline Plus
  American Indian Health, Alaska Native Health & Native American Health Healthfinder
  American Indian Health National Library of Medicine (NLM) Search
  Cancer Health Disparities National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
  SAMHSA (Mental Health)
  Native American Mental Health Fact Sheet
SAMHSA Surgeon General's Report
  Native American Culturally Specific Mental Health Resources
  Other
  Executive Orders & Departmental Initiatives
  Tribal Colleges and Universities Address List
White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities
  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) American Indian Environmental Office
  Social Security Online: American Indians and Alaska Natives

Top of Pageto top of page, arrow up

Non-Government Resources
  American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES)
    AISES Internship Programs
  American Cancer Society (ACS)
  Native Americans & Diabetes American Diabetes Association (ADA)
  American Heart Association (AHA)
  American Lung Association (ALA)
  Kaiser Foundation Issue Brief: Urban Indian Health
  National Indian Council On Aging (NICOA)
  National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC)
  National SIDS Resource Center (NSRC)
  Tribal Connections

Top of Pageto top of page, arrow up

Funding
  CDC Funding Opportunities
  CDC FY 2009 Agency Budget  (pdf)
  CDC FY 2008 AI/AN Budget Portfolio  (pdf)
  CDC FY 2007 AI/AN Budget Portfolio  (pdf)
  CDC FY 2007 Direct Funding to Tribes/Tribal Organizations (pdf maps)

Top of Pageto top of page, arrow up

Sources
  1 Census Bureau, Census 2000 Brief: Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin, 2000.(pdf)
  2 The American Indian and Alaska Native Population, 2000 (pdf)  US Census Bureau Brief
  3 U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features: American Indian / Alaska Native Heritage Month: November 2009
   4 Statistical Handbook on Racial Groups in the United States by T.B. Heaton, B.A. Chadwick, and C.K. Jacobson; Phoenix: Oryx Press, 2000; Table A3.5.
  5 The Health Care Challenge: Acknowledging Disparity, Confronting Discrimination, and Ensuring Equality. United States Commission on Civil Rights, Sept. 1999.4 The Health Care Challenge: Acknowledging Disparity, Confronting Discrimination, and Ensuring Equality. United States Commission on Civil Rights, Sept. 1999.

Top of Pageto top of page, arrow up

Notes
  Census 2000 adheres to the federal standards for collecting and presenting data on race and Hispanic origin as established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in October 1997 and subsequent guidelines.  One of the most important changes for Census 2000 was the revision of the questions on race and Hispanic origin to better reflect the country’s growing diversity. The federal government considers race and Hispanic origin to be two separate and distinct concepts. In addition, Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders are counted as two separate and distinct racial groups. Because of these changes, the Census 2000 data on race are not directly comparable with data from the 1990 census or earlier censuses. Caution must be used when interpreting changes in the racial composition of the U.S. population over time.
  Census Bureau Glossary of Terms: Race, 2000.
  Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Provisional Guidance on the Implementation of the 1997 Standards for Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity, 2000.
  OMB Recommendations form the Interagency Committee for the Review of the Racial and Ethnic Standards to the OMB Concerning Changes to the Stnadards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity, 1997.

Top of Pageto top of page, arrow up

blue, yellow and red American Indian beaded rossette by Sonny Del Castillo
 

 

Populations
Section Menu

  red square Definitions of Populations
  Disability
  red square Definitions of Racial & Ethnic Populations
  red square Racial & Ethnic Minority Populations
  American Indian & Alaska Native
  News
  Asian American
  Black or African American
  Hispanic or Latino
  Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander
  Multiracial
  White
 
 

OMHD Home | About OMHD | Sitemap | Contact OMHD
Accessibility | Privacy Policy | CDC Sitemap | Search | Health Topics A-Z

Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities (OMHD)

Please Note: Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
 


 

 
  Home | Policies and Regulations | Disclaimer | e-Government | FOIA | Other Languages | Link To Us | Contact Us  
  Safer, Healthier People
 
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A.
  800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636), TTY: (888) 232-6348
  24 hours/Every Day - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
  USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web PortalDHHS Department of Health and Human Services