Long before European map-makers laid out the contours of what would become the United States and Canada, Indigenous peoples populated the continent. As Europeans arrived in greater numbers, conflict arose between the newcomers and those whose ancestors had been living in North America for many thousands of years.
Though Indian reservations date back to the mid-18th century, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 had a calamitous effect, forcing native inhabitants out of most areas east of the Mississippi River and onto reservations in the western parts of the continent — away from European-based population centers. Marginalization of Indigenous peoples continued for decades afterward, leaving a legacy of broken promises and dishonored treaties.
Today, some 78% of Indigenous peoples live in towns and cities around the country, while the rest live on reservations and other designated tribal areas. These areas are protected by the U.S. government, which assures the sovereignty of tribes. (These are the states with the most Indian reservations or tribal areas.)
To identify the number of Native Americans in every state (or the number of Alaska Natives in the case of Alaska), 24/7 Wall St. reviewed U.S. Census Bureau data on the American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) population in each state.
Click here to see the number of Native Americans in every state
According to the Census Bureau, as of 2021, our population of Native Americans and Alaska Natives stands at 6.79 million, about 2.09% of the total population. The great majority of them live in the Southern and Western states, though each U.S. state has an Indigenous population, and seven states have more than 100,000 Native Americans. (Here’s a list of every state with a Native American name.)
Source: BlazenImages / Getty Images
Alabama
> Indigenous population: 25,565
> Pct. of all Alabama residents: 0.52% (25th highest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: sorincolac / Getty Images
Alaska
> Indigenous population (Alaska Natives): 109,751
> Pct. of all Alaska residents: 14.89% (the highest)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: tonda / Getty Images
Arizona
> Indigenous population: 317,414
> Pct. of all Arizona residents: 4.50% (7th highest)
Source: BlazenImages / Getty Images
Arkansas
> Indigenous population: 20,434
> Pct. of all Arkansas residents: 0.68% (21st highest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: nata_rass / Getty Images
California
> Indigenous population: 303,998
> Pct. of all California residents: 0.77% (20th highest)
Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / Getty Images
Colorado
> Indigenous population: 54,847
> Pct. of all Colorado residents: 0.98% (16th highest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Connecticut
> Indigenous population: 9,955
> Pct. of all Connecticut residents: 0.28% (12th lowest)
Source: Harry Collins / Getty Images
Delaware
> Indigenous population: 3,729
> Pct. of all Delaware residents: 0.39% (20th lowest)
Source: valio84sl / Getty Images
Florida
> Indigenous population: 59,320
> Pct. of all Florida residents: 0.28% (15th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Georgia
> Indigenous population: 37,440
> Pct. of all Georgia residents: 0.36% (18th lowest)
Source: Adam-Springer / Getty Images
Hawaii
> Indigenous population: 3,710
> Pct. of all Hawaii residents: 0.26% (9th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: mattalberts / Getty Images
Idaho
> Indigenous population: 23,136
> Pct. of all Idaho residents: 1.35% (9th highest)
Source: dszc / Getty Images
Illinois
> Indigenous population: 33,460
> Pct. of all Illinois residents: 0.26% (10th lowest)
Source: Maksymowicz / Getty Images
Indiana
> Indigenous population: 15,782
> Pct. of all Indiana residents: 0.24% (8th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: LarryLindell / Getty Images
Iowa
> Indigenous population: 11,976
> Pct. of all Iowa residents: 0.38% (19th lowest)
Source: ricardoreitmeyer / Getty Images
Kansas
> Indigenous population: 24,010
> Pct. of all Kansas residents: 0.82% (19th highest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: alexeys / Getty Images
Kentucky
> Indigenous population: 9,386
> Pct. of all Kentucky residents: 0.21% (5th lowest)
Source: Ben Nissen / Getty Images
Louisiana
> Indigenous population: 26,361
> Pct. of all Louisiana residents: 0.57% (23rd highest)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
Maine
> Indigenous population: 8,660
> Pct. of all Maine residents: 0.65% (22nd highest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: HaizhanZheng / Getty Images
Maryland
> Indigenous population: 16,762
> Pct. of all Maryland residents: 0.28% (13th lowest)
Source: stresstensor / Getty Images
Massachusetts
> Indigenous population: 14,764
> Pct. of all Massachusetts residents: 0.22% (6th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: ehrlif / Getty Images
Michigan
> Indigenous population: 53,316
> Pct. of all Michigan residents: 0.54% (24th highest)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Willard / Getty Images
Minnesota
> Indigenous population: 58,011
> Pct. of all Minnesota residents: 1.04% (15th highest)
Source: maxmironov / Getty Images
Mississippi
> Indigenous population: 14,269
> Pct. of all Mississippi residents: 0.48% (23rd lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: marekuliasz / Getty Images
Missouri
> Indigenous population: 27,084
> Pct. of all Missouri residents: 0.44% (22nd lowest)
Source: miroslav_1 / Getty Images
Montana
> Indigenous population: 66,839
> Pct. of all Montana residents: 6.36% (5th highest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: marekuliasz / Getty Images
Nebraska
> Indigenous population: 17,673
> Pct. of all Nebraska residents: 0.92% (17th highest)
Source: KiskaMedia / Getty Images
Nevada
> Indigenous population: 38,026
> Pct. of all Nevada residents: 1.28% (10th highest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
New Hampshire
> Indigenous population: 2,036
> Pct. of all New Hampshire residents: 0.15% (the lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
New Jersey
> Indigenous population: 19,711
> Pct. of all New Jersey residents: 0.22% (7th lowest)
Source: Dean_Fikar / Getty Images
New Mexico
> Indigenous population: 199,845
> Pct. of all New Mexico residents: 9.55% (2nd highest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: GCShutter / Getty Images
New York
> Indigenous population: 79,512
> Pct. of all New York residents: 0.41% (21st lowest)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: RickSause / Getty Images
North Carolina
> Indigenous population: 123,952
> Pct. of all North Carolina residents: 1.21% (12th highest)
Source: gabetcarlson / Getty Images
North Dakota
> Indigenous population: 40,006
> Pct. of all North Dakota residents: 5.29% (6th highest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Ronald E Grafe / Getty Images
Ohio
> Indigenous population: 22,816
> Pct. of all Ohio residents: 0.20% (3rd lowest)
Source: Milosz_G / Getty Images
Oklahoma
> Indigenous population: 299,621
> Pct. of all Oklahoma residents: 7.62% (4th highest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: simonkr / Getty Images
Oregon
> Indigenous population: 48,060
> Pct. of all Oregon residents: 1.16% (13th highest)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Jnovack7 / Getty Images
Pennsylvania
> Indigenous population: 24,691
> Pct. of all Pennsylvania residents: 0.19% (2nd lowest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Rhode Island
> Indigenous population: 5,277
> Pct. of all Rhode Island residents: 0.50% (24th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: KeithBriley / Getty Images
South Carolina
> Indigenous population: 17,645
> Pct. of all South Carolina residents: 0.35% (17th lowest)
Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images
South Dakota
> Indigenous population: 76,190
> Pct. of all South Dakota residents: 8.75% (3rd highest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: gnagel / Getty Images
Tennessee
> Indigenous population: 18,189
> Pct. of all Tennessee residents: 0.27% (11th lowest)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: buburuzaproductions / Getty Images
Texas
> Indigenous population: 141,425
> Pct. of all Texas residents: 0.50% (25th lowest)
Source: CodyHaskell / Getty Images
Utah
> Indigenous population: 33,721
> Pct. of all Utah residents: 1.09% (14th highest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Vermont
> Indigenous population: 2,132
> Pct. of all Vermont residents: 0.34% (16th lowest)
Source: ablokhin / Getty Images
Virginia
> Indigenous population: 23,873
> Pct. of all Virginia residents: 0.28% (14th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: hermosawave / iStock via Getty Images
Washington
> Indigenous population: 94,449
> Pct. of all Washington residents: 1.28% (11th highest)
Source: BackyardProduction / Getty Images
West Virginia
> Indigenous population: 3,667
> Pct. of all West Virginia residents: 0.20% (4th lowest)
Source: vPaulTech LLC / Getty Images
Wisconsin
> Indigenous population: 51,392
> Pct. of all Wisconsin residents: 0.89% (18th highest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: aoldman / Getty Images
Wyoming
> Indigenous population: 14,164
> Pct. of all Wyoming residents: 2.44% (8th highest)
Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor
Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
