UNITED STATES DEPT. OF COMMERCE
October 31, 1997 CB97-FS.11 MEMORANDUM FOR Reporters, Editors, News Directors From: LaVerne Vines Collins Chief, Public Information Office Subject: Facts for Native American Month (November 1-30) Census Facts For Native American Month The numbers On August 1, 1997, the American Indian, Eskimo and Aleut population in the United States stood at 2.3 million, or 0.9 percent of the total population. Since July 1, 1990, this racial group has grown 12 percent, while the non-Hispanic White population increased 3 percent. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/nation/intfile3-1.txt The nation's American Indian, Eskimo and Aleut population is projected to grow steadily, to 2.4 million in 2000, 3.1 million in 2020, and 4.4 million in 2050. The proportion of the U.S. population that is American Indian, Eskimo or Aleut would rise to 1.1 percent in 2050. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb96-36.html Regionally speaking, nearly half of the projected increase in American Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts between 1995 and 2025 would be added in the West. The Census Bureau projects that in the Northeast, Midwest and West, this group will grow faster over this period than either Whites or African Americans. In the South, its population would increase faster than that of Whites. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb96-36.html The nation's American Indian, Eskimo and Aleut population is young, with about half under 27.2 years old on August 1, 1997. By comparison, non-Hispanic Whites were about a decade older, with a median age of 37.4 years. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/nation/intfile3-1.txt Where They Live In 1995, more of the nation's American Indians, Eskimos and Aleuts lived in Oklahoma than in any other state (257,000, or 13 percent). Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Alaska were the next most popular states of residence. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb96-36.html By 2025, Oklahoma and Arizona are projected to continue to rank first and second, respectively, in American Indian, Eskimo and Aleut population, while New Mexico would move ahead of California and Washington would move up to fifth place. Combined, these five states would be home to about 45 percent of the nation's American Indian, Eskimo and Aleut population. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb96-36.html Households and Families Between 1997 and 2010, the number of American Indian, Eskimo and Aleut households in the United States is projected to climb from 713,397 to 906,036. http://www.census.gov/population/projections/nation/hh-fam/table4n.txt In 1997, 75 percent of the nation's American Indian, Eskimo and Aleut households were made up of families. Of these family households, 65 percent consisted of married couples, 27 percent were maintained by women with no husband present, and 9 percent were maintained by men with no wife present. http://www.census.gov/population/projections/nation/hh-fam/table4n.txt Businesses The number of businesses owned by American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States increased 93 percent between 1987 and 1992, from 52,980 to 102,271. The rate of increase for all U.S. firms was 26 percent 13.7 million in 1987 to 17.3 million in 1992. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb96-127.html In 1992, the United States had 95,040 American Indian-owned, 2,738 Aleut-owned and 4,493 Eskimo-owned firms. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb96-127.html Receipts for the nation's American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses increased 115 percent from 1987 to 1992, from $3.7 billion to $8.1 billion. Receipts for all U.S. firms during the same period grew by 67 percent, from $2 trillion to $3.3 trillion. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb96-127.html Farms In 1992, American Indians operated 8,346 of the nation's 1.9 million farms. Of these 8,346 farms, 2,977 had sales of $10,000 or more that year. http://www.nass.usda.gov/census/census92/volume1/vol1pubs.htm While the total number of farms in the United States declined by 162,459 between 1987 and 1992, the number operated by American Indians climbed by 1,212. http://www.nass.usda.gov/census/census92/volume1/vol1pubs.htm Persons With Disabilities During the October 1994-January 1995 period, about 1 in 3 American Indians and Alaska Natives aged 15 and over reported having a disability; about 1 in 7 reported having a "severe" disability. For those aged 65 or over, the odds of having a severe disability increased to 1 in 2. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-148.html Note: The Census Bureau defines a disability as difficulty in performing functional activities (seeing, hearing, talking, walking, climbing stairs and lifting and carrying a bag of groceries) or activities of daily living (getting in or out of bed or a chair, bathing, getting around inside the home, dressing, using the toilet and eating) or other activities relating to everyday tasks or socially defined roles. A person with a severe disability is defined as one who is completely unable to perform one of these activities or tasks or who needs personal assistance. Each month, we plan to provide previously released facts pertaining to selected events or holidays occurring that month. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office (Tel: 301-457-3030; Fax: 301-457-3670; E-mail: pio@census.gov). The preceding facts come from population estimates and projections, the 1992 Survey of Minority-Owned Business Enterprises, 1992 Census of Agriculture and the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Data in this factsheet are subject to nonsampling errors. Some are also subject to sampling variability. See referenced sources for more detail on these limitations.
