American Indians by the numbers

November is National Native American Indian Heritage Month. American Indians have the least known demographics among the mainstream population. The following information was provided by the U.S. Census Bureau:

Population
• 4.5 million – As of July 1, 2005, the estimated population of American Indians and Alaska Natives. They made up 1.5 percent of the total population.

• 696,600 – The American Indian and Alaska Native population in California as of July 1, 2005, the highest total of any state in the nation.

Families and children
• 525,800 – The number of American Indian and Alaska Native families.

• 3.41 – The average number of people in an American Indian and Alaska Native family. This is larger than the average size of all families (3.18 people).

Housing
• 56 percent – The percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native households who own their own home.

• $95,454 – Median value of homes owned by American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Languages
• 25 percent – Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives 5 years and older who speak a language other than English at home.

Education
• 76 percent – The percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives age 25 and older who have at least a high school diploma. Also, 14 percent have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Veterans
• 170,000 – The number of American Indian and Alaska Native veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

Income and Poverty
• $33,627 – The median income of households that reported they were American Indian and Alaska Native and no other race. The median income is based on a three-year average (2003–2005).

• About 25 percent – The poverty rate of people who reported they were American Indian and Alaska Native and no other race.

(Courtesy of American Indian Heritage Committee)