The largest concentration of American Indians is in the state of California, with 696,600 American Indians from more than 100 federally recognized tribes, according to 2005 data from the Census Bureau. California was followed by Oklahoma (401,100) and Arizona (334,700). About 36,500 American Indians and Alaska Natives were added to Arizona's population between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2005--the largest numeric increase of any state in the nation.

As a percentage of the population, however, Alaska has more American Indians and Alaska Natives, with 18.9 percent making up the total state population. Oklahoma ranked second, with 11.3 percent American Indians and Alaska Natives, while New Mexico was a close third with 10.9 percent.

And a larger number of American Indians are also choosing to live off tribal lands. According to the 2000 census, more than 64 percent of those who claim American Indian and Alaska Native status do not live in tribal areas. Those who do live on tribal lands were younger; the median age of American Indians and Alaska Natives living in American Indian areas was 25--younger than the median age of the total population (35 years), of all American Indians and Alaska Natives (29 years), and of those living outside tribal areas (30 years).

So where are American Indians living if not on tribal lands? In Los Angeles, which boasted 154,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives as of July 2005. Also, Maricopa County, Ariz., which includes the city of Phoenix, led the nation's counties, adding about 18,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives between 2000 and 2005.

As a percentage of the population, however, the Farmington, N.M., metropolitan area leads the way, with 40 percent American Indians and Alaska Natives as of 2003. Flagstaff, Ariz., was a distant second, at 31 percent.

The U.S. population of American Indians and Alaska Natives is a young one. In 2005, according to the Census Bureau, the median age of the American Indian and Alaska Native population was 30.7 years--younger than the median age of 36.2 years for the population as a whole. About 1.3 million American Indians and Alaska Natives were younger than 18, and 336,000 were 65 or older. And because more are living outside of tribal areas, a greater number are attaining higher education than ever before. According the 2000 census, 13.2 percent of American Indians living off tribal lands achieved a bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 8.1 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives living on American Indian areas and 4 percent living in Alaska Native village areas.