American Indians and Alaska Natives suffer from the highest poverty rate in the nation, the U.S. Census Bureau reported on Wednesday. According to American Community Survey from 2011, 27.0 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives lived in poverty. That's nearly twice the national rate of 14.3 percent and the highest of any racial or ethnic group. The Census Bureau also provided data for 20 cities with the largest numbers of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Rapid City, South Dakota, topped the list with a 50.9 percent poverty rate. Minneapolis, Minnesota, came in second, with a 46.5 percent poverty rate. Shiprock, New Mexico, landed third, with a poverty rate of 39.5 percent. Five communities in New Mexico made the list, the most of any state. "Nine states had poverty rates of about 30 percent or more for American Indians and Alaska Natives (Arizona, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah)," the Census Bureau said in a press release. Get the Story:
Poverty rates higher for blacks and Hispanics than whites and Asians (The Washington Post 2/21)
SD leads nation in Native American poverty rate (AP 11/20) Get the Report:
Poverty Rates for Selected Detailed Race and Hispanic Groups by State and Place: 2007-2011 (February 2011)
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