Origins & History
Indigenous Americans, also called Native Americans in the United States and Canada or First Peoples in various regions, are the descendants of the peoples who inhabited the Americas before European colonization began in the late 15th century. They include hundreds of distinct nations and language families across North, Central, and South America. Major groups include Quechua, Aymara, Maya, Nahua, Navajo, Cree, Ojibwe, and Inuit peoples among many others.
Geographic Distribution
Indigenous populations number an estimated 60 to 70 million people across the Americas. The largest concentrations are in Latin America: Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Ecuador have the highest proportions. In North America, indigenous populations number around 10 million in the United States and Canada combined, with Mexico hosting over 25 million indigenous or partly indigenous people.
Diaspora & Migration
Indigenous American populations are generally rooted in their ancestral regions rather than dispersed globally. However, urban migration within the Americas has created large indigenous populations in cities such as Lima, Mexico City, La Paz, and various North American metropolitan areas. Small heritage communities exist elsewhere.
About This Map
This map reflects global perceptions of Indigenous American populations. Results typically highlight countries with the largest and most visible indigenous communities across the Americas.
The map above shows crowd opinion, not official demographic data. Vote on the main map to contribute your own perception of where Indigenous Americans populations live.