THE SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE AMERICAN-INDIAN POPULATION - FERTILITY, MORTALITY, MIGRATION, AND RESIDENCE

This paper is a descriptive analysis of the basic demographic characte ristics that determine the size and distribution of the American India n population. The data reported are obtained from the 1990 Census, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Indian Health Service. Among the findings reported in this paper is that American Indians ha ve higher levels of fertility than other groups, especially whites. Mo rtality due to accidents, diabetes, and alcohol-related illness is esp ecially high for American Indians. And despite relatively high levels of residential mobility, the distribution of the American Indian popul ation has been relatively stable since 1970.