Book
From the Harvard Project on Indigenous Governance and Development comes an updated third edition of a data book providing summary statistics for American Indian tribal communities in the lower 48 states using the public-use US Census and the American Community Survey data.
A team of researchers from the Harvard Kennedy School release a research report that examines Census data and socioeconomic characteristics by decades (1990-2020) for American Indian tribal nations.
The Databook presents fourteen indicators of population, income, poverty, labor, housing, and education for Indian reservations in the Lower 48 states in the US from 1990 to 2020. It also identifies some of the variation and differences within Indian Country, although a complete examination is beyond its scope. While reservation economic development has led to improvements in some of these indicators over the last three decades, gaps remain between American Indians on reservations and the average outcomes for the US as a whole.
The 2025 Databook finds that there has been a reduction in total unemployment and lower poverty rates in these tribal nations over time. At the same time, there are continuing disparities in income, education, and infrastructure that require sustained policy attention.
By presenting a detailed view of social and economic change over time, the report offers policymakers, tribal leaders, and researchers valuable insights into both the progress and challenges of reservation life. The findings also demonstrate how culturally grounded governance and tribally driven economic strategies are shaping a more resilient and sustainable future for Native nations.
Amy Besaw Medford is a Research Affiliate with the Project on Indigenous Governance and Development at the Harvard Kennedy School and an Analyst with the Taylor Policy Group.
Randall Akee is the Julie Johnson Kidd Professor of Indigenous Governance and Development and Director of the Project on Indigenous Governance and Development.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily represent the positions of the Ash Center or its affiliates.
Media Release
The national awards program Honoring Nations, flagship program of the Harvard Project, announces the recipients of the 2025 Honoring Nations Awards, recognizing 6 governmental initiatives for outstanding excellence in tribal self-governance.
Policy Brief
Harvard Kennedy School researchers release global scoping review finding Indigenous conservation practices achieve equal or superior results in biodiversity protection, wildfire management and sustainable management of natural resources
Media Release
The Harvard Project on Indigenous Governance and Development’s Honoring Nations program is thrilled to announce the selection of six outstanding tribal programs advancing to the site visit round for the 2025 awards.
Media Release
The national awards program Honoring Nations, flagship program of the Harvard Project, announces the recipients of the 2025 Honoring Nations Awards, recognizing 6 governmental initiatives for outstanding excellence in tribal self-governance.
Policy Brief
Harvard Kennedy School researchers release global scoping review finding Indigenous conservation practices achieve equal or superior results in biodiversity protection, wildfire management and sustainable management of natural resources
Media Release
The Harvard Project on Indigenous Governance and Development’s Honoring Nations program is thrilled to announce the selection of six outstanding tribal programs advancing to the site visit round for the 2025 awards.
