American Indian and Alaska Natives in Tribal Areas Have Among Lowest Rates of High-Speed Internet Access

Compared to the national average of 90% in 2021, 84% of American Indian and Alaska Native households and 71% of American Indian and Alaska Native households on tribal land had broadband access, according to the American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates.

The “digital divide” is commonly defined as the gap between households with high-speed (broadband) internet access and those without. Research indicates those most affected by this divide or least likely to have internet access are people with disabilities, those 65 years and over, and those living in rural areas, among others.

And some of those factors may play a role in tribal areas’ internet access. For example, 45% of tribal households were in rural areas compared to 19% of nontribal households, and rural tribal households had a lower share (80%) of broadband subscriptions than urban tribal households (88%).

In comparison, the urban-rural connectivity gap was smaller between rural (87%) and urban (91%) households in nontribal areas.

From 2016 to 2021, the digital divide between tribal and nontribal households decreased from a gap of 10 percentage points to 6 points (Figure 2).

Closing the gap is important given the internet’s growing role in daily personal and professional tasks, such as virtual instruction and health visits, banking, sharing culture and stories, and connecting with family and friends.

Not all tribal households experienced unequal access to broadband internet (Figure 3).

Tribal residents in six states (Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Washington and Wisconsin) reported broadband rates at or above the national average of 90% in 2021.

Tribal residents in three states (Arizona, Connecticut, and New Mexico) had among the nation’s lowest rates — less than 70% in Arizona and New Mexico. Connecticut’s tribal broadband rate (60%) was not significantly less than 70%.

More than a quarter (27%) of American Indian and Alaska Native households were in states with the lowest tribal broadband rates while only 4% were in states with the highest tribal broadband.

Notably, the Navajo Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land — which spans parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah and has one of the largest tribal American Indian and Alaska Native populations (161,386 residents) in the United States — had a broadband subscription rate of only 33%, according to the 2017-2021 ACS 5-year estimates.

In comparison, the statewide broadband rate was 88% in Arizona; 80% in New Mexico; and 91% in Utah.

My Tribal Area provides more information on broadband subscription rates by specific tribal area.

The analysis defines “tribal areas” as all American Indian and Alaska Native Areas [PDF <1.0 MB], according to the American Community Survey (ACS). They include Hawaiian homelands, Alaska Native village statistical areas, and American Indian reservations and rancherias.

Broadband here refers to survey respondents who answered “Yes” to having at least one of the following types of internet subscription: cable; fiber optic or DSL (digital subscriber line); a cellular data plan; satellite; a fixed wireless subscription; or other non-dial-up subscriptions.

Further information on ACS resources for American Indian and Alaska Native populations is available.

Daniela Mejía is a survey statistician in the Census Bureau’s Education and Social Stratification Branch.