Asthma and American Indians/Alaska Natives

  • Overall, American Indian/Alaska Native children reported 42% more cases of asthma compared to children from the total population between 2019 - 2021.1
  • While all the causes of asthma remain unclear, children exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke exposure are at increased risk for acute lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis. Children living below or near the poverty level are more likely to have high levels of blood cotinine, a breakdown product of nicotine, than children living in higher income families.1

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Occurrence

Adults

Current asthma among adults ages 18 and over, percentage, 2024
AI/ANTotal populationRatio (AI/AN / Total)
10.28.61.19
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults: Percentage of current asthma for adults aged 18 and over, United States, 2024. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Adults ages 18 and over who have ever been told they have asthma, percentage, 2018
AI/AN*Total PopulationRatio (AI/AN* / Total)
14.913.61.10
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2019). Summary health statistics: National Health Interview Survey, 2018 (Table A-2a). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Children and Adolescents

Current asthma among children under 18 years of age, percentage, 2019-2021
AI/AN*Total PopulationRatio (AI/AN* / Total)
9.26.51.42
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Most recent national asthma data. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Children under 18 years of age ever having asthma, percentage, 2024
AI/ANTotal PopulationRatio (AI/AN / Total)
13.89.71.42
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: Percentage of ever having asthma for children under age 18 years, United States, 2024. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

*Population is non-Hispanic in the data source.

1 CDC, 2022. Data, Statistics, and Surveillance, Most Recent National Asthma Data. (Back to top)


Date Last Reviewed: January 2026