Native Americans are a community identity, determined by the tribal nation the individual or group belongs to. However, the United States Census Bureau defines Native American as "all people indigenous to the United States and its territories—including Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders—whose data are published separately from American Indians and Alaska Natives". The concept of “race” can be a problematic descriptor for Native American identity, which is a political and legal identity in addition to a racial one. The federal government aggregates race data into five major racial categories: white, Black, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. It is important to note that Native Americans identify as two or more races at significantly higher rates than other racial groups.

In terms of genetics, Native Americans are most closely related to East Asian people, while approximately 37% of their ancestry is derived from Ancient North Eurasians. It is also important to note that among American Indians and Alaska Natives, most aspects of ethnicity are tightly associated with the persons tribal origins.