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African American Profile

African American Profile Map with Links to Departments of Health in each indicated State For additional data and statistics on African Americans in New York, click here. For additional data and statistics on African Americans in Maryland, click here. For additional data and statistics on African Americans in Maryland, click here. For additional data and statistics on Asian Americans in Virginia, click here. For additional data and statistics on African Americans in Michigan, click here. For additional data and statistics on African Americans in Illinois, click here. For additional data and statistics on African Americans in North Carolina,  click here. For additional data and statistics on African Americans in Georgia, click here. For additional data and statistics on African Americans in Florida, click here. For additional data and statistics on African Americans in Texas, click here. For additional data and statistics on African Americans in California, click here.

(Map of the US with the top 10 states displaying the
largest African American population according to the Census Bureau)

NY - CA - TX - GA - FL - NC - IL - MI - MD - VA

Overview (Demographics): In July 2006, 40.2 million people in the United States, or 13.4 percent of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, were Black. They are the second largest minority population, following the Hispanic/Latino population. In 2004, the majority of Blacks lived in the South (54 percent). In comparison, 67 percent (198.3 million) of the United States population was non-Hispanic White: 34 percent lived in the South. The ten states with the largest Black population in 2006 were New York, Florida, Texas, Georgia, California, Illinois, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Michigan. Louisiana is no longer in the top 10, as a result of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Combined, these 10 states represented 49% of the total Black population. Of the ten largest places in the United States with 100,000 or more population, Detroit had the largest proportion of Blacks, 83%, followed by Philadelphia (44%), and Chicago (38%).

Educational Attainment: In 2004, as compared to Whites, a lower percentage of Blacks had earned at least a high school diploma (74 percent and 81 percent, respectively). More Black women than Black men had earned at least a bachelor's degree (16 percent compared with 13 percent), while among non-Hispanic Whites, a higher proportion of men than women had earned at least a bachelor's degree (26 percent and 23 percent, respectively).

Economics: According to the 2006 Census Bureau report, the average African-American family median income was $31,969 in comparison to $52,423 for non-Hispanic Caucasian families. In 2006, the U.S. Census bureau reported that 20 percent of African-Americans in comparison to 8 percent of non-Hispanic Caucasians were living at the poverty level. In 2006, the unemployment rate for Blacks was twice that for non-Hispanic Whites (8 percent and 4 percent, respectively). This finding was consistent for both men (8 percent compared with 4 percent) and women (7 percent compared with 4 percent).

Insurance Coverage: In 2004, 55 percent of African-Americans in comparison to 78non-Hispanic Caucasians used employer-sponsored health insurance. Also in 2004, 24.6 percent of African-Americans in comparison to 7.9 percent of non-Hispanic Caucasians relied on public health insurance. Finally, in 2006, 17.3 percent of African-Americans in comparison to 12 percent of non-Hispanic Caucasians were uninsured.

Full Census Reports:
The Black Population: 2000

The Black Population in the United States: March 2002

The American Community Survey - Blacks: 2004

Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006 report

Health Conditions: In 2003, the death rate for African Americans was higher than Whites for heart diseases, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and homicide.

Quick Facts
Cancer

  • In 2003, African American men were 1.4 times as likely to have new cases of lung and prostate cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white men.
  • African American men were twice as likely to have new cases of stomach cancer as non-Hispanic white men.
  • African Americans men had lower 5-year cancer survival rates for lung and pancreatic cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white men.
  • In 2004, African American men were 2.4 times as likely to die from prostate cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
  • In 2003, African American women were 10% less likely to have been diagnosed with breast cancer, however, they were 36% more likely to die from breast cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white women.
  • In 2003, African American women were 2.3 times as likely to have been diagnosed with stomach cancer, and they were 2.2 times as likely to die from stomach cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white women.
    For more statistics on African Americans and cancer, please click here

Diabetes

  • African American adults were 1.8 times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.
  • In 2002, African American men were 2.1 times as likely to start treatment for end-stage renal disease related to diabetes, compared to non-Hispanic white men.
  • In 2003, diabetic African Americans were 1.8 times as likely as diabetic Whites to be hospitalized.
  • In 2004, African Americans were 2.2 times as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to die from diabetes.
    For more statistics on African Americans and diabetes, please click here

Heart Disease

  • In 2004, African American men were 30% more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
  • African Americans were 1.5 times as likely as non-Hispanic whites to have high blood pressure.
  • African American women were 1.7 times as likely as non-Hispanic white women to be obese.
    For more statistics on African Americans and heart disease, please click here

HIV/AIDS

  • Although African Americans make up only 13% of the total U.S. population, they accounted for 47% of HIV/AIDS cases in 2005.
  • African American males had more than 8 times the AIDS rate of non-Hispanic white males.
  • African American females had more than 23 times the AIDS rate of non-Hispanic white females.
  • African American men were more than 9 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as non-Hispanic white men.
  • African American women were more than 21 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as non-Hispanic white women.
    For more statistics on African Americans and HIV/AIDS, please click here

Immunization

  • In 2005, African Americans aged 65 and older were 40% less likely to have received the influenza (flu) shot in the past 12 months, compared to non-Hispanic whites of the same age group.
  • In 2005, African American adults aged 65 and older were 30% less likely to have ever received the pneumonia shot, compared to non-Hispanic white adults of the same age group.
  • Although African American children aged 19 to 35 months had comparable rates of immunization for hepatitis, influenza, MMR, and polio, they were slightly less likely to be fully immunized, when compared to non-Hispanic white children.
    For more statistics on African Americans and immunization, please click here

Infant Mortality

  • In 2004, African Americans had 2.4 times the infant mortality rate of non-Hispanic whites.
  • African American infants were almost 4 times as likely to die from causes related to low birthweight, compared to non-Hispanic white infants.
  • African Americans had 2.1 times the sudden infant death syndrome mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites.
  • African American mothers were 2.6 times as likely as non-Hispanic white mothers to begin prenatal care in the 3rd trimester, or not receive prenatal care at all.
    For more statistics on African Americans and infant mortality, please click here

Stroke

  • African American adults were 50% more likely than their White adult counterparts to have a stroke.
  • African American males were 60% more likely to die from a stroke than their White adult counterparts.
  • Analysis from a CDC health interview survey reveals that African American stroke survivors were more likely to become disabled and have difficulty with activities of daily living than their non-Hispanic white counterparts.
    For more statistics on African Americans and stroke, please click here



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Last Modified: 11/21/2007 10:58:00 AM
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