CB01-FF.02 February 22, 2001 African American History Month Celebrated in February Note: The estimates in this fact sheet should not be confused with Census 2000 results, which are scheduled for release over the next three years. Education - In 2000, 79 percent of African Americans age 25 and over had completed at least high school a record high. Among those ages 25 to 29, however, a much higher percentage of African Americans had attained at least a high school diploma (86 percent). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-211.html - In 2000, a record-high 17 percent of African Americans age 25 and over had earned at least a bachelor's degree. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-211.html - The percentage of African Americans, age 25 and over, with a high school diploma or more in 2000 was more than double that of 1970. Likewise, the percentage in 2000 with a bachelor's degree or higher was more than triple that of 30 years earlier. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-211.html - About 1 million African Americans had an advanced degree in 2000 (e.g., master's, Ph.D., M.D. or J.D.). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-211.html Income and Poverty - The 1999 poverty rate for African Americans, 23.6 percent, was the lowest ever measured by the Census Bureau, and about 700,000 fewer African Americans were poor in 1999 (8.4 million) than in 1998 (9.1 million). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-158.html - The 1999 median income for African American households, $27,910, was the highest ever recorded. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-158.html Voting - African Americans were the only race or ethnic group to show an increase in voter participation in congressional elections, increasing their presence at the polls from 37 percent in 1994 to 40 percent in 1998. Nationwide, overall turnout by the voting-age population was down from 45 percent in 1994 to 42 percent in 1998. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-114.html - African Americans increased their voter registration rate from 59 percent in 1994 to 61 percent in 1998. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-114.html Families - In 2000, there were 8.7 million African American families; just under half of them (48 percent) were married-couple families. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-34.html - African American families are larger than non-Hispanic White families. For example, 21 percent of African American married-couple families in 2000 had five or more members, compared with 12 percent of their non-Hispanic White counterparts. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-34.html - Among African American men age 15 and over in 2000, 45 percent had never been married, 39 percent were currently married, 3 percent were widowed and 10 percent were divorced. Among women, the corresponding rates were 42 percent, 31 percent, 10 percent and 12 percent. There was no significant difference between the percentages of men and women who were never married. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-34.html Population Distribution National Estimates and Projections - The nation's African American population totaled an estimated 35.5 million as of Nov. 1, 2000. It comprised 13 percent of the total population. Since April 1, 1990, the African American population has increased by 5.0 million people or 16 percent while the total U.S. population has grown 11 percent. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/nation/intfile3-1.txt - The nation's African American population is young, with an estimated median age of 30.4 years as of Nov. 1, 2000 more than five years younger than the median for the U.S. population as a whole. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/nation/intfile3-1.txt - The African American population, according to projections, could rise to 47.1 million in 2025; its share of the total population under this scenario would increase slightly, to 14 percent. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-05.html Subnational Estimates - In 2000, the majority of African Americans (54 percent) lived in the South, followed by the Northeast (19 percent), Midwest (19 percent) and West (8 percent). There was no statistical difference between the percentages living in the Northeast and the Midwest. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-34.html - Nationwide, 53 percent of African Americans resided in the central cities of metro areas in 2000. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-34.html As of July 1, 1999: - The five states with the largest African American populations were New York (3.2 million), California (2.5 million), Texas (2.5 million), Florida (2.3 million) and Georgia (2.2 million). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html - The District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) led all states or state equivalents with the largest percentage (61 percent) of African Americans in its total population. Four Southern states rounded out the top five in this category: Mississippi (37 percent), Louisiana (32 percent), South Carolina (30 percent) and Georgia (29 percent). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html - Cook County (Chicago), Ill., had more African Americans (1.4 million) than any other county in the nation. Los Angeles County, Calif., was second (1.0 million), followed by Kings County (Brooklyn), N.Y. (932,072), Wayne County (Detroit), Mich. (899,346), and Harris County, Texas (645,101). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html - With respect to African Americans as a percentage of a county's (or county-equivalent's) total population, Macon County, Ala., and Jefferson County, Miss., led the nation, with 87 percent of their respective populations made up of African Americans. Others in the top five were: Claiborne County, Miss. (82 percent), Hancock County, Ga. (82 percent), and Greene County, Ala. (81 percent). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html Between April 1, 1990, and July 1, 1999: - Florida registered the biggest increase (561,000) in African American population among states. Just behind were Georgia (484,717), Texas (422,095), Maryland (258,160) and North Carolina (224,580). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html - Idaho's African American population increased 115 percent -- tops among all the states. Nevada (75 percent), Vermont (61 percent), Utah (61 percent), South Dakota (55 percent) and Minnesota (55 percent) were runners-up. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html - Among counties, Harris County (Houston), Texas, was the top gainer (96,714) in African American population. Broward County (Fort Lauderdale), Fla., was No. 2, with 91,155 new African American residents, followed by Fulton County (Atlanta), Ga. (86,886), Prince George's County, Md. (84,540) and Cook County (Chicago), Ill. (68,125). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html Jobs - In 2000, one-quarter (25 percent) of employed African American women, age 16 and over, and 18 percent of men worked in managerial and professional specialty occupations (e.g., engineers, dentists, teachers, lawyers and reporters). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-34.html - African American women, age 16 and over, were more likely than their non-Hispanic White counterparts to participate in the labor force (64 percent compared with 61 percent in 2000). For men, the reverse was true: African Americans had a participation rate of 68 percent compared with 74 percent for non-Hispanic Whites. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-34.html - As to specific occupations, the United States had 96,000 African American engineers, 41,000 African American physicians and 47,000 African American lawyers in 1999. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/ Homeownership - The African American homeownership rate -- the percentage of African American families owning their own home -- reached 47 percent during the third quarter of 2000. This represents an increase of nearly 4 percentage points from five years earlier. http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/hvs/q400prss.html _______________________________________________________________________________ The preceding facts come from the Current Population Survey, population estimates and projections and the Statistical Abstract of the United States. The data are subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Previous Facts for Features in 2001: Valentine's Day (Feb. 14). Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office (tel: 301-457-3030; fax: 301-457-3670; e-mail: pio@census.gov).