African American Profile

(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

Educational Attainment: In 2006, as compared to Whites 15 years and over, a lower percentage of Blacks had earned at least a high school diploma (74 percent and 85 percent, respectively). More Black women than Black men had earned at least a bachelor's degree (16 percent compared with 14 percent), while among non-Hispanic Whites, a higher proportion of men than women had earned at least a bachelor's degree (25 percent and 24 percent, respectively).

Economics: According to the 2007 Census Bureau report, the average African-American family median income was $33,916 in comparison to $54,920 for non-Hispanic White families. In 2007, the U.S. Census bureau reported that 24.5 percent of African-Americans in comparison to 8.2 percent of non-Hispanic Whites were living at the poverty level. In 2007, 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 (9 percent compared with 4 percent) and women (8 percent compared with 4 percent).

Insurance Coverage: In 2007, 49 percent of African-Americans in comparison to 66 non-Hispanic Whites used employer-sponsored health insurance. Also in 2007, 23.8 percent of African-Americans in comparison to 9 percent of non-Hispanic Whites relied on public health insurance. Finally, in 2007, 19.5 percent of African-Americans in comparison to 10.4 percent of non-Hispanic whites were uninsured.

Full Census Reports:

The Black Population: 2000 [PDF, 510KB]

The Black Population in the United States: March 2002 [PDF, 71KB]

The American Community Survey - Blacks: 2004 [PDF, 915KB]

Census Bureau, 2008. Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007 [PDF, 3MB]

Health Conditions: In 2004, 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 2004, 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 2005, African American men were 2.4 times as likely to die from prostate cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
• In 2005, African American women were 10% less likely to have been diagnosed with breast cancer, however, they were 34% more likely to die from breast cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white women.
• African American women are 2.2 times as likely to be 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 1.9 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 1.7 times as likely as diabetic Whites to be hospitalized.
• In 2005, 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 2005, African American men were 30% more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
• African Americans were 1.4 times as likely as non-Hispanic whites to have high blood pressure.
• African American women are 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 12.4% of the total U.S. population, they accounted for 47% of HIV/AIDS cases in 2006.
• African American males had more than 9 times the AIDS rate of non-Hispanic white males.
• African American females had more than 21 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 2005, African Americans had 2.3 times the infant mortality rate of non-Hispanic whites.
• African American infants were almost 2.4 times as likely to die from causes related to low birthweight, compared to non-Hispanic white infants.
• African Americans had 1.8 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 are twice as 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