African Americans by the Numbers

From the U.S. Census Bureau

Find information on African-American populations, veterans, business-owners, incomes, home-owners, and more, in honor of Black History Month.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Related Links Black History Timeline Top 50 Colleges for Black Students Historically Black Colleges and Universities Milestones in African-American Education Poverty and Race Median Income of Households African-American Population by Region Cities with Highest Percentage of African Americans Interracial Married Couples

Population

42 million

The number of people who identified as black, either alone or in combination with one or more other races, in the 2010 Census. They made up 13.6 percent of the total U.S. population. The black population grew by 15.4 percent from 2000 to 2010.

65.7 million

The projected black population of the United States (including those of more than one race) for July 1, 2050. On that date, according to the projection, blacks would constitute 15 percent of the nation's total population.

3.3 million

The black population in New York, which led all states in 2010. The other nine states in the top 10 were Florida, Texas, Georgia, California, North Carolina, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia and Ohio.

38%

Percent of Mississippi's total population that was black in 2010. Mississippi led the nation in this category followed by Louisiana (33 percent), Georgia (32 percent), Maryland (31 percent), South Carolina (29 percent) and Alabama (27 percent).

52%

Percent of the total population in the District of Columbia that was black in 2010.

2.2 million

People who identified as black in New York City, which led all places with populations of 100,000 or more. It was followed by Chicago; Philadelphia; Detroit; Houston; Memphis, Tenn.; Baltimore; Los Angeles; Washington; and Dallas.

84.3%

Percent of the total population in Detroit, who identified as black, which is the highest percentage nationally among places with populations of 100,000 or more. It was followed by Jackson, Miss. (80.1 percent), Miami Gardens, Fla. (77.9 percent), Birmingham, Ala. (74.0 percent), Baltimore, (65.1 percent), Memphis, Tenn. (64.1 percent), New Orleans (61.2 percent), Flint, Mich. (59.5), Montgomery Ala. (57.4 percent) and Savannah, Ga. (56.7 percent).

Serving Our Nation

2.4 million

Number of black military veterans in the United States in 2010.

Education

82%

Among blacks 25 and older, the percentage with a high school diploma or higher in 2010.

18%

Percentage of blacks 25 and older who had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2010.

1.5 million

Among blacks 25 and older, the number who had an advanced degree in 2010.

2.9 million

Number of blacks enrolled in college in 2010, a 1.7 million increase since 1990.

Voting

11.1 million

The number of blacks who voted in the 2010 congressional election, an increase from 11 percent of the total electorate in 2006 to 12 percent in 2010.

55%

Turnout rate in the 2008 presidential election for the 18- to 24-year-old citizen black population, an 8 percentage point increase from 2004. Blacks had the highest turnout rate in this age group.

65%

Turnout rate among black citizens regardless of age in the 2008 presidential election, up about 5 percentage points from 2004. Looking at voter turnout by race and Hispanic origin, non-Hispanic whites and blacks had the highest turnout levels.

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

$32,068

The annual median income of black households in 2010, a decline of 3.2 percent from 2009.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States

27.4%

Poverty rate in 2010 for blacks.

79.2%

Percentage of blacks that were covered by health insurance during all or part of 2010.

Families and Children

62.5%

Among households with a black householder, the percentage that contained a family. There were 9.4 million black family households.

44.4%

Among families with black householders, the percentage that were married couples.

1.3 million

Number of black grandparents who lived with their own grandchildren younger than 18. Of this number, 47.6 percent were also responsible for their care.

Homeownership

44.2%

Nationally, the percentage of households with a householder who was black who lived in owner-occupied homes.

Jobs

28.4%

The percentage of blacks 16 and older who worked in management, business, science and arts occupations.

Businesses

$135.7 billion

Receipts for black-owned businesses in 2007, up 53.1 percent from 2002. The number of black-owned businesses totaled 1.9 million in 2007, up 60.5 percent.

37.7%

Percentage of black-owned businesses in 2007 in health care and social assistance, repair and maintenance and personal and laundry services.

10.6%

Percentage of businesses in New York in 2007 that were black-owned, which led all states or state-equivalents. Georgia and Florida followed, at 9.6 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively.

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