Statistics About Black Americans - Demographics

40.7 million (as of July 2007). Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Percent of U.S. population (as of July 2007): 13.5%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Self-identification: African-American 48%, Black 35%, both terms 17%

8.5 million black family households (as of July 2007). Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Black household composition: 64% occupied by families. Among black family households, 45% are married couples. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. (1940: 77% married, 18% single women, 5% single men)

1.2 million black grandparents living with their grandchildren under age 18. 50% are responsible for the care of these children. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Regional residence: 55% South (vs. 77% in 1940), 18% Northeast, 18% Midwest, 9% West. 52% live in cities, 36% suburbs (vs. 29% in 1994), 12% rural

Number of U.S. states with a black population of at least million (as of July 2007): 18. Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

States where blacks are at least 25% of population (as of July 2007): Georgia (31%), Louisiana (32%), Maryland (30%), Mississippi (38%), South Carolina (29%) and Alabama (27%). Blacks also comprise 56% of the population in the District of Columbia. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Top 5 U.S. cities with black populations: New York, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelpia, Houston

Top cities with black migration inflows: Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, Orlando

Top cities with black migration outflows: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco

Black marriage rate: 35% in 2002 (vs. 63% in 1950). 2/3 will get married sometime in their lives

Black median age: 31.3 years. U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey

Under age 18 (as of July 2007): 31%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Ages 65+ (as of July 2007): 8%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Children born IN wedlock: 25% (vs. 80% in 1960)

67% of young black men (under age 30) have never been involved in criminal justice system. 33% have been

2.4 million veterans (as of July 2007). 5.9% of U.S. black population. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

7% of the black household population aged five years and over speaks a language other than English at home. U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey

Labor force participation: 62% for black women, 68% for black men

Internet usage: 61%. Percent who regularly go online for news: 25% (up from 16% in 2000)

Top 5 favorite cable channels: Black Entertainment Television, Lifetime, TNT, USA, pay-per-view

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2003 ABC/Washington Post poll, Pew Research Center, U.S. Department of Justice, 2004 BIG Research, Brookings Institution, 2004 Pew Research Survey, 2004 Association of Religion Data Archive survey