Numbers tell stories, but they also get messy. If you've ever found yourself scrolling through a census report or a news clip wondering exactly what percent of the us is african american, you've likely seen a few different figures floating around. It’s not just a single static digit.
Depending on how you count—and who is doing the counting—the answer changes.
In the most recent official tallies from the U.S. Census Bureau, specifically the 2020 decennial count and subsequent American Community Survey (ACS) updates, the Black or African American population represents roughly 12.4% to 14.4% of the total United States population.
Why the range? Well, identity is complicated.
Some people identify as Black alone. Others identify as Black in combination with another race, like White or Native American. When you add those groups together, the number jumps. Specifically, about 41.1 million people identified as "Black alone" in 2020, but that number climbed to 46.9 million when including those who identify as multiracial.
It’s a massive group of people. 47 million. That's more than the entire population of Spain.
The Breakdown: More Than Just a Percentage
Understanding what percent of the us is african american requires looking at the "Alone or in Combination" data. This is where the Census Bureau really changed the game in 2020. They improved the way they ask questions about race and ethnicity, allowing for a much more nuanced picture of the American fabric.
Honestly, the "multiracial" category exploded. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of people identifying as Black and another race increased by nearly 90%.
That’s wild.
It shows that the way Americans view themselves is shifting away from rigid, single-box categories. If you're looking at the "Black alone" population, you're looking at about 12.1% of the country. But most sociologists and demographers argue that the "in combination" figure—around 14.2% to 14.4%—is a more accurate reflection of the community's reach and influence.
Geography matters here too.
The Black population isn't spread evenly across the 50 states. You’ve got the "Black Belt" in the South, a region stretching from eastern Texas to Maryland, where the concentration is significantly higher than the national average. In states like Mississippi, African Americans make up about 37% of the population. Contrast that with Montana or Vermont, where the percentage drops below 2%.
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The South remains the heart of the community. More than 56% of all Black Americans live in Southern states. This is a massive demographic reality that dictates everything from federal elections to the flavor of American food and music.
The Urban vs. Rural Split
Cities are where the density really hits. For decades, the "Great Migration" saw millions move from the rural South to Northern and Western cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia. While there has been a "Reverse Migration" back to the South in recent years—specifically to hubs like Atlanta and Charlotte—the urban concentration remains high.
Take Detroit. Even after years of economic shifts, it remains one of the largest majority-Black cities in the country.
But it’s not just the big metros anymore. Suburbanization is happening. Black families are moving out of the traditional urban cores and into surrounding counties, changing the "percent of the US" math in places like Prince George’s County, Maryland, or the suburbs of Houston.
Why the Numbers Are Moving
Population growth isn't just about births and deaths. It’s about migration too.
When people ask what percent of the us is african american, they often forget about the foreign-born Black population. This is a huge, growing segment. We’re talking about immigrants from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Jamaica, and Haiti.
According to Pew Research Center, about 1 in 10 Black people in the U.S. are foreign-born.
That’s roughly 4.6 million people. This group has tripled in size since the 1980s. These individuals bring different cultural backgrounds, languages, and perspectives, even though they fall under the broader "African American" or "Black" umbrella in federal statistics. It adds a layer of complexity to the data. A second-generation Nigerian-American in Houston has a very different lived experience than a descendant of enslaved people in the South Carolina Lowcountry, yet they are often grouped together in that 14% total.
The growth rate of the Black population has been steady, but it's slower than the growth seen in the Hispanic or Asian American communities.
Why? Mostly birth rates and immigration patterns. While the Black population grew by about 6% between 2010 and 2020, the Hispanic population grew by 23%. This means that while the number of Black Americans is increasing, their share of the total U.S. population stays relatively stable or grows slowly compared to other groups.
Median Age and Future Projections
The Black population is younger than the White population.
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The median age for Black Americans is around 33. For non-Hispanic Whites, it’s closer to 44. This ten-year gap is a big deal. It means a larger portion of the Black community is of child-bearing age, and a larger portion is entering the workforce for the first time.
If you look at Gen Z or Alpha, the percentage of Black youth is higher than the percentage of Black seniors. This ensures that the community will remain a vital, driving force in American culture and economics for decades.
Economic and Social Realities in the Data
Raw percentages are fine for a trivia night, but they don't tell you about the quality of life.
When we look at the 14% of the country that is Black, we see significant disparities that the numbers alone hide. For instance, the homeownership rate for Black households is around 44%, compared to nearly 74% for White households. That’s a 30-point gap that hasn't closed much since the Fair Housing Act was passed.
Income follows a similar trend. The median household income for Black families is roughly $53,000, while the national median is closer to $75,000.
Why mention this? Because demographic data is used to allocate billions of dollars in federal funding. Everything from school lunches to highway expansions is based on these Census figures. If the count is off—and the Census Bureau admitted to undercounting the Black population by about 3.3% in 2020—communities lose out on resources.
That 3.3% undercount sounds small. It’s not. It represents nearly 1.5 million people who "don't exist" on paper for the next decade of funding.
The Nuance of Multi-Racial Identity
Let's go back to that "in combination" number.
The 2020 Census allowed people to write in their origins more clearly. People wrote "Jamaican," "Nigerian," or "African American." This clarity led to a surge in people identifying as more than one race.
If you look at the youngest Americans, the "percent of the us is african american" question becomes even more interesting. Among children, the percentage of those who are Black in combination with another race is significantly higher than among the elderly. We are moving toward a "majority-minority" country, but more accurately, we are moving toward a "multiracial" country.
The idea of "Blackness" in the U.S. is expanding to include Afro-Latinos, who often face a double-squeeze of identity. There are approximately 6 million Afro-Latino adults in the U.S. Some identify as Black, some as Hispanic, and many as both. In the past, they might have been forced to pick one. Now, the data is finally catching up to their reality.
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The Cultural Footprint vs. The Statistical Footprint
It’s funny. If you asked the average person on the street what percent of the us is african american, they’d probably guess a much higher number than 14%.
Some polls have shown people guessing as high as 30% or 40%.
This is largely due to the massive cultural presence of Black Americans. From the dominance of Black athletes in the NBA and NFL to the global reach of Hip-Hop and Jazz, the "cultural share" of the community feels much larger than the "statistical share." This is a testament to the community's influence on American identity as a whole.
But it can also lead to misconceptions about political power. While Black voters are a "toss-up" or "swing" group in certain states, their actual voting block size is constrained by that 13-14% national cap. However, in a system where elections are won on the margins, that 14% becomes the most important 14% in the world.
Real-World Implications of the Count
When the 2030 Census rolls around, expect the numbers to shift again.
There is a push to change how "Middle Eastern or North African" (MENA) people are categorized. Currently, they are often counted as White. If they are given their own category, it might shift the proportions of other groups.
Also, watch the birth rates. While the overall U.S. birth rate is declining, the diversification of the population continues through immigration.
Actionable Steps for Using This Data
If you are a business owner, a student, or just someone trying to understand the country, don't just look at the national average. National averages are mostly useless for local action.
- Check the County Level: Use the Census QuickFacts tool to look at your specific city or county. You'll find that the "14%" varies wildly. You might live in a place that is 60% Black or 1% Black.
- Acknowledge the Undercount: If you're using this data for a research paper or a grant application, always mention the Census Bureau’s own admission of the 2020 undercount. It adds a level of expert nuance to your work.
- Differentiate "Alone" vs. "In Combination": Always specify which number you are using. "Black alone" (approx. 12%) is used for certain legal benchmarks, while "Black in combination" (approx. 14%) is better for market research and cultural analysis.
- Look at Age Demographics: If you're marketing a product or starting a non-profit, look at the median age. The Black community is younger, which means their consumer habits and social needs are different from the general aging population.
The data shows a community that is growing in complexity, if not in massive percentage jumps. It's a group that remains central to the American story, even as the ways we define "race" continue to evolve and blur.
By the time the next census happens, we might not even be talking about "percentages" in the same way. We’ll be talking about a web of identities that a single 14% figure can’t quite capture.
Quick Summary Table for Reference
| Category | Approximate Percentage | Total Population (Est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American Alone | 12.1% - 12.4% | 41.1 Million |
| Black in Combination with Other Races | 2.1% - 2.3% | 5.8 Million |
| Total Black Population (Combined) | 14.2% - 14.4% | 46.9 Million |
To get the most accurate, up-to-date local data, your best bet is to dive into the American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates, which provide more frequent snapshots than the big decennial census. These are released every September and offer the most current look at how these percentages are shifting in real-time.
Don't rely on old textbooks or 2010 data. The world has changed too much since then.