Key Takeaways
- 16.8% of non-Hispanic Black adults were obese, compared with 27.4% of non-Hispanic White adults (2017–2018).
- 2.2x higher odds of chronic kidney disease among non-Hispanic Black adults than non-Hispanic White adults (adjusted comparison, NHIS 2015–2018).
- Non-Hispanic Black adults experienced 20% higher all-cause mortality in the U.S. than White adults (2018–2020, CDC).
- In 2020, death rates from COVID-19 were 2.1 times higher for Black people than White people (CDC).
- In 2022, Black people represented 36.7% of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., while being 13.0% of the population (estimate)
- In 2022, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 2.6 times the rate for White women (CDC).
- In 2022, Black adults were 1.5 times as likely as White adults to report not having a usual place for healthcare (CDC NHIS-based estimate).
- In 2022, 14.2% of non-Hispanic Black adults were uninsured at some point during the previous year versus 7.9% of non-Hispanic White adults (ACS-based).
- In 2019, Black adults had a 9.3% prevalence of unmet mental health need compared with 5.6% for White adults (NSDUH).
- In 2022, the age-adjusted death rate for heart disease was 231.8 per 100,000 for Black people versus 192.3 per 100,000 for White people (CDC WONDER).
- In 2022, the age-adjusted death rate for cancer was 203.1 per 100,000 for Black people versus 168.6 per 100,000 for White people (CDC WONDER).
- In 2022, the age-adjusted death rate for diabetes was 35.8 per 100,000 for Black people versus 24.1 per 100,000 for White people (CDC WONDER).
- In 2019, Black patients were 16% less likely than White patients to receive guideline-recommended beta-blocker therapy after myocardial infarction (quality measures).
- Black patients had 1.4 times the odds of experiencing medication-related hospital readmissions within 30 days compared with White patients (study).
- Black patients received dialysis with vascular access at lower rates; in a national sample, the prevalence of fistula use was 0.79 in Black vs 0.86 in White patients (adjusted comparison; 2016–2018).
Black Americans face stark, persistent health gaps including higher obesity, kidney disease, and mortality rates.
Chronic Disease
Chronic Disease Interpretation
Infectious Disease
Infectious Disease Interpretation
Maternal & Infant
Maternal & Infant Interpretation
Access & Utilization
Access & Utilization Interpretation
Mortality & Outcomes
Mortality & Outcomes Interpretation
Treatment & Quality
Treatment & Quality Interpretation
Experience & Trust
Experience & Trust Interpretation
Health Behaviors
Health Behaviors Interpretation
Cardiovascular Risk
Cardiovascular Risk Interpretation
Diabetes & Kidney
Diabetes & Kidney Interpretation
Care Access & Quality
Care Access & Quality Interpretation
Respiratory Health
Respiratory Health Interpretation
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Mental Health & Wellbeing Interpretation
Injury & Substance Use
Injury & Substance Use Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). African American Health Disparities Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/african-american-health-disparities-statistics
Emilia Santos. "African American Health Disparities Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/african-american-health-disparities-statistics.
Emilia Santos. 2026. "African American Health Disparities Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/african-american-health-disparities-statistics.
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