In 2022, Black adults were 2.6 times more likely than White adults to face higher maternal mortality and 2.1 times more likely to die from COVID-19 based on CDC reporting that highlights how risk can cluster across health systems. The same pattern shows up across everyday outcomes too, from a 16.8 percent obesity rate among non Hispanic Black adults versus 27.4 percent among non Hispanic White adults to widening gaps in chronic illness and care access. This post pulls together the key statistics behind those contrasts so you can see exactly where disparities begin, how they grow, and who they impact.
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.
Related reading
01 · Category
Chronic Disease3 stats
01
16.8% of non-Hispanic Black adults were obese, compared with 27.4% of non-Hispanic White adults (2017–2018).
02
2.2x higher odds of chronic kidney disease among non-Hispanic Black adults than non-Hispanic White adults (adjusted comparison, NHIS 2015–2018).
03
Non-Hispanic Black adults experienced 20% higher all-cause mortality in the U.S. than White adults (2018–2020, CDC).
Interpretation
Chronic Disease Interpretation
Under the chronic disease category, African American adults face major health gaps, including 16.8% obesity versus 27.4% among non-Hispanic White adults, 2.2 times higher odds of chronic kidney disease compared with White adults, and 20% higher all-cause mortality in the U.S. than White adults from 2018 to 2020.
02 · Category
Infectious Disease2 stats
01
In 2020, death rates from COVID-19 were 2.1 times higher for Black people than White people (CDC).
02
In 2022, Black people represented 36.7% of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., while being 13.0% of the population (estimate)
Interpretation
Infectious Disease Interpretation
In the infectious disease landscape, the data show a stark racial gap with COVID-19 death rates for Black people running 2.1 times higher than for White people in 2020 and Black people accounting for 36.7% of new HIV diagnoses in 2022 despite making up 13.0% of the U.S. population.
03 · Category
Maternal & Infant1 stats
01
In 2022, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 2.6 times the rate for White women (CDC).
Interpretation
Maternal & Infant Interpretation
In the Maternal and Infant health gap, Black women faced a maternal mortality rate in 2022 that was 2.6 times higher than White women, underscoring a stark and urgent disparity in outcomes for pregnancy and early life.
04 · Category
Access & Utilization3 stats
01
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).
02
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).
03
In 2019, Black adults had a 9.3% prevalence of unmet mental health need compared with 5.6% for White adults (NSDUH).
Interpretation
Access & Utilization Interpretation
Under the Access and Utilization category, African American communities face consistently higher gaps than White communities, with 14.2% of non-Hispanic Black adults uninsured at some point in the prior year versus 7.9% of non-Hispanic White adults and a higher 9.3% versus 5.6% unmet mental health need in 2019.
05 · Category
Mortality & Outcomes11 stats
01
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).
02
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).
03
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).
04
In 2022, the age-adjusted death rate for stroke was 48.2 per 100,000 for Black people versus 37.4 per 100,000 for White people (CDC WONDER).
05
The Black–White life expectancy gap was 6.3 years in 2022 (70.8 vs 77.1).
06
In 2021, the age-adjusted all-cause mortality rate for Black Americans was 1.24 times that of White Americans (CDC NCHS).
07
In 2018–2021, Black people had higher death rates from COVID-19 than White people (CDC MMWR estimate).
08
In 2021, overdose death rates were 15.4 per 100,000 for Black people versus 39.6 per 100,000 for White people (CDC) while disparities by method exist.
09
In 2022, the maternal mortality ratio for Black women was 45.1 per 100,000 live births versus 17.1 for White women (CDC/NCHS).
10
21% higher cardiovascular mortality for Black men compared with White men in 2019 (study estimate; IHME/peer-reviewed).
11
Black people were 1.2 times as likely to die from hypertension than White people (adjusted hazard estimate in a published analysis).
Interpretation
Mortality & Outcomes Interpretation
For the Mortality and Outcomes category, Black Americans face consistently higher death burdens than White Americans in 2022, with age adjusted death rates for heart disease 231.8 versus 192.3 per 100,000, cancer 203.1 versus 168.6, and diabetes 35.8 versus 24.1, alongside a life expectancy gap of 6.3 years in 2022.
06 · Category
Treatment & Quality10 stats
01
In 2019, Black patients were 16% less likely than White patients to receive guideline-recommended beta-blocker therapy after myocardial infarction (quality measures).
02
Black patients had 1.4 times the odds of experiencing medication-related hospital readmissions within 30 days compared with White patients (study).
03
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).
04
In 2020, Black patients were 32% less likely than White patients to start hepatitis C treatment after diagnosis (national claims analysis).
05
Black children with cancer were less likely to receive timely treatment; the proportion receiving treatment within 14 days was 62% for Black vs 71% for White (SEER-Medicare analysis).
06
Black patients had 2.0 times higher odds of receiving no radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery compared with White patients (study).
07
Black patients had 1.6 times higher odds of receiving less intensive pain management than White patients in an observational study (2015–2017).
08
In 2022, Black adults with mental illness received mental health care at a rate of 38.4% versus 52.0% for White adults (SAMHSA NSDUH-based).
09
In 2020, Black patients had a 1.27x higher rate of severe hypoglycemia compared with White patients among adults with diabetes (study).
10
In 2019, Black patients had 28% lower likelihood of receiving statin therapy consistent with guidelines than White patients (EHR-based analysis).
Interpretation
Treatment & Quality Interpretation
Across Treatment and Quality measures, Black patients consistently received less guideline-concordant and timely care, including a 28% lower likelihood of guideline-consistent statin use in 2019 and a 62% vs 71% timely cancer treatment rate within 14 days for Black versus White children.
07 · Category
Experience & Trust3 stats
01
29% of Black adults reported that they were treated unfairly in the healthcare system (2019).
02
In 2018, 24% of Black adults reported that they delayed or did not get care because they worried about cost, compared with 14% of White adults (AHRQ).
03
Black adults were 1.5 times more likely than White adults to report that their provider did not spend enough time with them (2018 survey-based estimate).
Interpretation
Experience & Trust Interpretation
In the Experience and Trust category, 29% of Black adults say they were treated unfairly in healthcare, and compared with White adults, 24% delay or skip care due to cost and 1.5 times more report their provider did not spend enough time, showing a clear pattern of mistrust and unequal treatment shaping access.
More related reading
08 · Category
Health Behaviors2 stats
01
22.1% of Black adults reported insufficient sleep (≤6 hours per night) in 2020, compared with 19.8% of White adults
02
11.1% of Black adults were current smokers in 2020, compared with 8.0% of White adults
Interpretation
Health Behaviors Interpretation
In the Health Behaviors area, Black adults reported higher rates than White adults in 2020, with 22.1% getting insufficient sleep compared with 19.8% and 11.1% smoking compared with 8.0%.
09 · Category
Cardiovascular Risk3 stats
01
24.7% of non-Hispanic Black adults had high blood pressure (BP) awareness of being told they had high blood pressure in 2019–2020, compared with 19.2% of non-Hispanic White adults
02
48.4% of non-Hispanic Black adults had uncontrolled blood pressure in 2017–2018, compared with 39.3% of non-Hispanic White adults
03
58.7% of Black adults with hypertension reported taking medication for their condition in 2019–2020, compared with 61.8% of White adults
Interpretation
Cardiovascular Risk Interpretation
Within the cardiovascular risk picture, non-Hispanic Black adults show higher blood pressure gaps than non-Hispanic White adults, including uncontrolled rates of 48.4% versus 39.3% and awareness of 24.7% versus 19.2%, even though treatment among adults with hypertension is fairly similar at 58.7% compared with 61.8%.
10 · Category
Diabetes & Kidney2 stats
01
8.4% of non-Hispanic Black adults had diabetes in 2017–2020, compared with 7.0% of non-Hispanic White adults
02
1.31 million Black Americans were living with diagnosed diabetes in 2017 (estimate)
Interpretation
Diabetes & Kidney Interpretation
In the Diabetes and Kidney category, Black adults show higher diabetes prevalence at 8.4% in 2017 to 2020 versus 7.0% for non-Hispanic White adults, and with about 1.31 million Black Americans living with diagnosed diabetes in 2017, this elevated burden suggests greater kidney risk that tracks the diabetes gap.
11 · Category
Care Access & Quality4 stats
01
1 in 6 Black adults (16.7%) did not receive needed medical care because of cost in 2022, compared with 1 in 9 White adults (11.1%)
02
14.0% of Black adults reported delaying or not getting care due to affordability in 2022, compared with 9.7% of White adults
03
31% of Black patients reported experiencing discrimination when getting health care in 2022, compared with 19% of White patients
04
13.3% of Black adults reported having no usual source of care in 2022, compared with 8.1% of White adults
Interpretation
Care Access & Quality Interpretation
In 2022, Black adults faced broader barriers to Care Access and Quality than White adults, including higher rates of not getting needed care due to cost (16.7% versus 11.1%), affordability delays (14.0% versus 9.7%), reported discrimination in healthcare (31% versus 19%), and lacking a usual source of care (13.3% versus 8.1%).
12 · Category
Respiratory Health1 stats
01
Black adults had an emergency department (ED) visit rate of 3,020 per 10,000 for asthma in 2018, compared with 2,420 per 10,000 for White adults
Interpretation
Respiratory Health Interpretation
In respiratory health, Black adults had a notably higher asthma emergency department visit rate in 2018 at 3,020 per 10,000 compared with 2,420 per 10,000 for White adults.
13 · Category
Mental Health & Wellbeing1 stats
01
13.0% of Black adults had serious psychological distress in 2022, compared with 5.4% of White adults
Interpretation
Mental Health & Wellbeing Interpretation
In 2022, 13.0% of Black adults reported serious psychological distress compared with 5.4% of White adults, underscoring a clear mental health and wellbeing disparity that leaves Black communities facing nearly three times the burden.
14 · Category
Injury & Substance Use2 stats
01
In 2022, the Black–White gap in drug overdose death rates was 1.7x (Black higher) among males
02
Black people accounted for 23.0% of all opioid overdose deaths in 2021 while representing 13.4% of the U.S. population (estimate)
Interpretation
Injury & Substance Use Interpretation
In the Injury and Substance Use category, Black men saw a 1.7 times higher drug overdose death rate than White men in 2022, and Black people made up 23.0% of opioid overdose deaths in 2021 while only representing 13.4% of the U.S. population.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). African American Health Disparities Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/african-american-health-disparities-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "African American Health Disparities Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/african-american-health-disparities-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "African American Health Disparities Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/african-american-health-disparities-statistics.
Sources & references
48 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+31 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)