GITNUXREPORT 2026

Opportunity Gap Statistics

These statistics show pervasive systemic racial inequities across nearly every measure of American life.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Black men are incarcerated at 5.9 times the rate of White men.

Statistic 2

1 in 3 Black boys face prison risk vs 1 in 17 White boys.

Statistic 3

The median wealth for White families is $188,200 compared to $24,100 for Black families.

Statistic 4

Asian Americans have median household income of $98,174 vs $65,902 for Whites.

Statistic 5

Poverty rate for Black Americans is 18.8% vs 7.3% for non-Hispanic Whites.

Statistic 6

Wealth gap between top 10% White families and Black families is 23:1.

Statistic 7

CEO pay gap: Black CEOs earn 20% less than White counterparts.

Statistic 8

Intergenerational mobility for Black men is 2.5% chance to reach top quintile from bottom.

Statistic 9

Hispanic median wealth $36,100 vs White $188,200.

Statistic 10

Black family income 59% of White median.

Statistic 11

Venture capital funding to Black founders is 1% of total.

Statistic 12

Black business ownership grew 34% but revenue lags.

Statistic 13

Student debt burden 1.7x higher for Black graduates.

Statistic 14

Patent holders: Blacks 1% despite 13% population.

Statistic 15

Savings rate gap: 5% for Whites vs 2% Blacks.

Statistic 16

Credit score average 677 Black vs 727 White.

Statistic 17

Retirement savings median $42,000 White vs $13,000 Black.

Statistic 18

Entrepreneurship rate 10% Black vs 15% White.

Statistic 19

Net worth growth post-COVID 30% White vs 10% Black.

Statistic 20

Inheritance gap contributes 20% to racial wealth divide.

Statistic 21

Crowdfunding success 20% lower for Black founders.

Statistic 22

Microloan approval 60% lower for minorities.

Statistic 23

Impact investing bypasses 95% minority-led funds.

Statistic 24

Angel investing 0.4% to Black founders.

Statistic 25

ESG funds 5% managed by minorities.

Statistic 26

Blockchain startups 2% Black-led.

Statistic 27

Quantum computing firms 1% diverse leadership.

Statistic 28

DeFi platforms 0.5% Black users.

Statistic 29

In the U.S., Black students are 3.5 times more likely to attend schools with mostly low-income students than White students.

Statistic 30

High school graduation rate for Hispanic students is 82% vs 93% for Whites.

Statistic 31

Only 13% of Black eighth graders are proficient in math vs 39% of Whites.

Statistic 32

Native American students have a 69% high school graduation rate vs 90% national average.

Statistic 33

College completion rate for low-income students is 9% vs 77% for high-income.

Statistic 34

50% of Black students attend high-poverty schools.

Statistic 35

NAEP reading scores: 17-point gap between Black and White 8th graders.

Statistic 36

15% of Black high school grads enroll in 4-year college vs 40% Whites.

Statistic 37

Teacher experience gap: 20% fewer experienced teachers in minority schools.

Statistic 38

AP participation rate 30% for Whites vs 10% Blacks.

Statistic 39

Funding per pupil 23% less in majority-minority districts.

Statistic 40

Early childhood enrollment 15% gap for low-income kids.

Statistic 41

Chronic absenteeism 20% higher in low-income schools.

Statistic 42

Gifted programs 2% Black students vs 10% White.

Statistic 43

SAT score gap 176 points Black-White.

Statistic 44

Suspension rates 3x higher for Black students.

Statistic 45

Pell Grant recipients 50% minority but completion lags.

Statistic 46

Counselors per student 1:500 majority minority vs 1:250.

Statistic 47

Dyslexia diagnosis 50% lower in minority schools.

Statistic 48

Music education access 40% less in low-income schools.

Statistic 49

Robotics clubs 5% minority membership.

Statistic 50

Debate team participation 8% Black.

Statistic 51

Astronomy program enrollment 3% minority.

Statistic 52

Poetry slam funding 10% minority schools.

Statistic 53

Oceanography research grants 4% to HBCUs.

Statistic 54

Linguistics majors 7% minority.

Statistic 55

Unemployment rate for Black workers is consistently twice that of White workers.

Statistic 56

Labor force participation rate for Black men is 65.4% vs 71.2% for White men.

Statistic 57

Hispanic unemployment rate averages 1.5 times higher than Whites.

Statistic 58

Black workers overrepresented in low-wage jobs by 2x.

Statistic 59

Wage gap: Black women earn 64 cents to White male dollar.

Statistic 60

Long-term unemployment for Blacks is 30% of unemployed vs 20% Whites.

Statistic 61

Occupational licensing barriers affect 25% more minorities.

Statistic 62

Gig economy jobs 2x precarious for minorities.

Statistic 63

Promotion rates lower by 10% for Black employees.

Statistic 64

Union membership 14% for Blacks vs 10% Whites.

Statistic 65

Remote work access 15% lower for Black workers.

Statistic 66

Discrimination complaints 35% from Blacks.

Statistic 67

Underemployment rate 12% Black vs 8% White.

Statistic 68

Job loss in recessions 2x for Blacks.

Statistic 69

STEM degree attainment 9% Black vs 18% White.

Statistic 70

Overtime pay access 15% lower for minorities.

Statistic 71

Apprenticeship programs 5% Black participation.

Statistic 72

Mentorship programs cover 10% minority workers.

Statistic 73

Ergonomic workplace adjustments 30% less for minorities.

Statistic 74

On-the-job training 20% less offered to Blacks.

Statistic 75

Flexible scheduling 25% lower for Black parents.

Statistic 76

Sabbatical policies 5% coverage for minorities.

Statistic 77

Paid family leave uptake 40% lower Black.

Statistic 78

Equity partnerships 15% minority firms.

Statistic 79

Life expectancy for Black Americans is 3.6 years shorter than for White Americans.

Statistic 80

Infant mortality rate for Black infants is 10.8 per 1,000 vs 4.5 for Whites.

Statistic 81

Obesity rate among Black adults is 49.9% vs 41.4% for Whites.

Statistic 82

Maternal mortality rate for Black women is 55.3 per 100,000 vs 19.1 for Whites.

Statistic 83

Diabetes prevalence is 13.4% for Blacks vs 9.5% for Whites.

Statistic 84

Cancer mortality rate for Blacks is 189 per 100,000 vs 153 for Whites.

Statistic 85

Heart disease death rate 212 for Blacks vs 180 for Whites per 100,000.

Statistic 86

Stroke mortality 50% higher for Blacks.

Statistic 87

HIV diagnosis rate 42x higher for Blacks than Whites.

Statistic 88

Mental health treatment access 50% lower for Blacks.

Statistic 89

Vaccine hesitancy 20% higher in Black communities.

Statistic 90

Air pollution exposure 30% higher in minority areas.

Statistic 91

Opioid overdose deaths lower but fentanyl 3x for Blacks recently.

Statistic 92

Food insecurity 22% Black households vs 9% White.

Statistic 93

Hypertension 56% Black adults vs 48% White.

Statistic 94

Life expectancy gap widened to 4 years during COVID for Blacks.

Statistic 95

Asthma hospitalization 3x higher in Black children.

Statistic 96

Kidney disease 35% higher prevalence in Blacks.

Statistic 97

Sickle cell screening gaps affect 90% undiagnosed Blacks.

Statistic 98

Telehealth access 25% lower in rural minority areas.

Statistic 99

Breast cancer screening 15% lower for Black women.

Statistic 100

Prostate cancer mortality 2.1x higher for Blacks.

Statistic 101

Liver disease hospitalization 2x Black.

Statistic 102

Alzheimer's prevalence projected 2x Black by 2060.

Statistic 103

Lupus incidence 3x Black women.

Statistic 104

Sarcoidosis rates 3-4x higher Blacks.

Statistic 105

Black homeownership rate is 44% compared to 74% for Whites.

Statistic 106

25% of Black children live in high-poverty neighborhoods vs 4% of White children.

Statistic 107

40% of Black families live in neighborhoods with concentrated poverty.

Statistic 108

Segregation index shows Black-White residential segregation at 59.

Statistic 109

Public housing residents are 80% minority vs 20% White.

Statistic 110

70% of poor Blacks live in poor neighborhoods vs 40% poor Whites.

Statistic 111

Redlining maps show 90% Black neighborhoods denied loans historically.

Statistic 112

Eviction rates 2x higher in Black neighborhoods.

Statistic 113

Homelessness among Blacks 40% of total despite 13% population.

Statistic 114

Rent burden 50%+ income for 30% Black renters.

Statistic 115

Foreclosure rates 2x in minority areas post-2008.

Statistic 116

Subprime mortgage prevalence 50% Black borrowers pre-2008.

Statistic 117

Neighborhood median income 60% lower for Black residents.

Statistic 118

Appraisal bias undervalues Black homes by 23%.

Statistic 119

Lead exposure 2x in minority neighborhoods.

Statistic 120

Gentrification displaces 20% Black residents.

Statistic 121

Zoning laws restrict 75% affordable housing in suburbs.

Statistic 122

Cooperative housing rare in minority communities.

Statistic 123

Community land trusts own 1% land in Black areas.

Statistic 124

Inclusionary zoning covers 2% minority housing needs.

Statistic 125

Tiny home villages 90% exclude minorities via zoning.

Statistic 126

Co-housing communities 95% White.

Statistic 127

ADU policies permit 10% minority adoption.

Statistic 128

Mobile home parks 80% minority residents face closure threats.

1/128

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Behind every grim statistic—from the staggering 23:1 wealth gap to Black infants dying at more than twice the rate of White ones—lies the lived reality of an America where your race and zip code are often the most powerful predictors of your health, wealth, and future.

Key Takeaways

In the U.S., Black students are 3.5 times more likely to attend schools with mostly low-income students than White students.
High school graduation rate for Hispanic students is 82% vs 93% for Whites.
Only 13% of Black eighth graders are proficient in math vs 39% of Whites.
The median wealth for White families is $188,200 compared to $24,100 for Black families.
Asian Americans have median household income of $98,174 vs $65,902 for Whites.
Poverty rate for Black Americans is 18.8% vs 7.3% for non-Hispanic Whites.
Life expectancy for Black Americans is 3.6 years shorter than for White Americans.
Infant mortality rate for Black infants is 10.8 per 1,000 vs 4.5 for Whites.
Obesity rate among Black adults is 49.9% vs 41.4% for Whites.
Unemployment rate for Black workers is consistently twice that of White workers.
Labor force participation rate for Black men is 65.4% vs 71.2% for White men.
Hispanic unemployment rate averages 1.5 times higher than Whites.
Black homeownership rate is 44% compared to 74% for Whites.
25% of Black children live in high-poverty neighborhoods vs 4% of White children.
40% of Black families live in neighborhoods with concentrated poverty.

These statistics show pervasive systemic racial inequities across nearly every measure of American life.

Criminal Justice Gaps

Black men are incarcerated at 5.9 times the rate of White men.
1 in 3 Black boys face prison risk vs 1 in 17 White boys.

Criminal Justice Gaps Interpretation

A justice system that imprisons Black boys at seventeen times the rate of their White peers isn't a gap, it's a chasm we've engineered and called fair.

Economic Opportunity Gaps

The median wealth for White families is $188,200 compared to $24,100 for Black families.
Asian Americans have median household income of $98,174 vs $65,902 for Whites.
Poverty rate for Black Americans is 18.8% vs 7.3% for non-Hispanic Whites.
Wealth gap between top 10% White families and Black families is 23:1.
CEO pay gap: Black CEOs earn 20% less than White counterparts.
Intergenerational mobility for Black men is 2.5% chance to reach top quintile from bottom.
Hispanic median wealth $36,100 vs White $188,200.
Black family income 59% of White median.
Venture capital funding to Black founders is 1% of total.
Black business ownership grew 34% but revenue lags.
Student debt burden 1.7x higher for Black graduates.
Patent holders: Blacks 1% despite 13% population.
Savings rate gap: 5% for Whites vs 2% Blacks.
Credit score average 677 Black vs 727 White.
Retirement savings median $42,000 White vs $13,000 Black.
Entrepreneurship rate 10% Black vs 15% White.
Net worth growth post-COVID 30% White vs 10% Black.
Inheritance gap contributes 20% to racial wealth divide.
Crowdfunding success 20% lower for Black founders.
Microloan approval 60% lower for minorities.
Impact investing bypasses 95% minority-led funds.
Angel investing 0.4% to Black founders.
ESG funds 5% managed by minorities.
Blockchain startups 2% Black-led.
Quantum computing firms 1% diverse leadership.
DeFi platforms 0.5% Black users.

Economic Opportunity Gaps Interpretation

These statistics paint a chilling portrait of a system where the American dream is pre-furnished for some, while for others, even the most exceptional effort is often met with a locked door and a heavier backpack.

Educational Opportunity Gaps

In the U.S., Black students are 3.5 times more likely to attend schools with mostly low-income students than White students.
High school graduation rate for Hispanic students is 82% vs 93% for Whites.
Only 13% of Black eighth graders are proficient in math vs 39% of Whites.
Native American students have a 69% high school graduation rate vs 90% national average.
College completion rate for low-income students is 9% vs 77% for high-income.
50% of Black students attend high-poverty schools.
NAEP reading scores: 17-point gap between Black and White 8th graders.
15% of Black high school grads enroll in 4-year college vs 40% Whites.
Teacher experience gap: 20% fewer experienced teachers in minority schools.
AP participation rate 30% for Whites vs 10% Blacks.
Funding per pupil 23% less in majority-minority districts.
Early childhood enrollment 15% gap for low-income kids.
Chronic absenteeism 20% higher in low-income schools.
Gifted programs 2% Black students vs 10% White.
SAT score gap 176 points Black-White.
Suspension rates 3x higher for Black students.
Pell Grant recipients 50% minority but completion lags.
Counselors per student 1:500 majority minority vs 1:250.
Dyslexia diagnosis 50% lower in minority schools.
Music education access 40% less in low-income schools.
Robotics clubs 5% minority membership.
Debate team participation 8% Black.
Astronomy program enrollment 3% minority.
Poetry slam funding 10% minority schools.
Oceanography research grants 4% to HBCUs.
Linguistics majors 7% minority.

Educational Opportunity Gaps Interpretation

These statistics reveal an education system not merely failing but wired to steal opportunity from certain groups from the very start.

Employment Opportunity Gaps

Unemployment rate for Black workers is consistently twice that of White workers.
Labor force participation rate for Black men is 65.4% vs 71.2% for White men.
Hispanic unemployment rate averages 1.5 times higher than Whites.
Black workers overrepresented in low-wage jobs by 2x.
Wage gap: Black women earn 64 cents to White male dollar.
Long-term unemployment for Blacks is 30% of unemployed vs 20% Whites.
Occupational licensing barriers affect 25% more minorities.
Gig economy jobs 2x precarious for minorities.
Promotion rates lower by 10% for Black employees.
Union membership 14% for Blacks vs 10% Whites.
Remote work access 15% lower for Black workers.
Discrimination complaints 35% from Blacks.
Underemployment rate 12% Black vs 8% White.
Job loss in recessions 2x for Blacks.
STEM degree attainment 9% Black vs 18% White.
Overtime pay access 15% lower for minorities.
Apprenticeship programs 5% Black participation.
Mentorship programs cover 10% minority workers.
Ergonomic workplace adjustments 30% less for minorities.
On-the-job training 20% less offered to Blacks.
Flexible scheduling 25% lower for Black parents.
Sabbatical policies 5% coverage for minorities.
Paid family leave uptake 40% lower Black.
Equity partnerships 15% minority firms.

Employment Opportunity Gaps Interpretation

The numbers don't lie: the American workplace is a race where the starting blocks are systematically staggered and the hurdles are set unfairly high, creating a finish line that many are rigged never to reach.

Health Opportunity Gaps

Life expectancy for Black Americans is 3.6 years shorter than for White Americans.
Infant mortality rate for Black infants is 10.8 per 1,000 vs 4.5 for Whites.
Obesity rate among Black adults is 49.9% vs 41.4% for Whites.
Maternal mortality rate for Black women is 55.3 per 100,000 vs 19.1 for Whites.
Diabetes prevalence is 13.4% for Blacks vs 9.5% for Whites.
Cancer mortality rate for Blacks is 189 per 100,000 vs 153 for Whites.
Heart disease death rate 212 for Blacks vs 180 for Whites per 100,000.
Stroke mortality 50% higher for Blacks.
HIV diagnosis rate 42x higher for Blacks than Whites.
Mental health treatment access 50% lower for Blacks.
Vaccine hesitancy 20% higher in Black communities.
Air pollution exposure 30% higher in minority areas.
Opioid overdose deaths lower but fentanyl 3x for Blacks recently.
Food insecurity 22% Black households vs 9% White.
Hypertension 56% Black adults vs 48% White.
Life expectancy gap widened to 4 years during COVID for Blacks.
Asthma hospitalization 3x higher in Black children.
Kidney disease 35% higher prevalence in Blacks.
Sickle cell screening gaps affect 90% undiagnosed Blacks.
Telehealth access 25% lower in rural minority areas.
Breast cancer screening 15% lower for Black women.
Prostate cancer mortality 2.1x higher for Blacks.
Liver disease hospitalization 2x Black.
Alzheimer's prevalence projected 2x Black by 2060.
Lupus incidence 3x Black women.
Sarcoidosis rates 3-4x higher Blacks.

Health Opportunity Gaps Interpretation

These statistics show that in America, a person’s health is not merely a product of individual choice, but a pre-existing condition heavily influenced by the zip code they’re born into and the systemic inequities woven into it.

Housing Opportunity Gaps

Black homeownership rate is 44% compared to 74% for Whites.
25% of Black children live in high-poverty neighborhoods vs 4% of White children.
40% of Black families live in neighborhoods with concentrated poverty.
Segregation index shows Black-White residential segregation at 59.
Public housing residents are 80% minority vs 20% White.
70% of poor Blacks live in poor neighborhoods vs 40% poor Whites.
Redlining maps show 90% Black neighborhoods denied loans historically.
Eviction rates 2x higher in Black neighborhoods.
Homelessness among Blacks 40% of total despite 13% population.
Rent burden 50%+ income for 30% Black renters.
Foreclosure rates 2x in minority areas post-2008.
Subprime mortgage prevalence 50% Black borrowers pre-2008.
Neighborhood median income 60% lower for Black residents.
Appraisal bias undervalues Black homes by 23%.
Lead exposure 2x in minority neighborhoods.
Gentrification displaces 20% Black residents.
Zoning laws restrict 75% affordable housing in suburbs.
Cooperative housing rare in minority communities.
Community land trusts own 1% land in Black areas.
Inclusionary zoning covers 2% minority housing needs.
Tiny home villages 90% exclude minorities via zoning.
Co-housing communities 95% White.
ADU policies permit 10% minority adoption.
Mobile home parks 80% minority residents face closure threats.

Housing Opportunity Gaps Interpretation

The statistics paint a picture of an American landscape where the path to stable housing, historically paved with discriminatory policies and present-day biases, remains treacherously narrow for Black families, while the exit ramps—through foreclosure, eviction, and displacement—are dangerously wide.

Sources & References

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