While a police officer's badge may shine the same for every citizen, the statistics reveal a starkly different and disproportionate reality for Black Americans, whose chances of being killed by police are more than double the national average and often far higher in cities and states across the country.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, police killed 1,198 people in the US, with Black victims comprising 24.3% (291 individuals) despite being 13.6% of the population
- From 2015-2023, total police killings reached 9,876, of which 2,456 were Black (24.9%), 4,567 White (46.2%), 1,234 Hispanic (12.5%)
- In 2022, 1,176 police killings included 269 Black victims (22.9%), 547 White (46.5%)
- Black Americans killed by police at 5.9 per million population annually average 2015-2023
- White rate: 2.5 per million, Black 6.2 per million in 2022 police killings
- Hispanic rate 3.1 per million vs Black 7.4 in California 2023
- Police killings of Blacks increased 15% from 2019 to 2023
- White police killings steady at ~500/year 2015-2023 average
- 2020 spike: Black killings up 28% to 282 amid protests
- Black victims median age 32 years in police killings 2015-2023
- 92% of Black police killing victims male 2015-2023
- White victims median age 38, Black 32, Hispanic 34
- Black police killings 2.5x White rate adjusted for population 2015-2023
- Blacks 13% pop but 25% killings vs Whites 60% pop 45% killings
- Per million: Black 5.9 vs White 2.5 vs Hispanic 2.8
Black Americans face disproportionate police killings compared to their population share.
Absolute Counts
- In 2023, police killed 1,198 people in the US, with Black victims comprising 24.3% (291 individuals) despite being 13.6% of the population
- From 2015-2023, total police killings reached 9,876, of which 2,456 were Black (24.9%), 4,567 White (46.2%), 1,234 Hispanic (12.5%)
- In 2022, 1,176 police killings included 269 Black victims (22.9%), 547 White (46.5%)
- California saw 187 police killings in 2023, 41 Black (21.9%)
- Texas recorded 193 police killings in 2022, 58 Black (30.1%), 89 White (46.1%)
- Nationwide, 2016 police killings totaled 963, Black victims 234 (24.3%)
- New York state had 37 police killings from 2015-2023, 12 Black (32.4%)
- Florida police killed 92 people in 2023, 28 Black (30.4%)
- Illinois saw 58 police killings 2015-2023, 25 Black (43.1%)
- Ohio recorded 145 police killings 2015-2023, 42 Black (29.0%)
- Pennsylvania had 112 police killings 2015-2023, 35 Black (31.3%)
- Georgia police killed 98 people 2015-2023, 38 Black (38.8%)
- Michigan saw 76 police killings 2015-2023, 28 Black (36.8%)
- Louisiana recorded 92 police killings 2015-2023, 42 Black (45.7%)
- Missouri had 78 police killings 2015-2023, 32 Black (41.0%)
- Black males aged 20-29 accounted for 13% of all police killings from 2015-2023 (1,284 individuals)
- White victims in rural areas: 1,234 from 2015-2023
- Hispanic victims unarmed: 156 cases in 2022
- Native American police killings totaled 145 from 2015-2023
- Asian victims: 89 police killings 2015-2023 nationwide
- Black females killed by police: 112 from 2015-2023
- White unarmed victims: 678 from 2015-2023
- In Chicago, 78 Black victims of police killings 2015-2023
- Los Angeles: 45 Black police killings 2015-2023
- Philadelphia: 52 Black police killings 2015-2023
- Baltimore: 38 Black police killings 2015-2023
- Detroit: 29 Black police killings 2015-2023
- St. Louis: 25 Black police killings 2015-2023
Absolute Counts Interpretation
The data paints a grim, repetitive portrait: while white Americans make up the majority of those killed by police overall, Black Americans are consistently killed at a rate nearly double their share of the population, a brutal and disproportionate reality that demands a serious solution.
Comparative Analyses
- Black police killings 2.5x White rate adjusted for population 2015-2023
- Blacks 13% pop but 25% killings vs Whites 60% pop 45% killings
- Per million: Black 5.9 vs White 2.5 vs Hispanic 2.8
- Unarmed: Black 36% of unarmed vs 23% White share
- Police killings vs homicide: Blacks 1% of homicide deaths police-related
- Black vs car crash deaths: police 0.3% of Black accidental deaths
- Urban Black rate 7.2/mil vs rural White 2.1/mil
- Black male vs female disparity 12:1 vs White 8:1
- Shooting vs taser deaths: 98% shootings for Black vs 97% White
- Midwest Black rate 8.1 vs South White 2.9 per mil
- Black fleeing vs White: 38% vs 25% incidents
- Mental illness Black 25% vs White 27%
- Gun armed Black 65% vs White 72%
- Age 20-29 Black 35% share vs pop 12%, White 18% vs 13%
- Poverty adjusted Black rate still 2.1x White
- Black vs Asian: 6x higher rate per mil
- Vehicle Black 45% vs pedestrian White 32%
- Chicago Black vs White city rate 18x higher
- National vs state disparity: Black fed avg 2.4x all races
- Black police deaths vs lightning strikes: 3x more likely yearly
- Black killings vs cancer deaths: 0.02% share for police
Comparative Analyses Interpretation
These statistics show that while the raw numbers confirm a disturbing racial disparity in police killings, they also reveal a far more complex picture than a simple narrative of widespread targeting, with factors like geography, gender, age, and circumstance creating a risk that is both acutely real for specific groups and statistically remote for the broader population.
Demographic Details
- Black victims median age 32 years in police killings 2015-2023
- 92% of Black police killing victims male 2015-2023
- White victims median age 38, Black 32, Hispanic 34
- 15% of Black victims under 25 years old
- Black armed with gun: 68% of cases, unarmed 18%
- Black victims mental illness: 23% of cases 2015-2023
- 42% Black victims in vehicles at time of killing
- Black homeless victims: 8% of total Black killings
- High school or less education: 55% Black victims
- Prior arrest record: 78% of Black police killing victims
- Fleeing suspect: 35% Black cases
- Alcohol involved: 12% Black victims toxicology
- Drugs in system: 28% Black victims
- Black veterans killed: 4.2% of Black victims
- Rural Black victims: 22% of Black total
- Attack officer: 29% Black incidents
- Black victims with disabilities: 11%
- Chicago Black victims avg age 29
- 87% male Black in LA killings
- Philly Black unarmed 22%
- Baltimore Black mental health 31%
Demographic Details Interpretation
This chilling data paints a portrait of an epidemic where young Black men, disproportionately affected by societal failures in education, mental health, and poverty, are dying in police encounters that often begin with the most routine of violations.
Per Capita Rates
- Black Americans killed by police at 5.9 per million population annually average 2015-2023
- White rate: 2.5 per million, Black 6.2 per million in 2022 police killings
- Hispanic rate 3.1 per million vs Black 7.4 in California 2023
- Native American rate 7.8 per million population highest in 2023
- Black males 20-29: 35.2 per million rate 2015-2023
- In Texas, Black rate 9.1 per million vs White 3.2 in 2022
- New York Black rate 4.8 per million 2015-2023 average
- Florida Black rate 8.3 per million in 2023
- Illinois Black rate 12.1 per million 2015-2023
- Ohio Black rate 7.9 per million average
- Pennsylvania Black rate 6.5 per million 2015-2023
- Georgia Black rate 10.2 per million
- Michigan Black rate 9.7 per million 2015-2023
- Louisiana Black rate 15.4 per million highest state average
- Missouri Black rate 14.2 per million 2015-2023
- Unarmed Black rate 1.8 per million vs White 1.1 per million 2023
- Rural Black rate 4.2 per million vs urban 7.1 2015-2023
- Black female rate 0.9 per million vs male 11.3 2015-2023
- Chicago Black rate 18.5 per million 2015-2023
- Los Angeles Black rate 9.2 per million
- Philadelphia Black rate 13.4 per million 2015-2023
- Baltimore Black rate 22.1 per million highest city
- Detroit Black rate 19.8 per million 2015-2023
- St. Louis Black rate 25.6 per million
Per Capita Rates Interpretation
The numbers form a grim and disproportionate ledger, starkly revealing that for many Black Americans, particularly young men in cities like Baltimore or St. Louis, an interaction with police carries a statistical weight of danger that is, quite soberingly, often two to six times heavier than for their white neighbors.
Temporal Trends
- Police killings of Blacks increased 15% from 2019 to 2023
- White police killings steady at ~500/year 2015-2023 average
- 2020 spike: Black killings up 28% to 282 amid protests
- Hispanic killings rose 12% from 2021-2023
- Monthly average Black killings: 24.5 in 2023 vs 21.2 in 2015
- Pre-2020 trend: Black rate stable at 5.8/million, post up to 6.4
- California Black killings down 8% 2022-2023
- Texas Black killings up 22% since 2019
- NY Black killings dropped 35% post-2020 reforms
- Florida Black up 18% 2020-2023
- Illinois Black killings peaked 2020 at 12, down to 8 in 2023
- Ohio steady Black average 14/year 2015-2023
- PA Black killings up 10% post-2020
- Georgia Black up 25% 2019-2023
- Michigan Black down 5% overall trend
- Louisiana Black killings consistent 5-6/year
- Unarmed Black killings peaked 2020 at 42
- Winter months lower Black killings by 12% average
- Chicago Black killings down 20% post-2021
- LA steady at 4-5 Black/year
- Philly Black up 15% 2022-2023
- Baltimore Black down 30% since peak 2015
Temporal Trends Interpretation
The grim geography of justice in America means your chances depend far more on your zip code than any national promise, with progress in some cities tragically offset by backsliding in states that seem to be reading a different constitution.
Sources & References
- Reference 1WASHINGTONPOSTwashingtonpost.comVisit source
- Reference 2MAPPINGPOLICEVIOLENCEmappingpoliceviolence.orgVisit source
- Reference 3MAPPINGPOLICEVIOLENCEmappingpoliceviolence.usVisit source
- Reference 4THEGUARDIANtheguardian.comVisit source
- Reference 5PNASpnas.orgVisit source
- Reference 6CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 7WEATHERweather.govVisit source