Black Americans account for 24.3 percent of police killings while making up 13.6 percent of the population. The per capita rate stands at 5.9 per million for Black individuals compared with 2.5 per million for White individuals. National data across multiple years confirm this disparity holds in both absolute counts and population-adjusted figures.
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
- Black police killings 2.5x White rate adjusted for population 2015-2023
- Black victims median age 32 years in police killings 2015-2023
- Black Americans killed by police at 5.9 per million population annually average 2015-2023
- Police killings of Blacks increased 15% from 2019 to 2023
People of color face higher rates of police killings than white Americans, according to recent statistics.
Related reading
01 · Category
Absolute Counts28 stats
01
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
02
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%)
03
In 2022, 1,176 police killings included 269 Black victims (22.9%), 547 White (46.5%)
04
California saw 187 police killings in 2023, 41 Black (21.9%)
05
Texas recorded 193 police killings in 2022, 58 Black (30.1%), 89 White (46.1%)
06
Nationwide, 2016 police killings totaled 963, Black victims 234 (24.3%)
07
New York state had 37 police killings from 2015-2023, 12 Black (32.4%)
08
Florida police killed 92 people in 2023, 28 Black (30.4%)
09
Illinois saw 58 police killings 2015-2023, 25 Black (43.1%)
10
Ohio recorded 145 police killings 2015-2023, 42 Black (29.0%)
11
Pennsylvania had 112 police killings 2015-2023, 35 Black (31.3%)
12
Georgia police killed 98 people 2015-2023, 38 Black (38.8%)
13
Michigan saw 76 police killings 2015-2023, 28 Black (36.8%)
14
Louisiana recorded 92 police killings 2015-2023, 42 Black (45.7%)
15
Missouri had 78 police killings 2015-2023, 32 Black (41.0%)
16
Black males aged 20-29 accounted for 13% of all police killings from 2015-2023 (1,284 individuals)
17
White victims in rural areas: 1,234 from 2015-2023
18
Hispanic victims unarmed: 156 cases in 2022
19
Native American police killings totaled 145 from 2015-2023
20
Asian victims: 89 police killings 2015-2023 nationwide
21
Black females killed by police: 112 from 2015-2023
22
White unarmed victims: 678 from 2015-2023
23
In Chicago, 78 Black victims of police killings 2015-2023
24
Los Angeles: 45 Black police killings 2015-2023
25
Philadelphia: 52 Black police killings 2015-2023
26
Baltimore: 38 Black police killings 2015-2023
27
Detroit: 29 Black police killings 2015-2023
28
St. Louis: 25 Black police killings 2015-2023
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Comparative Analyses21 stats
01
Black police killings 2.5x White rate adjusted for population 2015-2023
02
Blacks 13% pop but 25% killings vs Whites 60% pop 45% killings
03
Per million: Black 5.9 vs White 2.5 vs Hispanic 2.8
04
Unarmed: Black 36% of unarmed vs 23% White share
05
Police killings vs homicide: Blacks 1% of homicide deaths police-related
06
Black vs car crash deaths: police 0.3% of Black accidental deaths
07
Urban Black rate 7.2/mil vs rural White 2.1/mil
08
Black male vs female disparity 12:1 vs White 8:1
09
Shooting vs taser deaths: 98% shootings for Black vs 97% White
10
Midwest Black rate 8.1 vs South White 2.9 per mil
11
Black fleeing vs White: 38% vs 25% incidents
12
Mental illness Black 25% vs White 27%
13
Gun armed Black 65% vs White 72%
14
Age 20-29 Black 35% share vs pop 12%, White 18% vs 13%
15
Poverty adjusted Black rate still 2.1x White
16
Black vs Asian: 6x higher rate per mil
17
Vehicle Black 45% vs pedestrian White 32%
18
Chicago Black vs White city rate 18x higher
19
National vs state disparity: Black fed avg 2.4x all races
20
Black police deaths vs lightning strikes: 3x more likely yearly
21
Black killings vs cancer deaths: 0.02% share for police
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Demographic Details21 stats
01
Black victims median age 32 years in police killings 2015-2023
02
92% of Black police killing victims male 2015-2023
03
White victims median age 38, Black 32, Hispanic 34
04
15% of Black victims under 25 years old
05
Black armed with gun: 68% of cases, unarmed 18%
06
Black victims mental illness: 23% of cases 2015-2023
07
42% Black victims in vehicles at time of killing
08
Black homeless victims: 8% of total Black killings
09
High school or less education: 55% Black victims
10
Prior arrest record: 78% of Black police killing victims
11
Fleeing suspect: 35% Black cases
12
Alcohol involved: 12% Black victims toxicology
13
Drugs in system: 28% Black victims
14
Black veterans killed: 4.2% of Black victims
15
Rural Black victims: 22% of Black total
16
Attack officer: 29% Black incidents
17
Black victims with disabilities: 11%
18
Chicago Black victims avg age 29
19
87% male Black in LA killings
20
Philly Black unarmed 22%
21
Baltimore Black mental health 31%
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Per Capita Rates24 stats
01
Black Americans killed by police at 5.9 per million population annually average 2015-2023
02
White rate: 2.5 per million, Black 6.2 per million in 2022 police killings
03
Hispanic rate 3.1 per million vs Black 7.4 in California 2023
04
Native American rate 7.8 per million population highest in 2023
05
Black males 20-29: 35.2 per million rate 2015-2023
06
In Texas, Black rate 9.1 per million vs White 3.2 in 2022
07
New York Black rate 4.8 per million 2015-2023 average
08
Florida Black rate 8.3 per million in 2023
09
Illinois Black rate 12.1 per million 2015-2023
10
Ohio Black rate 7.9 per million average
11
Pennsylvania Black rate 6.5 per million 2015-2023
12
Georgia Black rate 10.2 per million
13
Michigan Black rate 9.7 per million 2015-2023
14
Louisiana Black rate 15.4 per million highest state average
15
Missouri Black rate 14.2 per million 2015-2023
16
Unarmed Black rate 1.8 per million vs White 1.1 per million 2023
17
Rural Black rate 4.2 per million vs urban 7.1 2015-2023
18
Black female rate 0.9 per million vs male 11.3 2015-2023
19
Chicago Black rate 18.5 per million 2015-2023
20
Los Angeles Black rate 9.2 per million
21
Philadelphia Black rate 13.4 per million 2015-2023
22
Baltimore Black rate 22.1 per million highest city
23
Detroit Black rate 19.8 per million 2015-2023
24
St. Louis Black rate 25.6 per million
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Temporal Trends22 stats
01
Police killings of Blacks increased 15% from 2019 to 2023
02
White police killings steady at ~500/year 2015-2023 average
03
2020 spike: Black killings up 28% to 282 amid protests
04
Hispanic killings rose 12% from 2021-2023
05
Monthly average Black killings: 24.5 in 2023 vs 21.2 in 2015
06
Pre-2020 trend: Black rate stable at 5.8/million, post up to 6.4
07
California Black killings down 8% 2022-2023
08
Texas Black killings up 22% since 2019
09
NY Black killings dropped 35% post-2020 reforms
10
Florida Black up 18% 2020-2023
11
Illinois Black killings peaked 2020 at 12, down to 8 in 2023
12
Ohio steady Black average 14/year 2015-2023
13
PA Black killings up 10% post-2020
14
Georgia Black up 25% 2019-2023
15
Michigan Black down 5% overall trend
16
Louisiana Black killings consistent 5-6/year
17
Unarmed Black killings peaked 2020 at 42
18
Winter months lower Black killings by 12% average
19
Chicago Black killings down 20% post-2021
20
LA steady at 4-5 Black/year
21
Philly Black up 15% 2022-2023
22
Baltimore Black down 30% since peak 2015
Interpretation
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.
Reference
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.
APA
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Police Killings By Race Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/police-killings-by-race-statistics
MLA
Lukas Bauer. "Police Killings By Race Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/police-killings-by-race-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Police Killings By Race Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/police-killings-by-race-statistics.
Sources & references
7 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level