In 2023, Black adults were incarcerated at nearly 5 times the rate of white adults and police killed 1,164 people, with Black people 2.6 times as likely to be killed by police as white people when adjusted for population. The same year also shows stark gaps in wages, health, housing, and education, where one group’s “average” is repeatedly dragged down by unequal treatment. Looking across the latest available statistics helps connect how these outcomes stack up in everyday life.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Black Americans were incarcerated at nearly 5 times the rate of white Americans, with a rate of 1,096 per 100,000 Black adults versus 214 per 100,000 white adults
- Police killed 1,164 people in 2023, with Black people being 2.6 times as likely to be killed by police as white people when adjusted for population
- In 2022, Black drivers were stopped by police at rates 20% higher than white drivers, and searched 2 times more often despite being less likely to have contraband
- In 2022, Black unemployment rate averaged 6.1%, more than double the 3.2% for whites
- Black workers earn 73 cents for every dollar white workers earn, median hourly wage 2023 data
- Black homeownership rate 44.1% vs. 74.0% for whites in 2023
- Black graduation rate from high school 80% vs. 89% white, but college completion 26% vs. 40%, 2022 NCES
- Black students 3.8 times more likely suspended than white peers, 2022 OCR data
- Funding gap: Predominantly Black schools receive $1,500 less per student annually, 2023 EdBuild
- Black maternal mortality rate 55.3 per 100,000 births vs. 19.1 for white, 2022 CDC
- Black Americans 1.7 times more likely to have diabetes than whites, 2023 CDC
- Life expectancy: Black 70.8 years vs. white 76.4 years, 2022 provisional
- Black homeownership denied mortgages 80% more often than white applicants, 2023 HMDA
- Median Black family wealth $24,100 vs. $188,200 white, 2019 Fed Survey updated 2022
- Black renters face eviction rates 70% higher than white, 2023 Princeton study
Across incarceration, policing, wealth, and health gaps, racism still drives higher harm for Black Americans nationwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Criminal Justice Disparities20 stats
01
In 2023, Black Americans were incarcerated at nearly 5 times the rate of white Americans, with a rate of 1,096 per 100,000 Black adults versus 214 per 100,000 white adults
02
Police killed 1,164 people in 2023, with Black people being 2.6 times as likely to be killed by police as white people when adjusted for population
03
In 2022, Black drivers were stopped by police at rates 20% higher than white drivers, and searched 2 times more often despite being less likely to have contraband
04
33% of Black adults have someone in their family who has been incarcerated, compared to 17% of white adults, per 2021 survey
05
Black youth are 5 times more likely to be incarcerated than white youth for the same offenses, based on 2020 data
06
In federal prisons, Black people serve sentences 19% longer than white people for similar crimes, 2022 analysis
07
2023 data shows Black Americans comprise 24% of fatal police shooting victims despite being 13% of population
08
Pretrial detention rates for Black defendants are 25% higher than for white defendants in similar cases, 2021 study
09
Black women are incarcerated at twice the rate of white women, with 96 per 100,000 vs. 49 per 100,000 in 2022
10
Use-of-force incidents by police are reported 3.6 times more often against Black individuals than white, 2023 report
11
Juvenile justice system: Black youth represent 35% of delinquency cases but 15% of population, 2022 stats
12
Drug possession arrests: Blacks 3.7 times more likely than whites despite similar usage rates, 2021 data
13
Black defendants receive death sentences at 3 times the rate of white defendants for similar capital crimes, 2023 review
14
Probation violation rates lead to re-incarceration 51% more often for Black probationers than white, 2022
15
2023 survey: 44% of Black Americans fear police violence compared to 19% of whites
16
Parole denial rates: Black parolees denied 20% more often than white, 2021 data
17
Traffic stops in 2022: Black drivers 16% more likely to be handcuffed during stops
18
Homicide victimization: Blacks are 6 times more likely to be murdered than whites, 2023 CDC data
19
Black children 4 times more likely to have incarcerated parents, 2022 stats
20
Federal sentencing: Black males receive 19.1% longer sentences than white males, 2023 USSC
Interpretation
Criminal Justice Disparities Interpretation
Criminal justice disparities in America are stark, with Black Americans facing nearly 5 times the incarceration rate of white Americans in 2023 and also being 2.6 times more likely to be killed by police, while Black people in federal prisons serve sentences 19% longer than white people for similar crimes.
02 · Category
Economic And Employment Disparities19 stats
01
In 2022, Black unemployment rate averaged 6.1%, more than double the 3.2% for whites
02
Black workers earn 73 cents for every dollar white workers earn, median hourly wage 2023 data
03
Black homeownership rate 44.1% vs. 74.0% for whites in 2023
04
Poverty rate for Blacks 17.1% vs. 8.6% for non-Hispanic whites, 2022 Census
05
Black college graduates face 6.6% unemployment vs. 3.5% for white graduates, 2023 BLS
06
Wage gap persists: Black men earn 71% of white men's wages, 2022 EPI analysis
07
Black-owned businesses receive 1% of venture capital funding despite being 9% of population, 2023 Crunchbase
08
Median Black household wealth $44,900vs. $285,000 for white households, 2022 Fed data
09
Black workers 2.5 times more likely to be in low-wage jobs, 2023 NELP report
10
During 2023 recession fears, Black unemployment spiked to 10% vs. 5% white
11
Black women face 9.2% unemployment rate vs. 5.3% for white women, 2023 average
12
Corporate boards: Only 8.3% Black executives in Fortune 500, 2023 Deloitte
13
Black STEM workers underrepresented, only 9% despite 13% population, 2022 NSF
14
Gig economy: Black workers earn 22% less per hour than white, 2023 JPMorgan
15
Promotion rates: Black employees promoted 24% slower than white peers, 2022 McKinsey
16
Small business loans: Black applicants denied 2.5 times more often, 2023 FDIC
17
Retirement savings gap: Black households have 1/10th the 401k balances of white, 2022 Vanguard
18
Black high school graduates 2 times more likely unemployed than white, 2023 BLS
19
In 2023, only 2.3% of Black workers in tech industry management roles
Interpretation
Economic And Employment Disparities Interpretation
Economic and employment disparities remain stark, as in 2022 the Black unemployment rate averaged 6.1% versus 3.2% for whites while Black workers earn only 73 cents for every dollar earned by white workers, reinforcing a consistent wage and job gap.
03 · Category
Educational Disparities18 stats
01
Black graduation rate from high school 80% vs. 89% white, but college completion 26% vs. 40%, 2022 NCES
02
Black students 3.8 times more likely suspended than white peers, 2022 OCR data
03
Funding gap: Predominantly Black schools receive $1,500less per student annually, 2023 EdBuild
04
Black 4th graders score 27 points lower in reading NAEP than white, 2022 NAEP
05
College enrollment: Black students 12% of undergrads but face 50% higher dropout rates, 2023 NCES
06
Teacher diversity: Only 7% Black teachers vs. 15% Black students, 2022 data
07
AP exam pass rates: Black students 31% pass vs. 66% white, 2023 College Board
08
Black students in gifted programs 4% vs. 15% expected by population, 2022
09
School segregation: 2023, Black students attend schools 73% minority vs. 31% for whites
10
Math proficiency: Black 8th graders 32 points below white on NAEP 2022
11
Special education: Black students overrepresented by 20%, misidentified rates high, 2023
12
HBCU funding 25% less per student than predominantly white institutions, 2022
13
Black male college enrollment dropped 10% post-COVID vs. 5% white males, 2023
14
Reading scores gap widened to 52 points for Black 12th graders vs. white, 2023 NAEP long-term
15
Black students face 3 times more school arrests, 2022 GAO
16
Pell Grant recipients: 55% Black dependent students qualify vs. 20% white, 2023
17
Black K-12 students 15% more likely in under-resourced schools, 2022
18
SAT score gap: Black average 908 vs. white 1082, 2023 College Board
Interpretation
Educational Disparities Interpretation
Educational disparities in America are stark, since although Black students graduate high school at 80% versus 89% for white students, they complete college at only 26% versus 40%, and the gaps extend further with funding and achievement differences such as Black 4th graders scoring 27 points lower than white students on reading NAEP.
More related reading
04 · Category
Healthcare Disparities19 stats
01
Black maternal mortality rate 55.3 per 100,000 births vs. 19.1 for white, 2022 CDC
02
Black Americans 1.7 times more likely to have diabetes than whites, 2023 CDC
03
Life expectancy: Black 70.8 years vs. white 76.4 years, 2022 provisional
04
Black infant mortality 10.9 per 1,000 vs. 4.5 white, 2022 CDC
05
Uninsured rate: 10.8% Black vs. 6.3% white adults, 2023 Census
06
COVID-19 death rate for Black Americans 1.9 times higher than white, 2023 cumulative
07
Black cancer mortality rate 189 per 100,000 vs. 146 white, 2022 ACS
08
Hypertension prevalence 57% Black adults vs. 43% white, 2023 CDC
09
Mental health: Black adults 50% less likely to receive treatment than white, 2022 SAMHSA
10
Kidney disease: Blacks 3.3 times more likely to start dialysis, 2023 USRDS
11
Heart disease death rate 206 per 100,000 Black vs. 166 white, 2022 CDC
12
Black women breast cancer diagnosed at later stages 30% more often, 2023
13
Vaccine hesitancy higher among Blacks at 20% vs. 10% white initially, but gaps closing 2023
14
Stroke mortality 50% higher for Blacks, 2022 AHA
15
Black elders 2 times more likely in nursing homes with deficiencies, 2023 CMS
16
Pain management: Black patients receive 30% less opioid prescriptions post-surgery, 2022 study
17
HIV diagnosis rate 42 per 100,000 Black vs. 10 white, 2023 CDC
18
Obesity rate 49.9% Black adults vs. 41.4% white, 2023 CDC
19
Access to primary care physicians: Black neighborhoods have 30% fewer per capita, 2022 HRSA
Interpretation
Healthcare Disparities Interpretation
In healthcare disparities, Black Americans face stark gaps in health outcomes and access, including Black infant mortality of 10.9 per 1,000 versus 4.5 for white babies and a Black maternal mortality rate of 55.3 per 100,000 births compared with 19.1 for white, underscoring how racism is tied to preventable risk across the life course.
05 · Category
Housing And Wealth Disparities18 stats
01
Black homeownership denied mortgages 80% more often than white applicants, 2023 HMDA
02
Median Black family wealth $24,100vs. $188,200 white, 2019 Fed Survey updated 2022
03
Black renters face eviction rates 70% higher than white, 2023 Princeton study
04
Appraisal bias: Homes in Black neighborhoods undervalued by 23%, 2022 Brookings
05
Public housing: 48% Black occupancy vs. 13% population share, 2023 HUD
06
Redlining legacy: Black areas 5 times more likely food deserts, 2022 USDA
07
Wealth gap for millennials: Black $11,000vs. white $93,000 median net worth, 2022
08
Black families inherit 1/10th the wealth of white families, 2023 Urban Institute
09
Housing discrimination complaints: 50% involve Black complainants, 2023 HUD
10
Black suburbanization slow: Only 20% Black suburban homeowners vs. 60% white, 2022 Census
11
Rent burden: 53% Black households vs. 38% white spend >30% income on rent, 2023
12
Lead exposure in Black neighborhoods 2.5 times higher, 2022 EPA
13
Black-owned homes appreciate 18% less over 20 years, 2023 Redfin
14
Homelessness: Blacks 37% of homeless population but 13% overall, 2023 HUD
15
Property tax disparities: Black homeowners pay 13% more for similar value homes, 2022
16
Gentrification displaces Black residents at 3 times white rate in cities, 2023
17
Student loan debt: Black borrowers owe 95% more than white after graduation, 2022 Brookings
18
Black neighborhoods have 25% less park access per capita, 2023 Trust for Public Land
Interpretation
Housing And Wealth Disparities Interpretation
Across housing and wealth, Black Americans face stark, compounding inequities, with Black homebuyers denied mortgages 80% more often than white applicants and median family wealth just $24,100 compared with $188,200 for white families.
report visual · Key figures
Disparities in policing outcomes
Black people face higher rates of police-related harms and more frequent exposure to stop-and-force outcomes than white people.
1,164
Police killed 1,164 people in 2023, with Black people being 2.6 times as likely to be killed by police as white people w
3.6
Use-of-force incidents by police are reported 3.6 times more often against Black individuals than white, 2023 report
20%
In 2022, Black drivers were stopped by police at rates 20% higher than white drivers, and searched 2 times more often de
16%
Traffic stops in 2022: Black drivers 16% more likely to be handcuffed during stops
44%
2023 survey: 44% of Black Americans fear police violence compared to 19% of whites
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Racism In America Today Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/racism-in-america-today-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Racism In America Today Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/racism-in-america-today-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Racism In America Today Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/racism-in-america-today-statistics.
Sources & references
64 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level