Racism Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Racism Statistics

One quarter of Black Americans, 24%, said they were treated unfairly by doctors or healthcare professionals because of race or ethnicity in 2019, while majorities still see discrimination as a driver of inequality, with 67% of US adults saying there is a lot. The page connects those everyday experiences to measurable gaps in pay, health, housing, and even work harassment, including 32% of Black workers reporting they are paid less than white peers with similar qualifications in 2023.

27 statistics27 sources11 sections7 min readUpdated 3 days ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

24% of Black people in the U.S. reported experiencing unfair treatment by doctors or healthcare professionals due to race or ethnicity (2019)

Statistic 2

In 2022, the life expectancy at birth for Black Americans was 71.6 years compared with 76.7 years for White Americans (CDC National Vital Statistics Reports, 2021–2022 estimates)

Statistic 3

In 2021, Black adults had 2.9 times higher risk of being uninsured than White adults (health insurance coverage gap, Census/ACS-based analyses summarized by HHS)

Statistic 4

In 2022, the age-adjusted death rate from heart disease for Black people was 235.6 per 100,000 compared with 165.1 per 100,000 for White people (CDC WONDER, underlying mortality data)

Statistic 5

In 2022, the age-adjusted death rate for cancer was 170.2 per 100,000 for Black people vs 147.6 per 100,000 for White people (CDC WONDER mortality data)

Statistic 6

In 2018, Black Americans were 2.1 times as likely as White Americans to be hospitalized for asthma (CDC hospitalization rates in peer-reviewed analyses)

Statistic 7

In 2021, Black people were 2.6 times as likely to receive an out-of-hospital opioid overdose treatment compared with White people (peer-reviewed/CDC-linked analysis)

Statistic 8

67% of U.S. adults say there is a lot of discrimination against Black people in the U.S.

Statistic 9

58% of Americans say discrimination against Black people is a major reason for racial inequality in the U.S.

Statistic 10

27% of Hispanic adults reported experiencing discrimination in the past year (2019)

Statistic 11

In 2022, the labor force participation rate for Black people in the U.S. was 62.2% compared with 68.8% for White people (annual average)

Statistic 12

In 2022, the median weekly earnings for Black workers were $837 compared with $1,001 for White workers (full-time wage and salary workers)

Statistic 13

In 2022, Black households had median household income of $45,800 compared with $73,400 for White households (U.S. Census Bureau)

Statistic 14

3.6% unemployment rate for Black people in the U.S. in 2023 (seasonally adjusted, annual average) — gap vs White unemployment (White: 3.0%)

Statistic 15

14.2% poverty rate for Black people in the U.S. in 2023 (official poverty definition) — compared with 8.3% for White people

Statistic 16

2.2x higher risk of maternal mortality for Black women in the U.S. compared with White women (2011–2019) — based on an analysis of national vital statistics

Statistic 17

5.5% of Black adults reported having a mental health condition that went untreated (2022) — compared with 3.4% for White adults

Statistic 18

32% of Black workers reported that they are paid less than their white peers with similar qualifications (2023) — survey of perceptions about wage equity

Statistic 19

1 in 4 Black workers reported experiencing racial harassment at work (2019) — survey-based harassment prevalence

Statistic 20

1.8x as many Black students as White students receive special education discipline referrals (2017–2018) — civil rights data

Statistic 21

43% of Black adults report that they have less access to social networks that help with jobs (2020) — survey on network access

Statistic 22

19% of Black respondents reported being victims of hate crimes because of race/ethnicity in the past 5 years (2019–2023) — based on survey of hate crime victimization

Statistic 23

58% of Black Americans reported that racism is a serious problem in the U.S. (2021) — survey measure of seriousness

Statistic 24

41% of Black Americans reported personal experience with discrimination when seeking housing (2021) — survey measure of housing discrimination experiences

Statistic 25

30% of Black renters reported discrimination when applying for housing (2019) — survey-based measure of rental discrimination

Statistic 26

0.6x Black–White homeownership rate ratio in 2022 (Black homeownership 45% vs White 75%) — homeownership disparity

Statistic 27

1.5x higher risk of being denied mortgage compared with comparable White applicants (audit study; 2021) — evidence from field testing

Sources
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Thomas Lindqvist

Written by Thomas Lindqvist·Edited by James Okoro·Fact-checked by Sarah Mitchell

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 14, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Racism in the US is not just a matter of opinion, it shows up in everyday outcomes from health care to hiring to housing. For example, Black households earned a median $45,800 in 2022 compared with $73,400 for White households, and the gap continues in life expectancy too. We gathered a set of statistics that track these disparities side by side so patterns become impossible to ignore.

Key Takeaways

  • 24% of Black people in the U.S. reported experiencing unfair treatment by doctors or healthcare professionals due to race or ethnicity (2019)
  • In 2022, the life expectancy at birth for Black Americans was 71.6 years compared with 76.7 years for White Americans (CDC National Vital Statistics Reports, 2021–2022 estimates)
  • In 2021, Black adults had 2.9 times higher risk of being uninsured than White adults (health insurance coverage gap, Census/ACS-based analyses summarized by HHS)
  • 67% of U.S. adults say there is a lot of discrimination against Black people in the U.S.
  • 58% of Americans say discrimination against Black people is a major reason for racial inequality in the U.S.
  • 27% of Hispanic adults reported experiencing discrimination in the past year (2019)
  • In 2022, the labor force participation rate for Black people in the U.S. was 62.2% compared with 68.8% for White people (annual average)
  • In 2022, the median weekly earnings for Black workers were $837 compared with $1,001 for White workers (full-time wage and salary workers)
  • In 2022, Black households had median household income of $45,800 compared with $73,400 for White households (U.S. Census Bureau)
  • 3.6% unemployment rate for Black people in the U.S. in 2023 (seasonally adjusted, annual average) — gap vs White unemployment (White: 3.0%)
  • 14.2% poverty rate for Black people in the U.S. in 2023 (official poverty definition) — compared with 8.3% for White people
  • 2.2x higher risk of maternal mortality for Black women in the U.S. compared with White women (2011–2019) — based on an analysis of national vital statistics
  • 5.5% of Black adults reported having a mental health condition that went untreated (2022) — compared with 3.4% for White adults
  • 32% of Black workers reported that they are paid less than their white peers with similar qualifications (2023) — survey of perceptions about wage equity
  • 1 in 4 Black workers reported experiencing racial harassment at work (2019) — survey-based harassment prevalence

Racism affects health, jobs, and wealth: Black Americans face unequal treatment and wide disparities.

Health Inequality

124% of Black people in the U.S. reported experiencing unfair treatment by doctors or healthcare professionals due to race or ethnicity (2019)[1]
Verified
2In 2022, the life expectancy at birth for Black Americans was 71.6 years compared with 76.7 years for White Americans (CDC National Vital Statistics Reports, 2021–2022 estimates)[2]
Verified
3In 2021, Black adults had 2.9 times higher risk of being uninsured than White adults (health insurance coverage gap, Census/ACS-based analyses summarized by HHS)[3]
Verified
4In 2022, the age-adjusted death rate from heart disease for Black people was 235.6 per 100,000 compared with 165.1 per 100,000 for White people (CDC WONDER, underlying mortality data)[4]
Verified
5In 2022, the age-adjusted death rate for cancer was 170.2 per 100,000 for Black people vs 147.6 per 100,000 for White people (CDC WONDER mortality data)[5]
Single source
6In 2018, Black Americans were 2.1 times as likely as White Americans to be hospitalized for asthma (CDC hospitalization rates in peer-reviewed analyses)[6]
Directional
7In 2021, Black people were 2.6 times as likely to receive an out-of-hospital opioid overdose treatment compared with White people (peer-reviewed/CDC-linked analysis)[7]
Verified

Health Inequality Interpretation

The data show that health inequality tied to racism persists across outcomes, with Black Americans facing stark disparities such as a 71.6 versus 76.7 year life expectancy and higher age adjusted death rates for both heart disease at 235.6 versus 165.1 and cancer at 170.2 versus 147.6 per 100,000.

Public Attitudes

167% of U.S. adults say there is a lot of discrimination against Black people in the U.S.[8]
Verified
258% of Americans say discrimination against Black people is a major reason for racial inequality in the U.S.[9]
Verified
327% of Hispanic adults reported experiencing discrimination in the past year (2019)[10]
Verified

Public Attitudes Interpretation

In the Public Attitudes lens, a strong majority believe racism is pervasive, with 67% of U.S. adults saying there is a lot of discrimination against Black people and 58% linking discrimination to major racial inequality.

Labor Market Outcomes

1In 2022, the labor force participation rate for Black people in the U.S. was 62.2% compared with 68.8% for White people (annual average)[11]
Verified
2In 2022, the median weekly earnings for Black workers were $837 compared with $1,001 for White workers (full-time wage and salary workers)[12]
Verified

Labor Market Outcomes Interpretation

In 2022, labor market outcomes showed a clear racial gap, with Black workers having a lower labor force participation rate of 62.2% versus 68.8% for White workers and also earning less at $837 in median weekly pay compared with $1,001 for White full-time workers.

Economic Inequality

1In 2022, Black households had median household income of $45,800 compared with $73,400 for White households (U.S. Census Bureau)[13]
Verified

Economic Inequality Interpretation

In 2022, Black households earned a median income of $45,800 versus $73,400 for White households, highlighting a major economic inequality that keeps racial gaps in prosperity persistent.

Labor & Earnings

13.6% unemployment rate for Black people in the U.S. in 2023 (seasonally adjusted, annual average) — gap vs White unemployment (White: 3.0%)[14]
Directional
214.2% poverty rate for Black people in the U.S. in 2023 (official poverty definition) — compared with 8.3% for White people[15]
Single source

Labor & Earnings Interpretation

In the Labor and Earnings picture, Black Americans still face a wider economic strain than White Americans in 2023, with unemployment at 3.6% versus 3.0% for White people and poverty reaching 14.2% compared with 8.3%.

Health Care & Outcomes

12.2x higher risk of maternal mortality for Black women in the U.S. compared with White women (2011–2019) — based on an analysis of national vital statistics[16]
Verified
25.5% of Black adults reported having a mental health condition that went untreated (2022) — compared with 3.4% for White adults[17]
Verified

Health Care & Outcomes Interpretation

Within Health Care & Outcomes, Black women face a 2.2 times higher risk of maternal mortality than White women from 2011 to 2019, and untreated mental health conditions are also more common, with 5.5% of Black adults going untreated in 2022 compared with 3.4% of White adults.

Workplace & Institutions

132% of Black workers reported that they are paid less than their white peers with similar qualifications (2023) — survey of perceptions about wage equity[18]
Verified
21 in 4 Black workers reported experiencing racial harassment at work (2019) — survey-based harassment prevalence[19]
Directional

Workplace & Institutions Interpretation

Within Workplace & Institutions, Black workers face clear inequities, with 32% reporting they are paid less than white peers with similar qualifications and 1 in 4 reporting racial harassment at work.

Education & Social Mobility

11.8x as many Black students as White students receive special education discipline referrals (2017–2018) — civil rights data[20]
Verified
243% of Black adults report that they have less access to social networks that help with jobs (2020) — survey on network access[21]
Single source

Education & Social Mobility Interpretation

In the Education and Social Mobility arena, Black students are 1.8 times as likely as White students to receive special education discipline referrals, and 43% of Black adults report having less access to job-helping social networks, pointing to a connected pattern from schooling discipline to reduced mobility opportunities.

Hate & Societal Climate

119% of Black respondents reported being victims of hate crimes because of race/ethnicity in the past 5 years (2019–2023) — based on survey of hate crime victimization[22]
Verified

Hate & Societal Climate Interpretation

In the Hate and Societal Climate category, 19% of Black respondents reported being victims of race or ethnicity based hate crimes in the past five years from 2019 to 2023, underscoring that this harmful behavior remains a significant lived experience.

Discrimination Measurement

158% of Black Americans reported that racism is a serious problem in the U.S. (2021) — survey measure of seriousness[23]
Verified

Discrimination Measurement Interpretation

In the 2021 discrimination measurement data, 58% of Black Americans said racism is a serious problem in the U.S., showing that most respondents perceive racism as a major and urgent discrimination issue.

Housing & Financial Health

141% of Black Americans reported personal experience with discrimination when seeking housing (2021) — survey measure of housing discrimination experiences[24]
Single source
230% of Black renters reported discrimination when applying for housing (2019) — survey-based measure of rental discrimination[25]
Directional
30.6x Black–White homeownership rate ratio in 2022 (Black homeownership 45% vs White 75%) — homeownership disparity[26]
Single source
41.5x higher risk of being denied mortgage compared with comparable White applicants (audit study; 2021) — evidence from field testing[27]
Verified

Housing & Financial Health Interpretation

In the Housing and Financial Health category, Black Americans face persistent barriers, with 41% reporting housing discrimination and 30% experiencing rental discrimination, while the Black–White homeownership gap remains wide at 0.6x in 2022 and Black applicants are 1.5 times more likely to be denied a mortgage in 2021.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

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APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Racism Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/racism-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Racism Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/racism-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Racism Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/racism-statistics.

References

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