1

Demographic Programs

U.S. Census Bureau

U S C E N S U S B U R E A U

Helping You Make Informed Decisions

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

P20-530

The Black Population in

the United States

Population Characteristics

March

1999

Issued September 2000

Current

Population

Reports

By Jesse McKinnon

and Karen Humes

This report presents statistics on the demographic, social, and economic status of

the civilian noninstitutional Black1 population in the United States, based on the

March 1999 Current Population Survey

(CPS).2 Topics include geographic distribution, age and sex distribution, family type

and size, educational attainment, labor

force participation and unemployment, occupation, family income, and poverty status.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

Blacks continue to be concentrated

in the South.

The Black population numbered 35.1 million or 13 percent of the total population

in 1999. Most Blacks resided in the South

(55 percent), 19 percent lived in the Northeast, 18 percent in the Midwest,3 and 8 percent in the

1Data for Blacks include Hispanic

Blacks, who make up approximately

5.2 percent of the Black population. 2The population universe for the

March 1999 Current Population Survey is the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States

plus members of the armed forces in

the United States living off base or

with their families on base, but it excludes all other members of the

armed forces. 3There is no statistical difference

in the percentage of Blacks residing

in the Northeast (18.7 percent) and

Midwest (18.4 percent) regions of

the country.

West (see Figure 1).4 In comparison, the

distribution of the 193 million non-Hispanic

Whites was quite different: 33 percent resided in the South, 20 percent in the Northeast, 27 percent in the Midwest, and

20 percent in the West.5

4The four regions of the United States for which data

are presented in this report are as follows: South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida,

Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North

Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,

Virginia, and West Virginia; Northeast: Connecticut,

Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New

York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Midwest:

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and

Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado,

Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon,

Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. 5Non-Hispanic Whites are used as the comparison

group throughout the report. There is no statistical difference in the proportion of non-Hispanic Whites living in the

Northeast (20.2 percent) and those living in the West

(19.8 percent).

Figure 1.

Region of Residence by Race: 1999

*The percentages may not add to 100.0 percent because of rounding.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

(Percent of population*)

32.6

20.2

27.4

19.8

54.6

18.7 18.4

8.3

South Northeast Midwest West

Non-Hispanic Whites

Blacks
2 U.S. Census Bureau

Blacks were more likely than nonHispanic Whites to live in metropolitan areas (86 percent compared

with 77 percent).6 The majority of

Blacks (55 percent), but only

22 percent of non-Hispanic Whites,

lived in central cities of metropolitan areas (see Figure 2).

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

The Black population is

younger than the non-Hispanic

White population.

In 1999, 33 percent of the Black

population was under age 18, compared with 24 percent of the nonHispanic White population. For the

population 65 years and over, the

figures were 8 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

A larger proportion of Black men

(36 percent) than of non-Hispanic

White men (25 percent) were under

age 18. In contrast, 7 percent of

Black men and 12 percent of nonHispanic White men were 65 years

and over.

More Black women (30 percent)

than non-Hispanic White women

(23 percent) were under age 18.

Conversely, 9 percent of Black

women and 16 percent of nonHispanic White women were

65 years and over.

e

6The general concept of a metropolitan

area (MA) is one of a large population

nucleus with adjacent communities that have

a high degree of economic and social integration with that nucleus. Some MAs are defined around two or more nuclei. The Office

of Management and Budget, with technical

assistance from the U.S. Census Bureau, uses

published standards to define MAs for federal agencies. See the Office of Management

and Budget, Federal Register Notice, Vol. 55,

No. 62, March 30, 1990, and OMB Bulletin,

No. 93-177, issued June 1993.

FAMILY TYPE7 AND SIZE

Fewer Black families are

married-couple families.

There were 8.4 million Black families

and 53.1 million non-Hispanic White

families in 1999. Less than one-half

(47 percent) of all Black families wer

married-couple families, 45 percent

were maintained by women with no

spouse present, and 8 percent were

maintained by Black men with no

spouse present.8 The corresponding

figures for non-Hispanic White families were 82 percent, 13 percent,

and 5 percent, respectively.

Black families are larger than

non-Hispanic White families.

Families were larger among Blacks

than non-Hispanic Whites in 1999.

7The race of the householder was used to

determine the race of the family. Data do not

include families in group quarters. 8There is no statistical difference in the

proportion of Black married-couple families

(47.1 percent) and of those maintained by

women with no spouse present (45.1 percent).

Among married-couple families,

34 percent of Black families consisted of only two members, compared with 45 percent of nonHispanic White families (see Figure

3). Black married-couple families

were more likely than their nonHispanic White counterparts to have

five or more members, 20 percent

and 12 percent, respectively. For

families maintained by women with

no spouse present, 37 percent of

Black families consisted of two members compared with 57 percent of

non-Hispanic White families. The

proportions of Black and nonHispanic White families maintained

by women with five or more members were 14 percent and 5 percent,

respectively. A similar proportion of

Black and non-Hispanic White male

householder families with no spouse

present consisted of two people

(62 percent compared with 61 percent, respectively).

Figure 2.

Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Residence 

by Race: 1999

*The percentages may not add to 100.0 percent because of rounding. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

(Percent of population*)

13.9

22.5

31.0

55.8

55.1

21.7

Blacks Non-Hispanic Whites

Nonmetropolitan

Metropolitan area, 

outside central city

Metropolitan area, 

inside central city
U.S. Census Bureau 3

EDUCATIONAL

ATTAINMENT

Similar proportions of Black

men and women 25 years and

over are at least high school

graduates, but Black women are

more likely to have completed

at least a bachelor’s degree.

The proportion of the Black population age 25 years and over with a

high school diploma or more was

11 percentage points lower than

that of comparable non-Hispanic

Whites, 77 percent and 88 percent,

respectively. The proportion of

non-Hispanic Whites with at least a

bachelor’s degree (28 percent) was

almost twice that of Blacks (15 percent).

Among Blacks, a higher proportion

of women than of men had earned

at least a bachelor’s degree: 16 percent compared with 14 percent

(see Figure 4). The reverse was

true for non-Hispanic Whites:

25 percent of women compared

Figure 3.

Family Size by Type and Race of Householder: 1999

(Percent of families*)

Married couples Female householders,

no spouse present

Male householders,

no spouse present

*The percentages may not add to 100.0 percent because of rounding. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

20.1

12.5 13.6

5.4 8.2 4.4

24.6

21.4 17.4

9.5 7.2 11.0

21.6

20.8

31.6

27.9 22.2 23.9

33.7

45.3 37.4

57.1 62.3

60.7

Non-Hispanic

Whites

Non-Hispanic Blacks

Whites

Non-Hispanic Blacks

Whites

Blacks

Five or more members

Four members

Three members

Two members

Figure 4.

Educational Attainment by Sex and Race: 1999

*The percentages may not add to 100.0 percent because of rounding. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

(Percent of population 25 and over*)

Bachelor's degree

or more

Some college

High school

graduate

Less than

high school

Bachelor's degree

or more

Some college

High school

graduate

Less than

high school

23.3

12.3

37.8

32.1

24.7

25.0

14.2

30.6

22.8

12.3

34.0

36.3

26.8

26.4

16.4

25.0

Men

Women

Non-Hispanic Whites

Blacks
4 U.S. Census Bureau

with 31 percent of men had earned

at least a bachelor’s degree.

LABOR FORCE

PARTICIPATION AND

UNEMPLOYMENT

Blacks participate in the labor

force at a lower rate than nonHispanic Whites.

In March 1999, there were 16 million Blacks and 102 million nonHispanic Whites 16 years and over

in the civilian labor force. Blacks

made up 12 percent of the civilian

labor force compared with 74 percent for non-Hispanic Whites.

Non-Hispanic Whites had higher

civilian labor force participation

rates than Blacks, and for both

groups men had higher rates9 than

women. In March 1999, nonHispanic White men had a labor

force participation rate of 74 percent compared with 66 percent for

Black men; for women the rates

were 63 percent for Blacks and

60 percent for non-Hispanic Whites

(see Figure 5).

Unemployment is higher

among Blacks than nonHispanic Whites.

In March 1999, the unemployment

rate for Blacks was more than twice

that for non-Hispanic Whites (9 percent and 4 percent, respectively).

This finding held for both men

(9 percent compared with 4 percent)

and for women (9 percent compared

with 3 percent).

9Civilian labor force and occupation data reflect characteristics of the civilian noninstitutionalized population for March 1999 and are

not adjusted for seasonal changes. Data released by the Department of Labor, Bureau of

Labor Statistics may not agree entirely with

data shown in this report because of their seasonal adjustment.

OCCUPATION10 Non-Hispanic White women (35 percent) were more likely than Black Black men are less likely than women (24 percent) to be in mana- non-Hispanic White men to be gerial and professional specialty employed in managerial and jobs, as well as in technical, sales, professional jobs. and administrative support jobs In March 1999, the proportion of (41 percent and 38 percent, respec- employed non-Hispanic White men tively). Conversely, Black women (32 percent) in managerial and pro- (27 percent) were more likely than fessional specialty occupations was non-Hispanic White women (15 per- almost twice that of Black men cent) to be employed in service oc- (17 percent). About 20 percent of cupations, or as operators, fabrica- both non-Hispanic White and of tors, and laborers (9 percent and Black men were in the technical, 6 percent, respectively). sales, and administrative support

occupations. Non-Hispanic White FAMILY INCOME11

men (19 percent) were more likely

than Black men (14 percent) to be Black married-couple families

in precision production, craft, and are less likely than their nonrepair jobs. On the other hand, Hispanic White counterparts to

Black men (17 percent) were twice have an annual income of

$50,000 or more. as likely as non-Hispanic White men

(8 percent) to work in service In 1998, 28 percent of all Black

occupations, and almost twice as families and 52 percent of all 

likely (31 percent compared with non-Hispanic White families had

17 percent) to be operators, fabri- incomes of $50,000 or more.

cators, and laborers.

11Data for all families include a small number in group quarters. Income is the sum of 10The data on current occupation are for the wages and salaries, net income from selfemployed civilian population 15 years and employment, and income other than earnings.

older. Income data refer to calendar year 1998.

Figure 5.

Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate and 

Unemployment Rate by Sex and Race: 1999

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

Blacks

Non-Hispanic Whites

Percent of people 16 years 

and over in the labor force

Percent of labor force

 unemployed

74.3

60.3

3.8 3.3

65.9 63.4

9.2 8.5

Men Women Men Women
U.S. Census Bureau 5

Married-couple families were more POVERTY STATUS12 White children (11 percent). Povlikely than others to be in this erty rates were lower among The poverty rate is higher for group — 48 percent of Blacks and people 65 years and over, 10 per- Blacks than for non-Hispanic 58 percent of non-Hispanic Whites cent in 1998 — but the same pat- Whites. (see Figure 6). Twenty-three per- tern prevailed. The poverty rates

cent of Black married-couple fami- An estimated 34.5 million people in this age group for Blacks and

lies reported an income of at least were in poverty in 1998, including non-Hispanic Whites were 26 per-

$75,000, while 33 percent of non- 9.1 million Blacks and 15.8 million cent and 8 percent, respectively.

Hispanic White married-couple non-Hispanic Whites. The poverty

families reported an income in the rate, which was 13 percent for the About 11 percent of all men were

same range. total population, was 26 percent below the official poverty line in

for Blacks and 8 percent for non- 1998. The poverty rate for Black

Black and non-Hispanic White fami- Hispanic Whites. Among all chil- men (23 percent) was three times

lies maintained by women with no dren under age 18, the poverty that for non-Hispanic White men

spouse present were more likely to rate was 19 percent, (see Figure 7), (7 percent), but it was four times

have incomes concentrated in the but three times as high for Black as high for men 65 and over:

lower income intervals: 67 percent (37 percent) as for non-Hispanic 21 percent and 5 percent, respecand 46 percent had incomes less tively (see Figure 8).

than $25,000, respectively. The

corresponding figures for Black and 12In 1998, the poverty threshold for a family In 1998, 14 percent of all women

of four was $16,600. Poverty statistics ex- non-Hispanic White families main- were poor. The poverty rate for clude unrelated individuals under 15 years.

tained by men with no spouse For more information, see Dalaker, Joseph, U.S. Black women (29 percent) was

Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, present were 43 percent and three times as high as that for non- Series P60-207, Poverty in the United States:

26 percent. March 1998, U.S. Government Printing Office, Hispanic White women (9 percent),

Washington, DC, 1999. Poverty data refer to as was the case for those 65 and

calendar year 1998.

Figure 6.

Family Income by Family Type and Race of Householder: 1998

(Percent of families*)

Married couples Female householders,

no spouse present

Male householders,

no spouse present

*The percentages may not add to 100.0 percent because of rounding. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

$75,000 and over

$50,000 to $74,999

$35,000 to $49,999

$25,000 to $34,999

Less than $25,000

22.6

32.9

2.6

6.4 6.7

15.3

25.2

25.1

6.7

13.2 14.5

22.4

18.0

17.2

11.0

16.5 17.0

20.1

13.3

10.8

12.9

17.9 18.8

16.1

20.8 14.1

66.8

46.0 43.1

26.2

Non-Hispanic

Whites

Non-Hispanic Blacks

Whites

Non-Hispanic Blacks

Whites

Blacks
6 U.S. Census Bureau

older: 30 percent and 10 percent,

respectively.

Poverty is highest among

families maintained by women

with no spouse present for

both Black and non-Hispanic

White families.

In 1998, 7.2 million families in the

United States lived below the poverty level. Among these families,

2.0 million were Black and 3.3 million were non-Hispanic White.

However, a greater percentage of

Black than non-Hispanic White families were poor: 23 percent compared with 6 percent.

A larger proportion of Black

married-couple families (7 percent)

than of comparable non-Hispanic

White families (4 percent) were

poor. Poverty was highest in families maintained by women with no

spouse present: 41 percent for

Blacks compared with 21 percent

for non-Hispanic Whites. Black

families maintained by men with no

spouse present had a higher percent in poverty (20 percent) than

comparable non-Hispanic White

families (8 percent).

SOURCE OF DATA

The estimates in this report come

from data obtained in March 1999

from the Current Population Survey

(CPS). The Census Bureau conducts the CPS every month, although this report uses only data

from the March survey.

ACCURACY OF THE

ESTIMATES

Statistics from surveys are subject

to sampling and nonsampling error.

All comparisons presented in this

report have taken sampling error

into account and meet the Census

Bureau’s standards for statistical

significance. Nonsampling error in

surveys may be attributed to a

variety of sources, such as how the employs quality control procedures

survey was designed, how respon- throughout the production process

dents interpret questions, how able — including the overall design of

and willing respondents are to pro- surveys, the wording of questions,

vide correct answers, and how ac- review of the work of interviewers

curately the answers are coded and and coders, and statistical review

classified. The Census Bureau of reports.

Figure 7.

People in Poverty by Age and Race: 1998

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

All ages Under 18 years 65 years and over

(Percent of population)

12.7

18.9

10.5

26.1

36.7

26.4

8.2

10.6

8.2

Total

Blacks

Non-Hispanic Whites

Figure 8.

People in Poverty by Age, Sex, and Race: 1998

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.

(Percent of population)

Men Women

Non-Hispanic Whites

Blacks

7.0

10.0

5.4

9.4 11.0 10.3

23.0

36.0

20.6

28.7

37.3

30.2

65 years

and over

Under 18

years

65 years All ages

and over

Under 18

years

All ages
U.S. Census Bureau 7

The Current Population Survey em- MORE INFORMATION SUGGESTED CITATION

ploys ratio estimation, whereby Detailed tables with social and eco- McKinnon, Jesse and Karen Humes. sample estimates are adjusted to nomic characteristics of Blacks, 2000. The Black Population in the independent estimates of the na- non-Hispanic Whites, and other United States: March 1999. U.S.

tional population by age, race, sex, races, and their families and house- Census Bureau. Current Population and Hispanic origin. This weight- holds are available on the Internet Reports, Series P20-530. U.S. Gov- ing partially corrects for bias due (www.census.gov); search by click- ernment Printing Office. Washing- to undercoverage, but how it af- ing on “B” for “Blacks” under the ton, DC. fects different variables in the sur- “Subjects A-Z” heading on the Cen- vey is not precisely known. More- sus Bureau’s home page. CONTACTS over, biases may also be present

when people who are missed in the Statistical Information Staff: To receive a paper copy of these survey differ from those inter- pop@census.gov, 301-457-2422 tables, send a request for “PPL-130, viewed in ways other than the cat- The Black Population in the United Jesse D. McKinnon: egories used in weighting (age, States: March 1999” along with a Jesse.D.McKinnon@census.gov, race, sex, and Hispanic origin). All check or money order in the 301-457-2402 of these considerations affect com- amount of $22.00 payable to parisons across different surveys or Commerce-Census-88-00-9010, to data sources. USER COMMENTS U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S.

Census Bureau, P.O. Box 277943, The Census Bureau welcomes the For further information on statistiAtlanta, GA 30384-7943, or call comments and advice of users of cal standards and the computation our Statistical Information Staff on its data and reports. If you have and use of standard errors, contact 301-457-2422. A copy of these any suggestions or comments, the Demographic Statistical Meth- tabulations will be made available please write to: ods Division on the Internet at:

to any existing CPR-P20 subscriber DSMD_S&A@census.gov. Chief, Population Division

without charge, provided that the U.S. Census Bureau

request is made within 3 months of Washington, DC 20233

the issue date of this report by

Or send e-mail to: contacting our Statistical Informapop@census.gov tion Staff.