Current Population Characteristics

Population Reports

The Black Population

in the United States:

March 1996 (Update)

By Claudette Bennett

C E N S U S B U R E A U P20-498

Issue June 1997

NOTICE TO USERS  In 1995, the median earnings of Black women and

men working year-round, full-time were $20,670

Last year, the Census Bureau announced its and $24,430, respectively, for a female-to-male

intention to offer more information in electronic format earnings ratio of 0.85.

while reducing the number of printed reports. This In 1995, 2.1 million, or 26 percent, of Black families change is now being implemented for the P20 Current 

had income below the poverty level.

Population Report series. Many P20 reports, such as

the Black Population in the United States report, will DETAILED TABULATIONS

now be printed less frequently.

A paper version of these tables is available as Instead, to keep you informed of the major findings PPL-70 for $28.40. The previous tabulation package from the Current Population Survey, short data entitled, “The Black Population in the United States: updates will be produced periodically. These will be March 1995” is available as PPL-45 for $26.50. To

available in both printed and electronic forms. receive a paper copy of one or both of these Additionally, the detailed tabulations that have been tabulations, please send your request along with a part of the printed reports will be updated annually in check or money order in the amount of $28.40 for electronic form on the Internet. If you wish to obtain the PPL-70 or $26.50 for PPL-45, or $54.90 for both

new tabulations, updating The Black Population in the tabulations, payable to Commerce-Census-88-00- United States: March 1996 (Update) (Current Popula- 9010, to U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the

tion Report, P20-498), please see the “Detailed Census, P.O. Box 277943, Atlanta, GA 30384-7943, or

Tabulations” section at the end of this update. call our Statistical Information Office on 301-457-2422.

Please be certain to specify which PPL you are Our decision to modify the format of the P20 series requesting. A copy of these tabulations will be made

is based on a variety of factors. Ultimately, we hope available to any existing CPR P20 subscriber without

this decision will provide users with more timely data charge, provided that the request is made within 3 on a wider variety of topics. If you have comments months of the issue date of this report. Contact our about this change or the P20 series in general, please Statistical Information Office on 301-457-2422.

contact us on the Internet at: pop@census.gov, or

write to: Chief, Population Division, U.S. Bureau of the The electronic version of these tables is available

Census, Washington, DC 20233. on the Internet, at the Census Bureau’s World-Wide

Web site (http://www.census.gov). Once on the site,

click on Subjects A–Z, “Race” “Persons.” “The Black

DATA HIGHLIGHTS Population in the United States: March 1996 (Update)”

is listed under Current Population Survey heading.

Detailed tabulations are now available which pro- For additional information on this topic, contact vide statistics on the civilian noninstitutional Black Claudette Bennett or Barbara Martin, Racial Statistics population of the United States, based on the March Branch, on (301-457-2402 or via Internet e-mail 1996 Current Population Survey. These tables (cbennett@census.gov or bmmartin@census.gov). provide information such as:

The data in the detailed tables are estimates based  In 1996, the Black population was estimated at on a sample survey (the Current Population Survey). 33.9 million persons and represented 12.8 percent All survey data are subject to sampling variability as of the total population. well as survey design flaws, respondent classification

 errors, and data processing mistakes. The Census There were 8.1 million Black families in 1996; of Bureau has taken steps to minimize errors, and these 3.7 million or 46 percent were married-cou- analytical statements have been tested and meet ple families. statistical standards. However, because of method-

 ological differences, use caution when comparing In 1996, about three-fourths (74 percent) of all

Black persons 25 years of age and older had at these data with data from other sources. For

least a high school education; about 14 percent information on the source of data and the accuracy of

had at least a bachelor’s degree. estimates, including the use and computation of

standard errors, contact Donald Keathley, Demo-

 Black families had a real median income of graphic Statistical Methods Division (301-457-4214) or

$25,970 in 1995. via Internet e-mail (Dkeathley @ccmail.census.gov).

U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration