Population by State
Black Population by State 2026
United States 13%
8.33%
US Average
District of Columbia 44.88%
Highest
Montana 1.09%
Lowest
Black %
10%
20%
30%
40%
44.88%
37.92%
33.04%
32.34%
32.08%
26.69%
States Ranked by Black Population
State | Black % 2024↓ | Black 2024 | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | District of Columbia | 44.88% | 312,370 | 695,980 |
 | Mississippi | 37.92% | 1,121,620 | 2,958,148 |
 | Louisiana | 33.04% | 1,527,020 | 4,621,500 |
 | Georgia | 32.34% | 3,687,330 | 11,401,288 |
 | Maryland | 32.08% | 2,016,090 | 6,285,380 |
 | Alabama | 26.69% | 1,394,110 | 5,223,121 |
 | South Carolina | 25.24% | 1,425,940 | 5,650,232 |
 | Delaware | 24.16% | 258,469 | 1,069,781 |
 | North Carolina | 21.59% | 2,449,210 | 11,343,875 |
 | Virginia | 20.74% | 1,854,620 | 8,940,572 |
 | New York | 17.52% | 3,504,250 | 20,003,435 |
 | Florida | 16.84% | 3,984,330 | 23,659,198 |
 | Tennessee | 16.76% | 1,236,500 | 7,378,861 |
 | Arkansas | 15.98% | 500,629 | 3,133,502 |
 | Illinois | 15.31% | 1,950,310 | 12,735,249 |
 | Michigan | 15.29% | 1,553,240 | 10,155,806 |
 | New Jersey | 14.97% | 1,436,010 | 9,590,076 |
 | Ohio | 14.61% | 1,744,370 | 11,940,399 |
 | Connecticut | 13.52% | 500,561 | 3,702,543 |
 | Texas | 13.27% | 4,259,840 | 32,101,064 |
 | Pennsylvania | 13.06% | 1,706,770 | 13,073,016 |
 | Missouri | 12.63% | 795,475 | 6,297,538 |
 | Nevada | 11.7% | 387,309 | 3,310,833 |
 | Indiana | 11.14% | 781,166 | 7,011,912 |
 | Massachusetts | 10.12% | 725,371 | 7,169,608 |
 | Rhode Island | 9.67% | 108,189 | 1,118,627 |
 | Oklahoma | 9.46% | 392,450 | 4,148,818 |
 | Kentucky | 9.44% | 437,271 | 4,629,682 |
 | Minnesota | 8.78% | 514,603 | 5,863,405 |
 | Wisconsin | 7.62% | 456,375 | 5,988,406 |
 | Kansas | 7.57% | 226,182 | 2,989,188 |
 | California | 7.24% | 2,847,960 | 39,345,844 |
 | Nebraska | 6.56% | 133,200 | 2,030,421 |
 | Arizona | 6.3% | 484,864 | 7,691,212 |
 | Washington | 5.96% | 481,048 | 8,074,082 |
 | Colorado | 5.65% | 340,825 | 6,036,620 |
 | Iowa | 5.45% | 176,791 | 3,246,320 |
 | Alaska | 5.22% | 38,531 | 738,003 |
 | West Virginia | 4.79% | 84,456 | 1,764,892 |
 | North Dakota | 4.36% | 35,136 | 805,329 |
 | Hawaii | 3.76% | 53,836 | 1,430,688 |
 | New Mexico | 3.46% | 73,540 | 2,124,222 |
 | Oregon | 3.35% | 143,615 | 4,281,848 |
 | South Dakota | 3.31% | 31,223 | 943,078 |
 | Maine | 2.64% | 37,568 | 1,421,310 |
 | New Hampshire | 2.63% | 37,389 | 1,422,166 |
 | Vermont | 2.31% | 14,844 | 642,805 |
 | Utah | 2.07% | 74,036 | 3,574,825 |
 | Wyoming | 1.66% | 9,783 | 590,784 |
 | Idaho | 1.4% | 28,760 | 2,058,594 |
 | Montana | 1.09% | 12,503 | 1,151,831 |
 | United States | 48,387,888 |
- Black or African American alone or in combination with one or more other races
Key Findings
States with the Highest Black Population Percentage
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District of Columbia (44.88%), Mississippi (37.92%), and Louisiana (33.04%) have the highest percentage of Black residents in the United States.
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These states are primarily located in the South and Southeast regions, where over half of the nation's Black population resides.
States with the Lowest Black Population Percentage
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Wyoming (1.66%), Idaho (1.4%), and Montana (1.09%) have the lowest percentage of Black residents.
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Twelve states have Black populations comprising less than 5% of their total population.
US Black Population
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The United States Black population is approximately 13% of the total population in 2026.
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Since 1980, the Black immigrant population has increased fivefold, contributing to demographic shifts across states.
United States Trend Line
US Black Population Trends
The Black population in the United States has grown steadily since the first Census in 1790, rising from 757,208 to over 47 million today, with significant regional concentration in the South and Southeast.
Black Population by State
State Comparison
Black population percentages vary significantly by state, ranging from over 40% in some Southern states to less than 2% in several Western and Mountain states.
Definitions & Methodology
How Black Population Is Measured The U.S. Census Bureau defines Black or African American population to include individuals who identify as Black or African American alone or in combination with one or more other races. This measurement captures both single-race and multiracial identification.
Last Updated: May 7, 2026
