Census ACS 5-Year · 52 states
States With Largest Black Population
The geographic distribution of Black Americans reflects deep historical patterns rooted in slavery, the Great Migration, and ongoing economic forces. Southern states, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and Maryland, have the highest percentages of Black residents, a pattern directly linked to the plantation economy and the limited geographic mobility that followed Reconstruction. The Great Migration of the 20th century moved millions of Black Americans to Northern and Western cities, establishing significant populations in states like New York, Illinois, and Michigan. Today, a "reverse migration" is bringing many Black families back to the South, drawn by lower costs of living, growing Black middle-class communities, and cultural ties. These population patterns influence political representation, educational policy, healthcare access, and economic development across the country.
Key Findings
- 1District of Columbia leads with a Black population percentage of 43.3%, followed by Mississippi (37.0%) and Georgia (31.3%).
- 2The gap between #1 District of Columbia and #52 Montana (0.5%) is 42.8 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 7.1% (Oklahoma at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: District of Columbia, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Alabama, South Carolina, Delaware, North Carolina, Virginia.
Full Ranking: States With Largest Black Population
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Black % | Population | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 0.9% | 579,761 | $74,815 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 6.1% | 5,892,023 | $75,670 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 3.3% | 1,784,462 | $57,917 |
| 4 | Washington | 4.0% | 7,740,984 | $94,952 |
| 5 | Virginia | 18.7% | 8,657,499 | $90,974 |
| 6 | Vermont | 1.2% | 645,254 | $78,024 |
| 7 | Utah | 1.1% | 3,331,187 | $91,750 |
| 8 | Texas | 12.2% | 29,640,343 | $76,292 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 15.9% | 6,986,082 | $67,097 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 2.2% | 899,194 | $72,421 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 25.3% | 5,212,774 | $66,818 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 5.8% | 1,095,371 | $86,372 |
| 13 | Puerto Rico | 7.3% | 3,254,885 | $25,096 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 10.7% | 12,986,518 | $76,081 |
| 15 | Oregon | 1.9% | 4,238,714 | $80,426 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 7.1% | 3,995,260 | $63,603 |
| 17 | Ohio | 12.3% | 11,780,046 | $69,680 |
| 18 | North Dakota | 3.2% | 779,361 | $75,949 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 20.6% | 10,584,340 | $69,904 |
| 20 | New York | 14.7% | 19,872,319 | $84,578 |
| 21 | New Mexico | 2.1% | 2,114,768 | $62,125 |
| 22 | New Jersey | 13.0% | 9,267,014 | $101,050 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | 1.5% | 1,387,834 | $95,628 |
| 24 | Nevada | 9.4% | 3,141,000 | $75,561 |
| 25 | Nebraska | 4.8% | 1,965,926 | $74,985 |
| 26 | Montana | 0.5% | 1,105,072 | $69,922 |
| 27 | Missouri | 11.1% | 6,168,181 | $68,920 |
| 28 | Mississippi | 37.0% | 2,951,438 | $54,915 |
| 29 | Minnesota | 6.8% | 5,713,716 | $87,556 |
| 30 | Michigan | 13.4% | 10,051,595 | $71,149 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | 7.0% | 6,992,395 | $101,341 |
| 32 | Maryland | 29.6% | 6,170,738 | $101,652 |
| 33 | Maine | 1.7% | 1,377,400 | $71,773 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 31.1% | 4,621,025 | $60,023 |
| 35 | Kentucky | 7.9% | 4,510,725 | $62,417 |
| 36 | Kansas | 5.4% | 2,937,569 | $72,639 |
| 37 | Iowa | 3.9% | 3,195,937 | $73,147 |
| 38 | Indiana | 9.3% | 6,811,752 | $70,051 |
| 39 | Illinois | 13.8% | 12,692,653 | $81,702 |
| 40 | Idaho | 0.7% | 1,893,296 | $74,636 |
| 41 | Hawaii | 1.9% | 1,445,635 | $98,317 |
| 42 | Georgia | 31.3% | 10,822,590 | $74,664 |
| 43 | Florida | 15.3% | 21,928,881 | $71,711 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | 43.3% | 672,079 | $106,287 |
| 45 | Delaware | 21.9% | 1,005,872 | $82,855 |
| 46 | Connecticut | 10.7% | 3,598,348 | $93,760 |
| 47 | Colorado | 4.0% | 5,810,774 | $92,470 |
| 48 | California | 5.5% | 39,242,785 | $96,334 |
| 49 | Arkansas | 14.9% | 3,032,651 | $58,773 |
| 50 | Arizona | 4.6% | 7,268,175 | $76,872 |
| 51 | Alaska | 3.1% | 733,971 | $89,336 |
| 52 | Alabama | 26.1% | 5,054,253 | $62,027 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
District of Columbia has the highest Black population percentage at 43.3%, according to latest Census ACS data. Mississippi and Georgia round out the top three.
Montana has the lowest Black population percentage at 0.5%. Idaho is second-lowest at 0.7%.
The median across all 52 states is 7.1%. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently, the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS 5-Year estimates. The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.