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The following "Statistical Brief," published in May, 1994 by the U. S. Census Bureau, was based on data presented in its report, "The Black Population in the United States: March 1992."

Blacks in America -- 1992

(Statistical Brief SB/94-12, Issued May 1994)

The Black population in the United States numbered 31.4 million in March 1992, comprising 13 percent of the Nation's total. This Brief uses data collected by the March 1992 Current Population Survey (CPS) to explore the state of Blacks in America. It examines how their situation changed between March 1980 and 1992, as well as how their condition compares with that of the White population. 


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                 Median Earnings of Year-Round,
        Full-Time Workers, by Sex and Race: 1979 and 1991
     
     (1991 dollars)
                                  Men                Women
      BLACK
      1979                      $23,260             $17,350
      1991                      $22,080             $18,720
     
      WHITE
      1979                      $32,030             $18,830
      1991                      $30,270             $20,790
     
     -------------------------------------------------------

POPULATION GROWTH
Between 1980 and 1992, the Black population increased an average of 1.4 percent per year, twice the annual growth rate of the White population (0.6 percent). The vast majority of this growth (84 percent) came from natural increase; the remainder came from immigration.


GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Blacks are concentrated in the South. In 1992, more than one-half of Blacks, but less than one-third of Whites, lived there. In addition, Blacks were twice as likely as Whites to live in central cities (56 percent compared with 26 percent) and less likely to live in the suburbs (29 percent versus 51 percent).


EDUCATION
Blacks are closing the high school diploma gap. Back in 1980, 51 percent of Blacks aged 25 and over had earned at least a high school diploma; the corresponding figure for Whites was 71 percent. Twelve years later, this gap had closed from 20 percentage points to 13 points (68 percent versus 81 percent).

However, the proportion of adults aged 25 and over with at least a bachelor's degree grew by equal percentages over the period for both groups--from 8 percent to 12 percent for Blacks, from 18 percent to 22 percent for Whites.

A college education, incidentally, does pay off. The median earnings in 1991 of year-round, full-time Black workers aged 25 and over who were high school graduates only was $18,620. But those with at least a bachelor's earned $30,910.


FAMILIES
Proportionately fewer families today (both Black and White) contain a married couple. Such families comprised 56 percent of all Black families in 1980, but just 47 percent in 1992. The corresponding decline for Whites was smaller, from 86 percent to 82 percent.

Families maintained by women with no spouse present rose from 40 percent to 46 percent of Black families; the proportion maintained by men with no spouse rose from 4 percent to 7 percent.

As a result, just 36 percent of Black children and 77 percent of White children under 18 years old lived with both parents in 1992. The corresponding 1980 figures were 42 percent and 83 percent.


JOBS
In March 1992, Black men (aged 16 and over) were less likely than White men to be in the labor force (70 percent compared with 76 percent). However, the labor force participation rates for Black and White women (58 percent) did not differ. The unemployment rate for Blacks (14 percent) was more than double that for Whites (6 percent).

Proportionately fewer Black than White men worked in managerial and professional specialty jobs (14 percent versus 27 percent); relatively more Black men were operators, fabricators, and laborers (31 percent versus 19 percent) and held service jobs (19 percent compared with 9 percent). It was more common for Black than for White women to work in service jobs (28 percent versus 17 percent), less likely for them to work in managerial and professional specialty (20 percent versus 29 percent) and in technical, sales, and administrative support jobs (38 percent versus 45 percent).


INCOME
The median income for Black families was $21,550 in 1991, 57 percent of the total for White families. After adjusting for inflation, family income for both groups was unchanged from 1979. But income has changed for different family types:


EARNINGS
In 1991, the median earnings of year-round, full-time Black male workers was 73 percent that of comparable White males ($22,080 versus $30,270). Black female year-round, full-time workers earned 90 percent that of their White counterparts ($18,720 compared with $20,790). The Black-to-White earnings ratios didn't change between 1979 and 1991 for either sex. (See table above.)


POVERTY
Between 1979 and 1991, poverty rates changed little for Black and White persons and families in general, but rates did change for certain groups. For instance, Black related children under 18 years old in families saw their poverty rate rise from 41 percent to 46 percent over the period. The table below 1991 poverty rates for different groups. 

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                  Percent Below the Poverty Level:  1991
   
   Persons                                      Black        White
   All persons                                    33           11
   Related children under age 18 in families      46           16
   Aged 65 or over                                34           10
   Worked in 1991                                 15            6
     50-52 weeks                                   7            3
     49 weeks or less                             29           12
   
   Families
   All families                                   30            9
     with children                                39           14
   Maintained by a married couple                 11            5
     with children                                12            8
   Maintained by a woman, no spouse present       51           28
     with children                                60           40
   Maintained by a man, no spouse present         22           11
     with children                                32           16
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HOME OWNERSHIP
Black householders were much more likely in 1992 to rent than to own a home (56 percent versus 42 percent); the opposite was true for Whites - 31 percent were renters, 67 percent were owners.


MORE INFORMATION
"The Black Population in the United States: March 1992." Current Population Reports, Series P20-471. For sale by U.S. Government Printing Office. Stock No. 803-005-00072-9. $7. Extensive information on the Black population for small geographic entities is available from the 1990 census. Contact Customer Services (301-763-4100) for more information.


CONTACTS: Black population: Claudette E. Bennett
    301-763-2607
  Statistical Briefs: Robert Bernstein
    301-763-1584

This Brief is one of a series that presents information of current policy interest. It may include data from businesses, households, or other sources. All statistics are subject to sampling variability, as well as survey design flaws, respondent classification errors, and data processing mistakes. The Census Bureau has taken steps to minimize errors, and analytical statements have been tested and meet statistical standards. However, because of methodological differences, use caution when comparing these data with data from other sources.


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