RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Largest Black population, US states · 1990

US states ranked by the number of residents who are Black or African American, from the 1990 American Community Survey (table B03002). Each list covers the full eligible universe; download the complete data as CSV. New York leads at 2,599,364. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 1,106,596, against an all-states median of 242,516.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros

YEAR1990 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBLACK POPULATIONVS –

USUnited States11.8% of US population248,709,87329,284,596–

01New York, NYNY19,852,3662,599,364–

02California, CACA39,287,3772,110,700–

03Texas, TXTX30,188,4241,988,995–

04Georgia, GAGA10,940,4071,737,938–

05Florida, FLFL22,416,0771,703,544–

06Illinois, ILIL12,694,7981,675,161–

07North Carolina, NCNC10,730,4041,449,378–

08Louisiana, LALA4,611,9611,292,557–

09Michigan, MIMI10,077,7611,282,248–

10Maryland, MDMD6,206,0111,178,601–

11Virginia, VAVA8,705,1701,154,970–

12Ohio, OHOH11,810,2931,146,187–

13Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,6391,074,985–

14South Carolina, SCSC5,296,2251,036,564–

15Alabama, ALAL5,086,7681,016,935–

16New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,809989,946–

17Mississippi, MSMS2,946,779913,730–

18Tennessee, TNTN7,066,383774,459–

19Missouri, MOMO6,191,814544,533–

20Indiana, ININ6,851,073427,049–

21District of Columbia, DCDC681,294396,397–

22Arkansas, ARAR3,049,391372,390–

23Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,056274,269–

24Connecticut, CTCT3,624,508263,344–

25Kentucky, KYKY4,534,824260,660–

26Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,872242,516–

27Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,634230,173–

28Washington, WAWA7,816,116143,555–

29Kansas, KSKS2,947,197139,962–

30Colorado, COCO5,862,189127,046–

31Delaware, DEDE1,021,191110,826–

32Arizona, AZAZ7,378,838105,371–

33Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44592,968–

34Nevada, NVNV3,184,61276,795–

35Nebraska, NENE1,978,70756,424–

36West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37355,053–

37Iowa, IAIA3,210,50746,651–

38Oregon, OROR4,254,29344,475–

39Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80134,007–

40New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24627,571–

41Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23525,475–

42Alaska, AKAK735,70621,572–

43Utah, UTUT3,392,33110,357–

44New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,8686,628–

45Maine, MEME1,387,8175,164–

46Idaho, IDID1,934,2623,428–

47North Dakota, NDND784,8413,393–

48Wyoming, WYWY582,3973,148–

49South Dakota, SDSD907,4283,094–

50Vermont, VTVT647,1062,116–

51Montana, MTMT1,116,8751,924–

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest black population?

New York ranks #1 with 2,599,364 (1990 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by black population?

New York, California, Texas, Georgia, Florida.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 Decennial Census data.

How is black population measured?

Number of residents who are Black or African American (derived from the ACS race table B03002). Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census.