While black people make up only about 13% of the United States’ population according to the U.S. Census Bureau, they account for 22% of COVID-19 deaths so far, according to the COVID Tracking Project (white people, who make up 77% of the U.S. population, account for only 47% of deaths).
The disparities are even more stark in some specific states and cities where black people make up the largest share of the population.
Forty-six states and Washington, D.C. report race data in confirmed COVID-19 cases, while only 41 report race for virus-related deaths.
Moreover, some states aren’t reporting race data for coronavirus cases at all—including Louisiana, home to the U.S.’ third-largest black population.
Still, with black people accounting for an outsized number of COVID-19 deaths in 34 states, it’s a signal that can’t be ignored.
