Black Male Health Statistics

Statistically speaking, Black men in America live seven years less than men of other racial groups. They also have higher death rates than Black women for all leading causes of death.

Black people are dying from COVID-19 at an alarming rate that is about 2.5 to 3 times higher than other racial groups with Black men leading the way. Black men have a higher incidence and a higher rate of death from oral cancer and have a much higher risk of developing HIV/AIDS in their lifetime.

Other Health Statistics:

*44% of Black men are considered overweight
*37.5% are obese
*Black men suffer more preventable oral diseases that are treatable
*Black men have a higher incidence of diabetes and prostrate cancer
*Black men have a high suicide rate; it's the third leading cause of death in 15- to 24-year-olds

10 Leading Causes of Death

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following were the leading causes of death of Black men in 2019:

1. Heart disease (23.7% of total deaths)
2. Cancer (20.2%)
3. Unintentional injuries (7.9%)
4. Homicide (5.0%)
5. Stroke (4.9%)
6. Diabetes (4.3%)
7. Chronic lower respiratory diseases (3.2%)
8. Kidney disease (2.6%)
9. Septicemia (1.8%)
10. Hypertension (1.6%)

Homicide a Leading Cause of Death for Younger Black Males

In the category of leading causes of death, when broken down by age group for Black males in the U.S., more disturbing statistics are revealed. For young Black men between the ages of 15 and 44, the number one cause of death in 2017 was homicide. A further breakdown of deaths by age group among Black men due to homicide:

*Ages 1-19, homicide accounted for 35.3% of total deaths
*Ages 20-44, 27.6% of total deaths
*Ages 45-64, 2.1% of total deaths