Characteristics

IMPORTANT TERM

Fictive Kin– People that are considered ‘family’, as the result of longstanding relationships, but may not be linked directly by blood ties. These individuals may be serving as the primary care giver or even as the surrogate decision makers
and may be sometimes more involved than the directly related family members.

Heterogeneity


As of 2023, a little over half (56%) are still living in the rural South, but more are in urban areas in the Northeast (17%) and West & Mid West (27%). Educational levels vary from almost no years of schooling to those with doctorates. While many in their 70s and 80s are dependent on care from children, grandchildren, or “fictive kin,” many others are raising their grandchildren or great grandchil

Educational attainment has risen substantially: nearly 28% of Black adults held at least a bachelor’s degree in 2024, up from under 15% in 2000. Black women have driven much of that progress, with their college degree rate roughly doubling over that period

Black adults are less likely to be married than non-Black adults — nearly half have never married, compared to about 3 in 10 non-Black adults. Black men are more likely to be married than Black women, while Black women are more likely to be divorced, separated, or widowed.

About 18% of married Black adults have a non-Black spouse. Black men are more likely than Black women to have married outside the race (22% vs. 14%).

Household Income

The American Community Survey (2023) reported the median income among African American/Black for US households at $54,000.

Median household income for Black Americans stood at $57,200 in 2024, with some variation by subgroup — multiracial Black households ($67,000) and Black Hispanic households ($63,300) earned somewhat more than single-race, non-Hispanic Black households ($56,000).

Older Americans who identify themselves as Black or African American are extremely varied. Although many are low income, very large and growing segments are in the middle and upper income categories. Some are retired professionals, and many others have children with professional careers.

In 2019, the median income for households led by African Americans aged 65 and older was $51,743 whereas the median income for all older adults was $70,254 (Administration for Community Living, 2022).

Religion

During the time of legalized segregation, Black churches functioned as vital centers for community unity and civic engagement and where faith provided strength, hope and inspiration.

In 2021, the Pew Research Center reported, about 78% of African Americans/Black are affiliated with a religion. The report also emphasized, African American/Black are more likely to say that religion is “very important” as compared to all U.S. adults at 40%.

Religious affiliations include:

  • Protestant
  • Catholic
  • Muslim
  • none
Living Arrangements

Household type / marital status In 2022, only 27% of Black households were married-couple families, compared to roughly 50% of White households. Black households were the most likely group to be a family household maintained by a woman without a spouse present, with about 25% of all Black households falling into this category. Black women were also found to be more likely than Black men to be part of a non-family household.

Among African American older adults in the US aged 65 and older, 32% lived alone (Pew Research Center, 2023).

As of 2023, 39% of African American/Black people live in married couple headed households (Pew Research Center, 2023) and 30% as female headed households.

Historically, African Americans have resided in nursing homes at about half the rate of White older adults (Yeo, 1993). More recent evidence shows an increase in the use of nursing homes among Black men and women over 65 than Whites (Kramerow, Lentzer, Rooks, Weeks, & Saydah, 1999).

Education

The AoA (2020) reported that 81% Blacks age 65 and older completed high school, and   22% had a Bachelor degree or higher.

The current rate is 36 percent of African Americans attend college compared to 40 percent for other races nationwide.

Poverty

For a discussion on Social Support, Family Caregiving, and Role of Church and Religion, see Fund of Knowledge.

The poverty rate in 2019 according to AoA was 18% for older African Americans who reported black as their only race compared to 8.9% for all older Americas. The poverty rate in 2022 according to the U.S. Census was 17.6 % for older African American/Black adults 65 and older.  This rate was unchanged from 2003. This is slightly more than older Hispanics and more than twice the rate of older White Americans (Kramerow et al., 1999). The percentage increases with age and for those who are widowed or live alone.

Morbidity and mortality rates are higher among African American older adults than in the general population. Because of decreased educational levels and decreases in personal resources, the awareness of health problems, knowledge of causes and risk factors, and capacity to access medical care may be greatly decreased.