African Immigrants in the United States: A Socio-Demographic Profile in Comparison to Native Blacks

Using data from the 1980 and 1990 U.S. censuses (5% Public Use Microdata Samples), this paper provides the socio-demographic profile of African immigrants in comparison to native blacks. The results show that the number of Africans living in the United States has increased by 6% per year between 1980 and 1990, but the growth has been greater for blacks ( 11 %) than for whites (4%). This racial differences in growth changed the composition of the African immigrant population from predominantly white (60%) in 1980, to predominantly black (47%) in 1990; other races counted only for 11 % in 1980 and 9% in 1990. Compared to native blacks, black and white African immigrants are more educated, less likely to be on welfare, more heavily concentrated in some states, more likely to be married, and more employable. These characteristics are key determinants of the future conditions of native blacks and African immigrants in the United States.