
LifeTime
Of INEQUALITY
Race and ethnicity can shape a
person’s life from beginning to
end. In the U.S., disparities in
health, wealth, and access to
education among the four major
demographic groups—Asian,
white, Hispanic, and black—
persist and can be compounded
over time. For example, blacks
and Hispanics earn less than
whites and Asians. Low wages
often make it harder to finance
a child’s education. For people
without a college degree, upward
mobility can be particularly
difficult to achieve.
FINANCES
The child poverty rate for blacks and
Hispanics is more than double the rate
for whites and Asians. Higher
unemployment rates and lower
earnings contribute to the gap.
EDUCATION
Hispanics and blacks are less likely
than Asians and whites to graduate
from high school and attend college.
Asians significantly outpace all other
groups in college enrollment.
HEALTH CARE
Blacks have higher infant mortality and
lower life expectancy than the other
groups. Yet compared with Hispanics,
who have similar diabetes rates, blacks
have more health insurance coverage.
Risky infancY
Infant deaths per thousand
live births, 2014
Asian
4
White
5
Hispanic
5
Black
11
challenging childhood
Share of children under
age 18 living in poverty, 2014
Asian
12
White
12
Hispanic
32
Black
38
Graduation gap
Graduation rate for public high
school students, 2014-15 school year
Asian
90
White
88
Hispanic
78
Black
75
Degrees for some
Rate of 18- to 24-year-olds
enrolled in college, 2015
Asian
63
42
White
Hispanic
37
Black
35
Uneven employment
Unemployment rate,
annual average, 2016
Asian
4
White
4
Hispanic
6
Black
8
EARNINGS GAP
Median hourly wage in dollars,
workers with a higher education, 2015
Asian
31
White
28
Hispanic
24
Black
24
Living without insurance
Uninsured rate, 2016
Asian
8
White
6
Hispanic
16
Black
11
Health struggles
Prevalence of diagnosed
diabetes in adults, 2013-15
Asian
8
7
White
Hispanic
12
Black
13
RentING vs. ownING
Homeownership rate, 2016
Asian
55
72
White
Hispanic
46
Black
42
unequal retirement
Share with private employer-
sponsored coverage, 2014
Asian
48
White
57
Hispanic
34
Black
50
DiSPARATE life spans
Life expectancy
at birth in years, 2015
Asian
87
79
White
Hispanic
82
Black
75
Race categories (white, black, and Asian)
exclude people of Hispanic ethnicity.
The Hispanic category includes Hispanics
of all races.
figures are percentages unless
otherwise specified.

LifeTime Of
INEQUALITY
FINANCES
The child poverty rate for blacks and Hispanics is more than double
the rate for whites and Asians. Higher unemployment rates and
lower earnings contribute to the gap.
Race and ethnicity can shape a person’s life from
beginning to end. In the U.S., disparities in health,
wealth, and access to education among the four major
demographic groups—Asian, white, Hispanic, and black—
persist and can be compounded over time. For example,
blacks and Hispanics earn less than whites and Asians.
Low wages often make it harder to finance a child’s
education. For people without a college degree, upward
mobility can be particularly difficult to achieve.
EDUCATION
Hispanics and blacks are less likely than Asians and whites to
graduate from high school and attend college. Asians significantly
outpace all other groups in college enrollment.
HEALTH CARE
Blacks have higher infant mortality and lower life expectancy than
the other groups. Yet compared with Hispanics, who have similar
diabetes rates, blacks have more health insurance coverage.
Graduation gap
Risky infancY
challenging childhood
Infant deaths per thousand
live births, 2014
Share of children under
age 18 living in poverty, 2014
Graduation rate for public high
school students, 2014-15 school year
Asian
Asian
Asian
4
12
90
White
White
White
5
12
88
Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic
5
32
78
Black
Black
Black
11
38
75
Degrees for some
Rate of 18- to 24-year-olds
enrolled in college, 2015
Asian
63
42
White
Hispanic
37
Black
35
Living without insurance
EARNINGS GAP
Uneven employment
Uninsured rate, 2016
Median hourly wage in dollars,
workers with a higher education, 2015
Unemployment rate,
annual average, 2016
Asian
Asian
Asian
8
31
4
White
White
White
6
28
4
Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic
16
24
6
Black
Black
Black
11
24
8
DiSPARATE life spans
Life expectancy
at birth in years, 2015
Asian
87
79
White
Health struggles
RentING vs. ownING
unequal retirement
Hispanic
82
Prevalence of diagnosed
diabetes in adults, 2013-15
Homeownership rate, 2016
Share with private employer-
sponsored coverage, 2014
Black
75
Asian
Asian
Asian
8
55
48
White
7
72
57
White
White
Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic
12
46
34
Black
Black
Black
13
42
50
Race categories (white, black, and Asian) exclude people of Hispanic ethnicity.
The Hispanic category includes Hispanics of all races.
figures are percentages unless otherwise specified.
SOURCES: National Center for Health Statistics; National Center for Education Statistics; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Census Bureau; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; PEW RESEARCH CENTER; AARP; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services