The novel coronavirus has claimed about 99,000 American lives through May 19, according to reported statistics. Data about the race and ethnicity of the deceased is known for 89% of these deaths, which we have compiled from Washington, D.C. and the 40 states from which we have obtained data. While we have an incomplete picture of the toll of COVID-19, the existing data reveals deep inequities by race, most dramatically for Black Americans.


The latest overall COVID-19 mortality rate for Black Americans is 2.4 times as high as the rate for Whites and 2.2 times as high as the rate for Asians and Latinos.
Aggregated deaths from COVID-19 in these 40 states and the District of Columbia have reached new highs for all groups:

1 in 1,850 Black Americans has died (or 54.6 deaths per 100,000)

1 in 4,000 Latino Americans has died (or 24.9 deaths per 100,000)

1 in 4,200 Asian Americans has died (or 24.3 deaths per 100,000)

1 in 4,400 White Americans has died (or 22.7 deaths per 100,000)

We could not calculate a similar aggregated mortality rate for Indigenous Americans due to limited and uneven data. (Many states report Indigenous deaths in a broader “Other” race category). However, dramatic mortality disparities exist for Indigenous residents in several states, especially Arizona and New Mexico. Both of these states contain portions of the Navajo Nation, where the virus outbreak has been devastating. In New Mexico, the Indigenous mortality rate is eight times as high as the White mortality rate. In Arizona, the Indigenous mortality rate is more than five times the rate for all other groups. With 315 Indigenous deaths between them, these two states alone account for more than two-thirds of all known Indigenous deaths.


If they had died of COVID-19 at the same rate as White Americans, about 13,000 Black Americans, 1,300 Latino Americans and 300 Asian Americans would still be alive.

Examine differing mortality rates for the District of Columbia or any state releasing data by changing the dropdown menu below. Rates could not be calculated for Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders, Multiracial people, and those identified as Some Other Race. Rates for Indigenous residents could only be calculated for a few states. Rates were calculated only when there were 10 or more deaths for a particular group. Please see our complete data file for additional information.

I sha know that black Americans have died the most