A new report from McKinsey & Company highlights substantial disparities in health outcomes between Black and White residents across the United States, with geography playing a significant role in these inequalities.
The study examined various quality-of-life metrics across different community profiles, including urban centers, suburbs, and rural areas. While overall outcomes for Black residents have improved over the past decade, progress towards racial parity remains slow.
Among the health-related findings, the report notes that Black Americans in rural areas face particularly challenging conditions. These communities have lower life expectancies for Black residents (74 to 75 years) and high uninsured rates (12 percent).
Even in areas with better overall outcomes for Black residents, such as suburbs and high-growth urban hubs, significant racial gaps persist in health metrics. The study found that no U.S. county with a sizable Black population has achieved or come close to parity in outcomes with White residents.
The researchers estimate that at the current rate of progress, it could take over three centuries for Black residents to reach parity with their White neighbors across all measured metrics, including health outcomes.
The report suggests that targeted investments in affordable housing and early childhood education could have positive ripple effects on other aspects of well-being, including health. However, the authors stress that addressing these disparities will require fresh energy and urgency from all stakeholders to prevent these inequities from lingering for future generations.
See “The state of Black residents: The relevance of place to racial equity and outcomes” (February 1, 2024)
