Chicago, IL Population by Race & Ethnicity

Racial distribution of Chicago population: 45.33% are White, 29.22% are Black or African American, 0.49% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 6.85% are Asian, 0.04% are Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 10.67% are some other race and 7.40% are multiracial.
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Updated Aug 31, 2023

Chicago, IL population by race

The table below shows Chicago's population by race.

Race Population % of Total Population
White 1,242,868 45.33%
Black or African American 801,353 29.22%
American Indian and Alaska Native 13,389 0.49%
Asian 187,757 6.85%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1,053 0.04%
Some other race 292,721 10.67%
Two or more races (multiracial) 202,978 7.40%
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Chicago population by race

Of the 5 race categories (excluding ethnicity) identified by the Census Bureau, namely American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander and White; Chicago has a population in all of the race categories.

This confirms that Chicago's population has become increasingly diverse.

The percent distribution of Chicago population by race (across all racial categories recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau): 45.33% are White, 29.22% are Black or African American, 0.49% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 6.85% are Asian, 0.04% are Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 10.67% are some other race and 7.40% are multiracial.

The bar chart shows Chicago, IL population by race, in percentage. The numbers shown are based on the American Community Survey respondents self identified race. The Hispanic and Latino population is spread across the races identified and not as a separate race category.
Chicago, IL population by race. The largest racial group in Chicago is White with a population of 1.24 million (45.33% of the total population). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates.

Chicago's racial breakdown clearly shows that there is no majority (i.e. more than 50% of the population belong to one particular race) of any race in the city.

As per the latest data estimates from American Community Survey's 5-year estimates:

1. The largest racial group in Chicago is White with a population of 1.24 million (45.33% of the total population).

2. The multiracial population, i.e. population that identify themselves with two or more races, is 202,978 (7.40% of the total population).

Racial / Ethnic makeup of Chicago, IL

By ethnicity, 787,795 (28.73% of the total population) is Hispanic or Latino (of any race), and 1.95 million (71.27% of the total population) is Non-Hispanic.

The pie chart shows racial / ethnic makeup of  Chicago, IL. The numbers shown are based on the American Community Survey respondents self identified race and ethnicity. The Hispanic or Latino population is excluded from the other identified racial categories and shown as one single group as Hispanic or Latino population.
Racial / Ethnic makeup of Chicago, IL. By ethnicity, 787,795 (28.73% of the total population) is Hispanic or Latino (of any race) and 1.95 million (71.27% of the total population) is Non-Hispanic. Please note that all Hispanic or Latino population are shown as one single group and the other racial categories are Non-Hispanic population percentages. Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates.

Of the Non-Hispanic population in Chicago, the largest racial group is White alone with a population of 907,499 (46.44% of the total Non-Hispanic population).

Chicago Non-Hispanic population by race

The distribution of the Non-Hispanic population across various race categories

Race Population % of Total Non-Hispanic Population
White alone 907,499 46.44%
Black or African American alone 788,673 40.36%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 1,730 0.09%
Asian alone 185,202 9.48%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 494 0.03%
Some other race alone 9,051 0.46%
Two or more races (multiracial) 61,675 3.16%
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Among the Hispanic population in Chicago, regardless of the race, the largest group is of Mexican origin, with a population of 581,346 (73.79% of the total Hispanic population).

Chicago Hispanic or Latino population

The distribution of the Hispanic or Latino population by their ancestries

Origin Population % of Total Hispanic Population
Mexican 581,346 73.79%
Puerto Rican 94,900 12.05%
Cuban 8,612 1.09%
Other Hispanic or Latino 102,937 13.07%
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Things to know

What percentage of Chicago, IL is Hispanic?

As per the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates, 28.73% of Chicago population is Hispanic.

Among the Hispanic population in Chicago, regardless of the race, the largest group is of Mexican origin, with a population of 581,346 (73.79% of the total Hispanic population).

How many Black people does Chicago, IL have?

Chicago, IL has 801,353 Black or African American population as per the estimates from the latest American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Overall 29.22% of the total population (excluding multiracial) in Chicago is Black.

What is the largest minority group in Chicago, IL?

With 28.73% of the total population, Hispanic and Latino Americans are the largest ethnic minority in Chicago.

That being said, with a 29.22% of the total population, Black or African Americans are the largest racial minority in Chicago.

What is the majority race in Chicago, IL?

With a population of 1.24 million (45.33% of the total population), Whites are the largest racial majority in Chicago.

Black or African Americans are second largest race in Chicago, with 29.22% of the total population.

References

Datasets

Explore datasets by year of publication.
2023
Chicago, IL Population Breakdown by Race
Last updated August 18, 2023
ACS
Free
Neilsberg
CSV, JSON
2017-2021
CC BY 4.0
About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the population of Chicago by race. It includes the population of Chicago across racial categories (excluding ethnicity) as identified by the Census Bureau. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of Chicago across relevant racial categories.

Key observations

The percent distribution of Chicago population by race (across all racial categories recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau): 45.33% are white, 29.22% are Black or African American, 0.49% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 6.85% are Asian, 0.04% are Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 10.67% are some other race and 7.40% are multiracial.

Chicago population by race

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates.

Racial categories include:

  • White
  • Black or African American
  • American Indian and Alaska Native
  • Asian
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
  • Some other race
  • Two or more races (multiracial)

Variables / Data Columns

  • Race: This column displays the racial categories (excluding ethnicity) for the Chicago
  • Population: The population of the racial category (excluding ethnicity) in the Chicago is shown in this column.
  • % of Total Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each race as a proportion of Chicago total population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Chicago Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

Chicago, IL Non-Hispanic Population Breakdown by Race
Last updated August 18, 2023
ACS
Free
Neilsberg
CSV, JSON
2017-2021
CC BY 4.0
About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Non-Hispanic population of Chicago by race. It includes the distribution of the Non-Hispanic population of Chicago across various race categories as identified by the Census Bureau. The dataset can be utilized to understand the Non-Hispanic population distribution of Chicago across relevant racial categories.

Key observations

Of the Non-Hispanic population in Chicago, the largest racial group is White alone with a population of 907,499 (46.44% of the total Non-Hispanic population).

Chicago Non-Hispanic population by race

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates.

Racial categories include:

  • White
  • Black or African American
  • American Indian and Alaska Native
  • Asian
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
  • Some other race
  • Two or more races (multiracial)

Variables / Data Columns

  • Race: This column displays the racial categories (for Non-Hispanic) for the Chicago
  • Population: The population of the racial category (for Non-Hispanic) in the Chicago is shown in this column.
  • % of Total Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each race as a proportion of Chicago total Non-Hispanic population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Chicago Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

Chicago, IL Hispanic or Latino Population Distribution by Their Ancestries
Last updated August 18, 2023
ACS
Free
Neilsberg
CSV, JSON
2017-2021
CC BY 4.0
About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Chicago Hispanic or Latino population. It includes the distribution of the Hispanic or Latino population, of Chicago, by their ancestries, as identified by the Census Bureau. The dataset can be utilized to understand the origin of the Hispanic or Latino population of Chicago.

Key observations

Among the Hispanic population in Chicago, regardless of the race, the largest group is of Mexican origin, with a population of 581,346 (73.79% of the total Hispanic population).

Chicago Non-Hispanic population by race

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates.

Origin for Hispanic or Latino population include:

  • Mexican
  • Black or African American
  • Puerto Rican
  • Cuban
  • Other Hispanic or Latino

Variables / Data Columns

  • Origin: This column displays the origin for Hispanic or Latino population for the Chicago
  • Population: The population of the specific origin for Hispanic or Latino population in the Chicago is shown in this column.
  • % of Total Hispanic Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each Hispanic origin as a proportion of Chicago total Hispanic or Latino population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Chicago Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

If you're looking for datasets from another year, please feel free to contact us at research@neilsberg.com and we'll be happy to assist you further.

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Population of places that contain Chicago

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Neilsberg Research team are data scientists with expertise in processing, analysis and visualization of big data helping small businesses make right decisions.

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