Black Health Profile
Black health in Maryland
1,782,913
Black residents (ACS)
29.00%
Of state population
Maryland has 1.8 million Black residents (29% of the state) and a deep Black medical infrastructure: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Howard University College of Medicine all serve large Black patient populations. Maryland Medicaid covers doula services and has one of the most comprehensive postpartum benefits packages in the nation.
The largest Black health disparity tracked on these pages varies by metric. Use the ten topic pages below to see each one cited against the state's primary-source dataset.
On the positive side, every US state now has CDC-funded maternal mortality review committees, and most have at least one HRSA-designated federally qualified health center serving low-income Black residents. The ten facet pages below point to state-specific programs and providers.
Key takeaways
- Black residents: 1,782,913 (29.0% of the state).
- Medicaid expansion adopted.
- Medicaid covers doula services.
- Certified nurse-midwife scope-of-practice recognized by Medicaid.
- 12-month postpartum Medicaid extension active.
Health outcomes & coverage
Ten race-stratified indicators drawn from CDC, Census, KFF, and SAMHSA primary sources. Each page links the underlying dataset, compares to the national average, and frames the state-specific drivers and policy levers.
maternal mortality
Black women in Maryland die from pregnancy-related causes at 30.8 per 100,000 live births — 1.6× the US national rate of 19.
Read the maternal mortality breakdown
infant mortality
Black infants in Maryland die before age one at 11.1 per 1,000 live births — compared to the US all-race rate of 5.4.
Read the infant mortality breakdown
cardiovascular mortality
Age-adjusted cardiovascular mortality among Black residents of Maryland: 323.1 deaths per 100,000 (CDC WONDER, ICD-10 I00-I99).
Read the cardiovascular mortality breakdown
diabetes prevalence
13.5% of Black adults in Maryland have been diagnosed with diabetes — compared to the US all-race rate of 11.6%.
Read the diabetes prevalence breakdown
breast cancer mortality
Age-adjusted breast cancer mortality among Black women in Maryland: 28.1 per 100,000 (CDC WONDER, ICD-10 C50).
Read the breast cancer mortality breakdown
prostate cancer mortality
Age-adjusted prostate cancer mortality among Black men in Maryland: 39.4 per 100,000 (CDC WONDER, ICD-10 C61).
Read the prostate cancer mortality breakdown
life expectancy
Life expectancy at birth for Black residents of Maryland: 74.5 years (US all-race: 77.5).
Read the life expectancy breakdown
uninsured rate
7.4% of Black residents of Maryland have no health insurance coverage — vs. a US all-race uninsured rate of 8%.
Read the uninsured rate breakdown
Medicaid coverage
About 31% of Black residents of Maryland receive Medicaid coverage. Maryland is a Medicaid expansion state.
Read the Medicaid coverage breakdown
mental health access
55.8% of Black adults in Maryland who experienced a past-year mental health need reported not receiving the treatment they needed (SAMHSA N…
Read the mental health access breakdown
Policy context in Maryland
Maryland has adopted Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Medicaid covers doula services in this state. Postpartum Medicaid coverage extends for 12 months after delivery, the federal recommended standard.
Maryland adopted Medicaid expansion in 2014. HB 837 (2022) expanded the Maryland Medicaid Doula Program statewide. The state's Perinatal Quality Collaborative is housed at Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems.
Find Black health providers & resources in Maryland
Counties in Maryland
County-level Black Health profiles for the 2 Maryland counties with the fullest race-stratified data and editorial coverage.
Data sources & refresh cadence
- US Census ACS 5-year 2019–2023, Table B02001 (race) & S1903 (income).
- CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death (D69) & Underlying Cause of Death (D76), 2018–2022 release.
- KFF Medicaid expansion and state coverage trackers, Q1 2026.
- SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2022 state annual.
- HRSA NHSC workforce data, 2024.
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