| Metropolitan Area Residents |
| 1990: | 4,266,654 |
| 2000: | 4,456,428 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | 5.2% |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | Not reported |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 7th (CMSA) |
| City Residents |
| 1980: | 1,203,339 |
| 1990: | 1,027,974 |
| 2000: | 951,270 |
| 2003 estimate: | 879,575 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | -7.4% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | 6th |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 7th |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 14th |
| Density: | 6,858 people per square mile (2000) |
| Racial and ethnic characteristics | (2000) |
| White | 116,599 |
| Black or African American | 775,772 |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 3,140 |
| Asian | 9,268 |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 251 |
| Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race) | 47,167 |
| Other | 24,199 |
| Percent of residents born in state: | 70.6% (2000) |
| Age characteristics | (2000) |
| Population under 5 years old | 76,232 |
| Population 5 to 9 years old | 93,882 |
| Population 10 to 14 years old | 83,361 |
| Population 15 to 19 years old | 68,707 |
| Population 20 to 24 years old | 65,654 |
| Population 25 to 34 years old | 144,323 |
| Population 35 to 44 years old | 136,695 |
| Population 45 to 54 years old | 115,971 |
| Population 55 to 59 years old | 38,045 |
| Population 60 to 64 years old | 29,344 |
| Population 65 to 74 years old | 52,863 |
| Population 75 to 84 years old | 35,213 |
| Population 85 years and over | 10,980 |
| Median age | 30.9 years |
| Births | (1999) |
| Total number | 15,800 |
| Deaths | (1999) |
| Total number | 10,104 |
| Money income | (1999) |
| Per capita income | $14,717 |
| Median household income | $29,526 |
| Total households | 336,482 |
| Number of households with income of . . . | |
| less than $10,000 | 64,304 |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 27,914 |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 54,133 |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 45,063 |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 49,930 |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 50,432 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 23,430 |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 15,291 |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 2,887 |
| $200,000 or more | 3,098 |
| Percent of families below poverty level: | 21.7% (of which, 48.6% were female householder families with related children under 5 years) |
| 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: | 85,035 |
