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Population and Demography of North Carolina
North Carolina is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It bordered Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and South Carolina to the south, and Tennessee to the west.
North Carolina is the ninth most populous state in the United States. The total Land area is 48,711 square miles (126,161 square kilometers) and there is an average of 215 people for every square mile. This makes North Carolina the 15th most densely populated state in the US. As per the United States Census Bureau, the population of North Carolina in 2020 is 10,439,388 (10.4 million).
Estimated Population of North Carolina in 2024 is 10,835,491 or 10.8 million
Decdal Growth (2010 - 2020)
| North Carolina | Census 2020 |
| Total Population | 10,439,388 (10.4 million) |
| Median Age | 38.3 years |
| Population Rank | 9th |
| Total Land Area | 48,711 sq mi (126,161 km2) |
| Area Rank | 28th |
| Population Density | 214.6/sq mi (82.9/km2) |
| Capital City | Raleigh |
| Largest City | Charlotte |
North Carolina Historical Population
In 1910 Population of North Carolina was 2.2 million & Year 2020 it reached 10.4 million, an increase of almost 8.2 million.
Let’s look at decade population and percentage change from the Year 1910 to 2020
| Year | Population | Percentage Change |
| 2020 | 10,439,388 | 9.5 |
| 2010 | 9,535,483 | 18.5 |
| 2000 | 8,049,313 | 21.4 |
| 1990 | 6,628,637 | 12.7 |
| 1980 | 5,881,766 | 15.7 |
| 1970 | 5,082,059 | 11.5 |
| 1960 | 4,556,155 | 12.2 |
| 1950 | 4,061,929 | 13.7 |
| 1940 | 3,571,623 | 12.7 |
| 1930 | 3,170,276 | 23.9 |
| 1920 | 2,559,123 | 16.0 |
| 1910 | 2,206,287 | 16.5 |
Source: US Census Bureau population estimate 2020
Population Projections
Religion and Affilations
Christianity is the majority religion in North Carolina followed by 77 % of the population. The largest Christian denomination in North Carolina is Protestant (66%) followed by Roman Catholics (9%). Next comes the Unaffiliated population, 20% of the population doesn’t follow or adhere to any faith or religion.
Other non-Christian-based religions and faiths are followed by 3% of the population and include Jewish, Hinduism, Buddhist, Muslim, and other smaller faiths.
For more details read Religion in North Carolina
Race and Ethnicity in North Carolina
In 2020, the White alone (non-Hispanic) population was the largest racial or ethnic group in North Carolina, comprising 60.46% of the total population. It was followed by the African American population whose share was 20.19%. Hispanic or Latino was the third largest group at 10.72%. Two or more races are at 3.90% & the Asian population is at 3.26%
Ancestry in North Carolina
As per Census Studies & estimates., American, English, German, Irish, and Italian have made the five largest ancestry groups in North Carolina. North Carolina has a large African American population that makes up almost a quarter of its total population. The state also has a large and growing population of Asian Americans, especially those from India and Vietnam. Its also home to the largest American Indian population on the East Coast with an estimated population of 110,000 and 8 tribal nations recognized.
For more Details read Race and Ethnicity in North Carolina
Cities and Counties in North Carolina
Charlotte with a population of close to 1 million is the largest city in North Carolina followed by Raleigh and Greensboro. North Carolina has 10 cities with a population of more than 100 thousand.
As of 2022, North Carolina is divided into 100 counties. The most populated counties in North Carolina are Mecklenburg (1,076,837), Wake (1,072,203), and Guilford (526,953) counties.
read more about Cities and Counties in North Carolina
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