Race and Ethnicity in North Carolina 2024 | Ancestry in North Carolina

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North Carolina population by Race and Ethnicity

North Carolina the ninth-largest U.S. state by population has a racially and ethnically diverse population. As of 2020, White (Non-Hispanic) are the largest group in North Carolina followed by African Americans and Hispanic or Latinos.

also read about the Population of North Carolina

Ethnic and Racial Percentage

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% and the Asian population is at 3.26%

The ethnic composition of North Carolina is as follows

Race and Origin	Population	Percentage 2020
White alone (non-Hispanic)	6,312,148	60.46%
Black or African American alone	2,107,526	20.19%
Hispanic or Latino	1,118,596	10.72%
Two or more races	406,853	3.90%
Asian alone	340,059	3.26%
American Indians & Alaska Natives alone	100,886	0.97%
Some Other Race alone	46,340	0.44%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders alone	6,980	0.07%
Total:	10,439,388

Know about Religion in North Carolina

*US Census recognized five racial categories (White, Black or African American, Asian American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) as well as people of two or more races. It also classified respondents as "Hispanic or Latino" or "Not Hispanic or Latino", identifying Hispanic and Latino as an ethnicity (not a race), which comprises the largest minority group in the nation.

Ancestry in North Carolina

As per Census Studies and estimates English, German, Irish, Italian, and Scottish people have made the five largest ancestry groups in North Carolina. In 2020, 11.1% of the population considered themselves to be of only American ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity). Many of these were of English, Scotch-Irish, or European descent; however, their families have lived in the state for so long that they choose to identify as having “American” ancestry or do not know their ancestry. Some of their ancestry dates to the original thirteen colonies.

The Largest Ancestry in North Carolina is as follows

ANCESTRY	Estimate	Percentage
American	1,161,719	11.1%
English	943,466	9.0%
German	938,719	9.0%
Irish	793,136	7.6%
Italian	334,871	3.2%
Scotch-Irish	237,935	2.3%
Scottish	223,276	2.1%
French (except Basque)	160,229	1.5%
Polish	151,713	1.4%
Subsaharan African	133,428	1.3%
Dutch	76,296	0.7%
Welsh	63,916	0.6%
Swedish	57,317	0.5%
Norwegian	52,502	0.5%
Arab	40,973	0.4%
Russian	38,382	0.4%
West Indian	36,571	0.3%
French Canadian	35,062	0.3%
Greek	31,039	0.3%
Hungarian	28,238	0.3%
Ukrainian	21,107	0.2%
Czech	20,809	0.2%
Swiss	16,376	0.2%
Portuguese	16,176	0.2%
Danish	15,439	0.1%
Slovak	11,965	0.1%
Lithuanian	10,890	0.1%

also read about Top Counties and Cities in North Carolina

European Ancestry in North Carolina

Non-Hispanic Whites account for nearly 60.46% of North Carolina’s population. English, German, and Irish have made up the three largest European ancestry groups in North Carolina.

As per the Census report, English Americans made up 9% of the population and numbered over 0.94 million members. German Americans made up 9% of the population and numbered over 9.38 million.

Irish Americans made up 7.6% of the population and numbered over 8 million followed by Italian ancestry at 3.2% of the population and number 334,871.

Other Europeans who make good numbers are Scotch-Irish (2.3%), Scottish (2.1%) Polish (1.4%), French (1.50%), Russian (0.40%), Dutch (0.70%), Swedish (0.60%), Norwegian (0.50%), Welsh (0.60%) and Hungarian (0.30%).

African Americans in North Carolina

According to 2020 census data, the Black/African American alone population in North Carolina was 2,107,526 (black alone), which accounts for approximately 20.19% of the state’s total, or 2,344,553 (Black in combination with one or more races) 22% of the total population.

African Americans are concentrated in the state’s eastern Coastal Plain and in parts of the Piedmont Crescent. A significant proportion of North Carolina’s African American population resides in urban areas, such as Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, and Winston-Salem. Additionally, there are numerous Black residents living in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas across the state.

Hispanics and Latinos in North Carolina

Hispanics and Latinos are the third-largest groups in North Carolina. Around 11% of North Carolina’s Population claims Hispanic or Latin American ethnicity. Since 1990, the state has seen an increase in the number of Hispanics/Latinos. As a result, growing numbers of Hispanic immigrants are settling in the state, the majority of which are from Mexico, but also from Puerto Rico, and to a lesser degree from other Caribbean and Central American countries.

Asian Americans in North Carolina

Asian Americans are a sizable minority group in North Carolina. Americans of Asian descent formed 3.26 percent of the population. Its ethnic Asian population has grown rapidly since the late 1990s; the majority are Indians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and ethnic Chinese.

Multi-Race in North Carolina

Multiracial individuals are also a visible minority in North Carolina. People identifying as multiracial form 3.9% f the population, and number around 400,000 people.

Native Americans in North Carolina

Native Americans are a smaller minority in the state. Native Americans made up 1% of North Carolina’s population and number over 100,000 individuals as of 2020.

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