North Carolina Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

North Carolina's 10,584,340 residents make it the 9th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +400.7% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 218 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, North Carolina is:

63.3% White (alone)
20.6% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
2.3% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the North Carolina state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in North Carolina is $69,904, with per-capita income at $39,616. 9.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 3.0%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in North Carolina: 39.1 years (US median ~39). The population is 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

Largest Cities in North Carolina

Charlotte city — population 886,283
Raleigh city — population 470,763
Greensboro city — population 298,564
Durham city — population 288,465
Winston-Salem city — population 250,887

Largest Counties in North Carolina

Wake County — population 1,151,009
Mecklenburg County — population 1,130,906
Guilford County — population 542,987
Forsyth County — population 386,740
Cumberland County — population 336,749

How North Carolina Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 9th of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete North Carolina state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

North Carolina has a population of 10,584,340 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 9th among the 50 states. Population density is 218 people per square mile.

North Carolina is gaining population, with a +400.7% change since 1910 (2,206,287 → 10,584,340). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

63.3% of North Carolina's population identifies as White, 20.6% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 2.3% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in North Carolina is $69,904 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $39,616. 9.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in North Carolina is 39.1 years. The population is 48.9% male and 51.1% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the North Carolina state page.

The largest cities in North Carolina by population: Charlotte city (886,283), Raleigh city (470,763), Greensboro city (298,564), Durham city (288,465), Winston-Salem city (250,887).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). North Carolina ranks 9th. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. North Carolina's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.