North Carolina State Population

North Carolina's growing population.

North Carolina currently boasts a substantial and rapidly expanding population, estimated at over 10.8 million residents, making it the ninth-most populous state in the U.S. Historically, the state’s population grew steadily through its agricultural roots and colonial development, though it experienced periods of slower growth and even out-migration as economic opportunities shifted elsewhere in the mid-20th century. However, the late 20th and early 21st centuries have witnessed a dramatic demographic boom, transforming North Carolina into one of the nation's fastest-growing states, driven largely by domestic and international migration attracted by a diversified economy in technology, research, finance, and healthcare, coupled with a generally favorable climate and perceived quality of life, leading to significant urbanization and increasing cultural diversity, particularly in its major metropolitan areas.

Data Source: US Census Bureau