Population

How many immigrants are in North Carolina?

About 846K in 2021. This represents approximately 8.2% of the population, or about 4 in 50 residents. Immigrants include foreign-born residents, those who have become US citizens, individuals authorized to enter the US, and undocumented residents.
Showing data for
In 2021

846K

North Carolina residents were foreign-born
In 2021

4 in 50

North Carolina residents were foreign-born
The number of foreign-born residents in North Carolina increased from 700K in 2011 to 846K in 2021. This growth occurred alongside changes in the native-born population due to births, deaths, and migration. Analyzing the foreign-born share of the total population provides a clearer understanding of these demographics. In 2021, the foreign-born population in North Carolina was 8.2%, lower than the national average of 13.6%, and up from 7.4% in 2011.

Foreign-born share of the population in North Carolina

Variations in immigrant populations reflect changes in both local and national demographics. The largest immigrant populations are found in major metro areas. Metro areas in California, Texas, Florida, and parts of the Northeast generally have a higher share of foreign-born residents.

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In 2021, the metro areas in the US with the highest and lowest shares of foreign-born populations were Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL at 41.2% (highest) and Beckley, WV at 0.8% (lowest). In North Carolina, the highest and lowest were Raleigh-Cary at 12.2% and Rocky Mount at 3.8%, respectively.

On average, 8.2% of the population in metro areas was foreign-born in 2021

Foreign-born share of the population (2021)

Foreign-born share of the population (2021)

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