Is population growing or shrinking?

Updated annually
It grew by 145,900 between 2024 and 2025, the third most among all states. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. North Carolina’s 1.3% annual increase was primarily driven by people moving from other states. In the decade between 2015 and 2025, North Carolina’s population grew by 12.4%.

+146K

population change (2024 to 2025)

+1.3%

percent change in population (2024 to 2025)
Since 2000, North Carolina's population increased in 25 of 25 years. The largest increase occurred between 2005 and 2006, when it gained 211,900 residents. The state's smallest increase during the 21st century occurred between 2010 and 2011 when it gained 70,100 residents.

North Carolina gained 145,900 residents between 2024 and 2025.

Annual population change

A state’s population is influenced by three factors:
  • Natural population change: If births outnumber deaths in a given year, natural population growth is positive. If deaths exceed births, it is negative. Between 2024 to 2025 natural population change was positive in North Carolina, with births exceeding deaths by 15,100.
  • Immigration: international migration directly into or out of a state. If more people move in than move out, population change from immigration is positive. If more people move out than move in, it’s negative. North Carolina’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 46,900 more people coming from another country to North Carolina than leaving.
  • Domestic migration, moving between states: North Carolina’s population change from domestic migration was positive, with about 84,100 more people moving to North Carolina from other states than leaving.

Between 2024 and 2025, domestic migration was the primary driver of population growth in North Carolina.

Components of population change

Among 100 county equivalents, Mecklenburg County had the largest population growth in North Carolina, welcoming 30,057 new residents. Watauga County lost the most, with a loss of 423 residents. County-level population data is available as of 2024.
Brunswick County led North Carolina in percent population increase between 2023 and 2024 at 4.5%. Hyde County ranked last with a 1.2 percent decline.

Between 2023 and 2024, Brunswick County gained 4.5% in population, the largest increase in North Carolina.

Population change

Between 2015 and 2025, North Carolina’s population has increased by 12.4%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.2%. North Carolina ranks 8th among states in population growth over that decade.

North Carolina ranked eighth in population growth between 2015 and 2025.

Percent change in population

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.