Is population growing or shrinking?

Updated annually
It grew by 164,800 between 2023 and 2024, the fourth most among all states. That’s more than the population of the city of Wilmington. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. North Carolina’s 1.5% annual increase was primarily driven by people moving from other states. In the decade between 2014 and 2024, North Carolina’s population grew by 11.8%.

+165K

population change (2023 to 2024)

+1.5%

percent change in population (2023 to 2024)
Since 2000, North Carolina's population increased in 24 of 24 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 164,800 residents between 2023 and 2024.

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 2023 to 2024 natural population change was positive in North Carolina, with births exceeding deaths by 12,600.
  • 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 69,800 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 82,300 more people moving to North Carolina from other states than leaving.

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Between 2023 and 2024, 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.
[Brunswick County] led [North Carolina] in percent population increase between [2023 and 2024] at [4.5%]. [Hyde County] ranked last with a [1.2% decline].

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

Population change

Between 2014 and 2024, North Carolina’s population has increased by 11.8%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.5%. North Carolina ranks 10th among states in population growth over that decade.

North Carolina ranked 10th in population growth between 2014 and 2024.

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.