North Carolina Counties by Population (2025)
2025 Pop.
100K
200K
300K
400K
500K
600K
700K
800K
900K
1M
1.1M
1.2M
Top 5 Most Populous Counties
1,261,494
1,236,342
564,752
402,451
350,018
100 Counties
| County | 2025 Pop. ↓ | Area (mi²) | Density | Change (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County | 1,261,494 | 835 | 1,511 | 11.57% |
| Mecklenburg County | 1,236,342 | 524 | 2,359 | 10.76% |
| Guilford County | 564,752 | 646 | 874 | 4.82% |
| Forsyth County | 402,451 | 408 | 986 | 5.18% |
| Durham County | 350,018 | 288 | 1,215 | 8.53% |
| Cumberland County | 338,449 | 653 | 518 | 0.37% |
| Buncombe County | 281,631 | 656 | 429 | 4.42% |
| Union County | 269,262 | 633 | 425 | 12.34% |
| Johnston County | 257,230 | 792 | 325 | 18.31% |
| Cabarrus County | 249,242 | 361 | 690 | 9.68% |
| New Hanover County | 246,612 | 192 | 1,284 | 8.91% |
| Gaston County | 245,867 | 356 | 691 | 7.54% |
| Onslow County | 214,724 | 762 | 282 | 4.69% |
| Iredell County | 212,411 | 574 | 370 | 13.17% |
| Alamance County | 186,463 | 423 | 441 | 8.65% |
| Pitt County | 182,610 | 652 | 280 | 5.16% |
| Davidson County | 180,731 | 553 | 327 | 6.91% |
| Brunswick County | 174,369 | 850 | 205 | 26.2% |
| Catawba County | 169,153 | 401 | 422 | 5.14% |
| Rowan County | 154,885 | 512 | 303 | 5.43% |
| Orange County | 153,515 | 398 | 386 | 6.81% |
| Harnett County | 150,400 | 595 | 253 | 12.48% |
| Randolph County | 149,137 | 782 | 191 | 3.28% |
| Henderson County | 121,966 | 373 | 327 | 4.63% |
| Wayne County | 121,106 | 554 | 219 | 2.83% |
| Robeson County | 119,543 | 947 | 126 | 3.08% |
| Moore County | 109,762 | 698 | 157 | 9.44% |
| Craven County | 105,005 | 707 | 149 | 3.45% |
| Cleveland County | 102,827 | 464 | 222 | 2.88% |
| Lincoln County | 99,436 | 296 | 336 | 14.07% |
| Nash County | 99,184 | 540 | 184 | 4.23% |
| Rockingham County | 94,396 | 566 | 167 | 3.49% |
| Burke County | 88,943 | 506 | 176 | 1.94% |
| Chatham County | 85,756 | 681 | 126 | 11.86% |
| Franklin County | 82,450 | 492 | 168 | 19.44% |
| Caldwell County | 80,899 | 472 | 171 | 0.39% |
| Wilson County | 80,310 | 368 | 218 | 1.27% |
| Pender County | 71,798 | 871 | 82 | 18.43% |
| Surry County | 71,637 | 533 | 134 | 0.37% |
| Carteret County | 70,806 | 508 | 139 | 4.6% |
| Lee County | 69,653 | 255 | 273 | 9.86% |
| Stanly County | 68,834 | 395 | 174 | 9.82% |
| Wilkes County | 66,355 | 754 | 88 | 0.73% |
| Rutherford County | 65,805 | 565 | 116 | 2.25% |
| Haywood County | 63,174 | 554 | 114 | 1.54% |
| Granville County | 61,726 | 532 | 116 | 2.62% |
| Sampson County | 61,066 | 946 | 65 | 3.38% |
| Hoke County | 56,177 | 390 | 144 | 7.52% |
| Lenoir County | 55,697 | 399 | 140 | 1.16% |
| Watauga County | 54,574 | 312 | 175 | 0.19% |
| Duplin County | 51,259 | 815 | 63 | 5.32% |
| Columbus County | 49,968 | 938 | 53 | -1% |
| Edgecombe County | 49,302 | 505 | 98 | 1.07% |
| Halifax County | 46,916 | 724 | 65 | -3.1% |
| Stokes County | 46,228 | 449 | 103 | 3.7% |
| Davie County | 46,172 | 264 | 175 | 7.64% |
| McDowell County | 45,570 | 440 | 104 | 2.28% |
| Jackson County | 45,512 | 491 | 93 | 7.99% |
| Beaufort County | 44,742 | 833 | 54 | 0.12% |
| Vance County | 42,345 | 252 | 168 | -0.5% |
| Richmond County | 41,977 | 474 | 89 | -1.75% |
| Pasquotank County | 41,656 | 227 | 184 | 3.44% |
| Person County | 40,454 | 392 | 103 | 3.23% |
| Macon County | 39,004 | 516 | 76 | 5.15% |
| Yadkin County | 38,192 | 335 | 114 | 2.52% |
| Dare County | 38,185 | 383 | 100 | 3.1% |
| Alexander County | 36,959 | 260 | 142 | 1.51% |
| Transylvania County | 34,272 | 378 | 91 | 3.05% |
| Scotland County | 34,136 | 319 | 107 | 2.14% |
| Currituck County | 32,947 | 262 | 126 | 15.99% |
| Cherokee County | 30,794 | 456 | 68 | 6.69% |
| Bladen County | 30,049 | 875 | 34 | 1.41% |
| Ashe County | 27,464 | 426 | 64 | 3.29% |
| Montgomery County | 26,487 | 492 | 54 | 2.98% |
| Madison County | 22,665 | 450 | 50 | 6.43% |
| Anson County | 22,483 | 531 | 42 | 2.04% |
| Caswell County | 22,247 | 425 | 52 | -1.01% |
| Martin County | 21,562 | 456 | 47 | -1.81% |
| Greene County | 20,698 | 267 | 78 | 1.27% |
| Polk County | 20,610 | 238 | 87 | 6.35% |
| Warren County | 19,400 | 429 | 45 | 4.3% |
| Hertford County | 19,104 | 353 | 54 | -12.31% |
| Yancey County | 19,046 | 313 | 61 | 2.97% |
| Avery County | 17,911 | 247 | 73 | 0.54% |
| Bertie County | 16,865 | 699 | 24 | -4.81% |
| Northampton County | 16,455 | 537 | 31 | -5.64% |
| Mitchell County | 15,057 | 221 | 68 | 1.07% |
| Swain County | 13,967 | 528 | 26 | -0.96% |
| Chowan County | 13,888 | 173 | 80 | 1.32% |
| Perquimans County | 13,553 | 247 | 55 | 4.08% |
| Pamlico County | 12,650 | 337 | 38 | 2.75% |
| Clay County | 12,211 | 215 | 57 | 9.56% |
| Alleghany County | 11,418 | 235 | 49 | 4.86% |
| Camden County | 11,236 | 240 | 47 | 7.97% |
| Washington County | 10,569 | 347 | 30 | -3.75% |
| Gates County | 10,244 | 341 | 30 | -1.97% |
| Jones County | 9,476 | 471 | 20 | 3.62% |
| Graham County | 8,279 | 292 | 28 | 2.99% |
| Hyde County | 4,528 | 612 | 7 | 0.31% |
| Tyrrell County | 3,514 | 391 | 9 | 8.66% |
Overview of North Carolina Counties
There are 100 counties in North Carolina.
Wake County is the largest county in the state, with a population of 1,261,494. The most recent census shows that its population has increased by 0.12% since the previous census.
A number of other North Carolina counties also boast relatively large populations for their state, though not able to match the density of Wake County:
- Mecklenburg County : 1,236,342
- Guilford County : 564,752
North Carolina Counties with the Fewest Residents
The smallest county in North Carolina is Tyrrell County , with a population of just 3,514. This total represents a increase of 0.1% since the last census count was performed.
Other small counties include:
- Hyde County : 4,528
- Graham County : 8,279
- Jones County : 9,476
North Carolina Counties with Rapid Growth
Brunswick County , with its sizeable population of 174,369, has shown the largest population growth, with an increase of 0.3% since the last census.
Wake County has also had relatively high population growth of 0.12% with 1,261,494 residents.
On the other hand, Hertford County has had the largest decrease in population, with its 19,104 current residents totalling 0.1% less than the previous census.
Sources
- US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
- US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
- American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
- Census QuickFacts
- Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)