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North Carolina population by year, 1990 to 2025

North Carolina added 4.5 million people since 1990, reaching 11.20 million in 2025 and rising from 10th to 9th among the states.

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What the data shows

  • North Carolina: 6.66M in 1990, 11.20M in 2025 (1.7× higher).

About this chart

North Carolina grew 68 percent between 1990 and 2025, from 6,656,987 to 11,197,968. Growth has been accelerating in recent years: the state added about 748,000 residents between 2020 and 2025 alone, a 7.2 percent gain, and passed 11 million in 2024. It is up 38.6 percent since 2000 and 17.0 percent since 2010.

The state's rank has moved up and down. North Carolina was 10th among the 50 states in 1990, 11th in 2000 when New Jersey and Georgia were ahead of it, 10th in 2010 and 9th in 2025. The 2020 estimate of 10.45 million dipped slightly from 10.50 million a year earlier. Data are Census Bureau resident estimates for July 1.

The data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 (vintages 1999, 2000–2010 intercensal, 2020 and 2025), resident population of North Carolina, millions. Retrieved November 4, 2026.

Population of North Carolina, Residents, 1990 to 2025, 1990–2025
DateNorth Carolina
19906.66M
19916.75M
19926.83M
19936.95M
19947.06M
19957.19M
19967.31M
19977.43M
19987.55M
19997.65M
20008.08M
20018.21M
20028.33M
20038.42M
20048.55M
20058.71M
20068.92M
20079.12M
20089.31M
20099.45M
20109.58M
20119.66M
20129.75M
20139.85M
20149.94M
201510.04M
201610.16M
201710.28M
201810.39M
201910.50M
202010.45M
202110.57M
202210.71M
202310.87M
202411.05M
202511.20M

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Frequently asked questions

What is the population of North Carolina?

North Carolina had about 11.20 million residents (11,197,968) in July 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates. That ranks 9th among the 50 states.

How fast is North Carolina growing?

North Carolina is up 17.0 percent since 2010 and 7.2 percent since 2020, one of the faster paces among large states. Since 1990 the population has grown about 68 percent.

When did North Carolina pass 10 million people?

North Carolina's estimate was 9.94 million in 2014 and 10.04 million in 2015, so it passed 10 million in 2015. It reached 11.20 million in 2025.

Where does this data come from?

U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 (vintages 1999, 2000–2010 intercensal, 2020 and 2025), resident population of North Carolina, millions. Retrieved November 4, 2026. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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