This is a 1.5 percent rise in Wake County’s population, from 1,133,553 in 2020 to 1,150,204 in 2021.
Wake County had the largest population in North Carolina in 2021.
The US Census Bureau found more than 73 percent of counties in the US saw a natural decrease in population in 2021. This is up from a 55.5 percent increase in 2020.
The Midwest suffered the most sustained population decreases, with many counties along the US East Coast and through the Rocky Mountains seeing increases.
The US population continues to grow, though at a slower rate than before.
North Carolina Counties By Population Change from 2020 to 2021
| County | 2020 Estimated Population | 2021 Estimated Population | % Change in Population From Year to Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currituck County | 28,385 | 29,653 | 4.5% |
| Brunswick County | 138,084 | 144,215 | 4.4% |
| Camden County | 10,398 | 10,835 | 4.2% |
| Johnston County | 217,612 | 226,504 | 4.1% |
| Franklin County | 69,060 | 71,703 | 3.8% |
| Pender County | 60,563 | 62,815 | 3.7% |
| Lincoln County | 87,190 | 89,670 | 2.8% |
| Moore County | 100,168 | 102,763 | 2.6% |
| Iredell County | 187,630 | 191,968 | 2.3% |
| Dare County | 37,001 | 37,826 | 2.2% |
| Cabarrus County | 227,065 | 231,278 | 1.9% |
| Union County | 239,287 | 243,648 | 1.8% |
| Clay County | 11,118 | 11,309 | 1.7% |
| Hoke County | 52,223 | 53,114 | 1.7% |
| Davie County | 42,806 | 43,533 | 1.7% |
| Chatham County | 76,611 | 77,889 | 1.7% |
| Harnett County | 133,761 | 135,966 | 1.6% |
| Granville County | 61,041 | 61,986 | 1.5% |
| Yancey County | 18,475 | 18,757 | 1.5% |
| Wake County | 1,133,553 | 1,150,204 | 1.5% |
| Polk County | 19,372 | 19,656 | 1.5% |
| Macon County | 37,049 | 37,564 | 1.4% |
| Madison County | 21,209 | 21,502 | 1.4% |
| Alleghany County | 10,899 | 11,049 | 1.4% |
| New Hanover County | 226,060 | 229,018 | 1.3% |
| Carteret County | 67,656 | 68,541 | 1.3% |
| Stanly County | 62,609 | 63,425 | 1.3% |
| Lee County | 63,387 | 64,138 | 1.2% |
| Alamance County | 171,842 | 173,877 | 1.2% |
| Cherokee County | 28,833 | 29,167 | 1.2% |
| Gaston County | 228,269 | 230,856 | 1.1% |
| Jones County | 9,156 | 9,255 | 1.1% |
| Perquimans County | 12,997 | 13,130 | 1% |
| Pitt County | 170,570 | 172,169 | 0.9% |
| Davidson County | 169,131 | 170,637 | 0.9% |
| Warren County | 18,598 | 18,762 | 0.9% |
| Rowan County | 147,027 | 148,150 | 0.8% |
| Forsyth County | 382,733 | 385,523 | 0.7% |
| Buncombe County | 269,621 | 271,534 | 0.7% |
| Onslow County | 204,735 | 206,160 | 0.7% |
| Tyrrell County | 3,232 | 3,254 | 0.7% |
| Jackson County | 43,134 | 43,410 | 0.6% |
| Cleveland County | 99,725 | 100,359 | 0.6% |
| Catawba County | 160,747 | 161,723 | 0.6% |
| Alexander County | 36,430 | 36,644 | 0.6% |
| Randolph County | 144,334 | 145,172 | 0.6% |
| Haywood County | 62,131 | 62,476 | 0.6% |
| Mitchell County | 14,881 | 14,963 | 0.6% |
| Ashe County | 26,569 | 26,711 | 0.5% |
| Pamlico County | 12,280 | 12,344 | 0.5% |
| Transylvania County | 33,009 | 33,165 | 0.5% |
| Chowan County | 13,666 | 13,722 | 0.4% |
| McDowell County | 44,536 | 44,717 | 0.4% |
| Swain County | 14,083 | 14,136 | 0.4% |
| Avery County | 17,798 | 17,864 | 0.4% |
| Mecklenburg County | 1,118,340 | 1,122,276 | 0.4% |
| Scotland County | 34,110 | 34,227 | 0.3% |
| Cumberland County | 334,370 | 335,508 | 0.3% |
| Graham County | 8,016 | 8,043 | 0.3% |
| Montgomery County | 25,720 | 25,798 | 0.3% |
| Watauga County | 54,072 | 54,234 | 0.3% |
| Henderson County | 116,493 | 116,829 | 0.3% |
| Rutherford County | 64,421 | 64,586 | 0.3% |
| Rockingham County | 91,080 | 91,266 | 0.2% |
| Guilford County | 541,347 | 542,410 | 0.2% |
| Durham County | 325,602 | 326,126 | 0.2% |
| Nash County | 95,027 | 95,176 | 0.2% |
| Anson County | 22,030 | 22,060 | 0.1% |
| Craven County | 100,552 | 100,674 | 0.1% |
| Caswell County | 22,694 | 22,714 | 0.1% |
| Stokes County | 44,517 | 44,553 | 0.1% |
| Burke County | 87,546 | 87,611 | 0.1% |
| Orange County | 148,792 | 148,884 | 0.1% |
| Yadkin County | 37,182 | 37,192 | 0% |
| Robeson County | 116,361 | 116,328 | 0% |
| Person County | 39,146 | 39,127 | 0% |
| Sampson County | 59,021 | 58,990 | -0.1% |
| Caldwell County | 80,512 | 80,463 | -0.1% |
| Wilkes County | 65,871 | 65,806 | -0.1% |
| Greene County | 20,444 | 20,417 | -0.1% |
| Surry County | 71,253 | 71,152 | -0.1% |
| Bladen County | 29,599 | 29,525 | -0.3% |
| Duplin County | 48,675 | 48,515 | -0.3% |
| Wayne County | 117,226 | 116,835 | -0.3% |
| Beaufort County | 44,618 | 44,468 | -0.3% |
| Richmond County | 42,879 | 42,724 | -0.4% |
| Halifax County | 48,495 | 48,272 | -0.5% |
| Lenoir County | 54,995 | 54,706 | -0.5% |
| Wilson County | 78,811 | 78,369 | -0.6% |
| Washington County | 10,955 | 10,892 | -0.6% |
| Edgecombe County | 48,697 | 48,359 | -0.7% |
| Hertford County | 21,451 | 21,278 | -0.8% |
| Vance County | 42,529 | 42,185 | -0.8% |
| Columbus County | 50,505 | 50,092 | -0.8% |
| Gates County | 10,452 | 10,366 | -0.8% |
| Martin County | 21,949 | 21,754 | -0.9% |
| Hyde County | 4,549 | 4,508 | -0.9% |
| Northampton County | 17,438 | 17,129 | -1.8% |
| Bertie County | 17,851 | 17,505 | -1.9% |
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