NC in Focus
Keep up with our latest demographic insights
Population can grow—or decline—from one of two components of change: net migration (both domestic and international) or natural growth (births and deaths). Though both components have contributed to North Carolina’s population growth, net migration has been the driving force of growth in North Carolina since 1990. This has substantially changed the makeup of North Carolina’s population. More than 9 out of 10 North Carolina residents were native to the state a hundred years ago. By…
North Carolina’s population grew to an estimated 10.5 million people as of July 1, 2019, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. From July 1, 2018 to July 1, 2019, the state’s population increased by nearly 106,500 individuals. This marks the fourth year in a row that North Carolina has grown by more than 100,000 new residents. Among the states, North Carolina had the 4th largest numeric increase since 2018. Only Texas (367K),…
The holidays are an important time for gathering with friends and family, gift giving, celebration, and giving thanks. Before we break for the holidays ourselves, we’d like to share a few holiday facts and figures that relate to North Carolina. 4 million Approximate number of Christmas trees harvested in North Carolina in 2017, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Services (NASS). North Carolina ranked second only to Oregon, which harvested 4.7 million trees. 10…
Over the past year, we've worked with leaders across North Carolina, presented to dozens of organizations, and answered 150+ questions from journalists and residents with one focus: providing accurate and specific information for people to make sense of population-level changes. Below, you'll see just a small part of the work we've done this year: highlights from what we researched, learned, and shared. Thank you for your ongoing support. We wish you a Happy New Year…
The state is the largest overall employer in North Carolina with over 82,000 public employees as of November 2019; over a quarter (27%) of them work for the University of North Carolina system alone. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart is the largest private employer in North Carolina, along with twenty-one other states. (Note: The map in the previous link erroneously classifies the UNC System as a private employer.) What does the employment landscape look like at the county…
Between 2017 and 2018, North Carolina gained nearly 113,000 new residents according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Looking specifically at race and ethnicity, nearly one-third (32%) of the state’s population growth since 2017 was from growth in the white population, which grew by 36,466 persons between 2017 and 2018. The state’s population of Hispanic or Latino residents had the second largest numeric increase over this period, growing by 32,355 persons (29% of statewide growth). The…
Thanksgiving is approaching, which means it's time to start thinking about your dinner table conversations. If you're celebrating Thanksgiving in North Carolina -- or sharing your table with someone from the Tar Heel state -- you can start by looking down at your plate. North Carolina is not only the top producer of sweet potatoes in the United States, but also ranks as one of the top turkey-producing states. Here are a few fun facts…
Ed note: Though we cover a range of demographic topics, we hold a special spot in our hearts for our annual report on NC's state vegetable, the humble sweet potato. Previous coverage: 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014. Happy Thanksgiving! Because of back-to-back hurricanes, North Carolina sweet potato production hit a five-year low in 2018. This is a serious consequence of extreme weather, as sweet potatoes are among North Carolina’s most lucrative agricultural exports, contributing more than…
Active-duty military personnel and veterans have a significant presence in North Carolina. North Carolina is home to two major military bases—Fort Bragg (Army) and Camp Lejeune (Marine Corps)—in addition to two Marine Corps Air Stations at New River and Cherry Point and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. As a result, more North Carolina adults are veterans than the national average: 8.3% versus 7.1% nationwide. In 2018, just over 667,000 veterans lived in North Carolina according…
In previous posts, we have highlighted the programs of study where NC Community College graduates and UNC system graduates were making the highest average annual wages five years after graduation. This post examines the programs of study and credentials associated with the highest growth in wages over a 10-year period for both NC Community Colleges and UNC system graduates [1]. In terms of making decisions about a future career, wage growth is another data point that a…
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