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What are the largest counties in North Carolina?

Wake County is the largest county in North Carolina, with 1,257,235 residents in 2025 (Census PEP). Mecklenburg County (1,233,383) and Guilford County (562,234) come next.

Data as of 2025 · updated

See the rankingAll North Carolina counties

All 100 ranked North Carolina counties

North Carolina counties ranked by population
RankCountyResidents 2025Change 2020–25
1Wake County1,257,235+11.2%
2Mecklenburg County1,233,383+10.5%
3Guilford County562,234+4.4%
4Forsyth County401,718+5.0%
5Durham County347,240+7.7%
6Cumberland County338,473+0.4%
7Buncombe County277,417+2.9%
8Union County267,674+11.7%
9Johnston County256,448+17.9%
10Cabarrus County249,725+9.9%
11Gaston County246,558+7.8%
12New Hanover County245,959+8.6%
13Onslow County217,175+5.9%
14Iredell County211,798+12.9%
15Alamance County186,177+8.5%
16Pitt County182,936+5.4%
17Davidson County180,182+6.6%
18Brunswick County174,702+26.5%
19Catawba County170,172+5.8%
20Rowan County155,096+5.6%
21Orange County152,498+6.1%
22Harnett County150,137+12.3%
23Randolph County149,516+3.5%
24Henderson County122,375+5.0%
25Wayne County122,278+3.8%
26Robeson County119,941+3.4%
27Moore County110,619+10.3%
28Craven County105,025+3.5%
29Cleveland County103,325+3.4%
30Nash County99,365+3.9%
31Lincoln County98,654+13.2%
32Rockingham County94,195+3.3%
33Burke County88,655+1.6%
34Chatham County85,111+11.0%
35Franklin County82,037+18.8%
36Wilson County81,150+1.7%
37Caldwell County81,105+0.6%
38Surry County72,287+1.3%
39Pender County72,111+19.0%
40Carteret County70,469+4.1%
41Lee County70,258+10.8%
42Stanly County68,830+9.8%
43Wilkes County66,233+0.5%
44Rutherford County65,745+2.1%
45Haywood County63,369+1.8%
46Sampson County61,504+4.1%
47Granville County61,421+2.1%
48Hoke County56,939+9.0%
49Lenoir County55,837+1.4%
50Watauga County54,786+0.6%
51Duplin County51,571+6.0%
52Columbus County50,487+0.0%
53Edgecombe County49,121+0.7%
54Halifax County46,534−3.9%
55Stokes County46,126+3.5%
56Davie County45,855+6.9%
57McDowell County45,198+1.4%
58Jackson County45,039+6.9%
59Beaufort County44,670−0.1%
60Vance County42,638+0.2%
61Pasquotank County42,201+4.5%
62Richmond County42,041−1.6%
63Person County40,636+3.7%
64Macon County39,232+5.8%
65Yadkin County38,325+2.9%
66Dare County38,245+3.3%
67Alexander County36,958+1.5%
68Transylvania County34,211+2.9%
69Scotland County33,322−0.3%
70Currituck County33,158+16.7%
71Cherokee County30,830+6.8%
72Bladen County30,007+1.3%
73Ashe County27,514+3.5%
74Montgomery County26,403+2.7%
75Caswell County22,563+0.4%
76Madison County22,553+5.9%
77Anson County21,758−2.1%
78Martin County21,601−1.6%
79Greene County20,700+1.3%
80Polk County20,533+6.0%
81Yancey County19,084+3.2%
82Hertford County19,015−11.2%
83Warren County18,898+1.6%
84Avery County18,110+1.1%
85Bertie County17,086−3.6%
86Northampton County16,491−5.4%
87Mitchell County15,062+1.1%
88Chowan County14,082+2.8%
89Swain County14,024−0.6%
90Perquimans County13,490+3.6%
91Pamlico County12,758+3.7%
92Clay County12,239+9.9%
93Alleghany County11,479+5.4%
94Camden County11,315+8.7%
95Washington County10,638−3.1%
96Gates County10,234−2.1%
97Jones County9,575+4.6%
98Graham County8,190+1.9%
99Hyde County4,554+1.0%
100Tyrrell County3,537+9.3%

How this is ranked

The Census Bureau's July 1 resident population estimates for 2025, largest first, with the change since 2020. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents are not ranked. Areas without an estimate for the same year as the others are not ranked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built.

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Questions

What is the largest county in North Carolina?

Wake County is the largest county in North Carolina, with 1,257,235 residents in 2025 (Census PEP). Mecklenburg County (1,233,383) and Guilford County (562,234) come next.

How is this ranking calculated?

The Census Bureau's July 1 resident population estimates for 2025, largest first, with the change since 2020. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents are not ranked. Areas without an estimate for the same year as the others are not ranked.

More rankings for North Carolina

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