Counties in North Carolina by population aged 18 to 64

Watauga County had the highest population aged 18 to 64 of 100 counties in 2020, at 69.7%. Clay County had the lowest, at 50%. The median was 58.4% and the figure for North Carolina was 60.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest69.7Watauga County
Lowest50Clay County
Median58.4100 counties
North Carolina60.7History

Map of counties, 2020

Alamance County: 60.5 %Alexander County: 59.7 %Alleghany County: 54 %Anson County: 60.2 %Ashe County: 55.5 %Avery County: 59.6 %Beaufort County: 54.3 %Bertie County: 59.4 %Bladen County: 56.6 %Brunswick County: 50.7 %Buncombe County: 61 %Burke County: 59.1 %Cabarrus County: 60.7 %Caldwell County: 58.7 %Camden County: 59.6 %Carteret County: 56.3 %Caswell County: 58.8 %Catawba County: 59.5 %Chatham County: 54.3 %Cherokee County: 53.1 %Chowan County: 54 %Clay County: 50 %Cleveland County: 58.9 %Columbus County: 58.1 %Craven County: 57.6 %Cumberland County: 62.7 %Currituck County: 60.2 %Dare County: 57.3 %Davidson County: 59.1 %Davie County: 56.9 %Duplin County: 55.6 %Durham County: 65.5 %Edgecombe County: 56.7 %Forsyth County: 60.4 %Franklin County: 59.9 %Gaston County: 60.8 %Gates County: 58.7 %Graham County: 54 %Granville County: 61.6 %Greene County: 62.9 %Guilford County: 61.7 %Halifax County: 57.3 %Harnett County: 60 %Haywood County: 56 %Henderson County: 54.2 %Hertford County: 60.2 %Hoke County: 60.6 %Hyde County: 59.5 %Iredell County: 60.2 %Jackson County: 62.5 %Johnston County: 60.2 %Jones County: 56.9 %Lee County: 57.9 %Lenoir County: 56.7 %Lincoln County: 59.8 %McDowell County: 59.1 %Macon County: 52.3 %Madison County: 58.9 %Martin County: 54.7 %Mecklenburg County: 65 %Mitchell County: 56.1 %Montgomery County: 56.8 %Moore County: 53.6 %Nash County: 58.8 %New Hanover County: 62 %Northampton County: 54 %Onslow County: 65.8 %Orange County: 64.1 %Pamlico County: 53.6 %Pasquotank County: 59.7 %Pender County: 57.8 %Perquimans County: 54 %Person County: 58.4 %Pitt County: 63.7 %Polk County: 52 %Randolph County: 58.9 %Richmond County: 58 %Robeson County: 58.6 %Rockingham County: 58.3 %Rowan County: 59.8 %Rutherford County: 57.5 %Sampson County: 57.4 %Scotland County: 57.3 %Stanly County: 58.9 %Stokes County: 58.5 %Surry County: 57.2 %Swain County: 56.8 %Transylvania County: 53 %Tyrrell County: 57.2 %Union County: 59.7 %Vance County: 57 %Wake County: 63.7 %Warren County: 55.5 %Washington County: 53.3 %Watauga County: 69.7 %Wayne County: 59.1 %Wilkes County: 57 %Wilson County: 58 %Yadkin County: 58.3 %Yancey County: 55.4 %
  • Under 55
  • 55 to 57
  • 57 to 58
  • 58 to 60
  • 60 to 61
  • 61 and over
%, 2020. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2020

Watauga County: 69.7 %Watauga County69.7Onslow County: 65.8 %Onslow County65.8Durham County: 65.5 %Durham County65.5Mecklenburg County: 65 %Mecklenburg County65Orange County: 64.1 %Orange County64.1Pitt County: 63.7 %Pitt County63.7Wake County: 63.7 %Wake County63.7Greene County: 62.9 %Greene County62.9Cumberland County: 62.7 %Cumberland County62.7Jackson County: 62.5 %Jackson County62.5New Hanover County: 62 %New Hanover County62Guilford County: 61.7 %Guilford County61.7Granville County: 61.6 %Granville County61.6Buncombe County: 61 %Buncombe County61Gaston County: 60.8 %Gaston County60.8Cabarrus County: 60.7 %Cabarrus County60.7Hoke County: 60.6 %Hoke County60.6Alamance County: 60.5 %Alamance County60.5Forsyth County: 60.4 %Forsyth County60.4Anson County: 60.2 %Anson County60.2Hertford County: 60.2 %Hertford County60.2Johnston County: 60.2 %Johnston County60.2Iredell County: 60.2 %Iredell County60.2Currituck County: 60.2 %Currituck County60.2Harnett County: 60 %Harnett County60Franklin County: 59.9 %Franklin County59.9Rowan County: 59.8 %Rowan County59.8Lincoln County: 59.8 %Lincoln County59.8Alexander County: 59.7 %Alexander County59.7Pasquotank County: 59.7 %Pasquotank County59.7Union County: 59.7 %Union County59.7Camden County: 59.6 %Camden County59.6Avery County: 59.6 %Avery County59.6Catawba County: 59.5 %Catawba County59.5Hyde County: 59.5 %Hyde County59.5Bertie County: 59.4 %Bertie County59.4Davidson County: 59.1 %Davidson County59.1Wayne County: 59.1 %Wayne County59.1Burke County: 59.1 %Burke County59.1McDowell County: 59.1 %McDowell County59.1Watauga County: 69.7 %Watauga County69.7Onslow County: 65.8 %Onslow County65.8Durham County: 65.5 %Durham County65.5Mecklenburg County: 65 %Mecklenburg County65Orange County: 64.1 %Orange County64.1Pitt County: 63.7 %Pitt County63.7Wake County: 63.7 %Wake County63.7Greene County: 62.9 %Greene County62.9Cumberland County: 62.7 %Cumberland County62.7Jackson County: 62.5 %Jackson County62.5New Hanover County: 62 %New Hanover County62Guilford County: 61.7 %Guilford County61.7Granville County: 61.6 %Granville County61.6Buncombe County: 61 %Buncombe County61Gaston County: 60.8 %Gaston County60.8Cabarrus County: 60.7 %Cabarrus County60.7Hoke County: 60.6 %Hoke County60.6Alamance County: 60.5 %Alamance County60.5Forsyth County: 60.4 %Forsyth County60.4Anson County: 60.2 %Anson County60.2Hertford County: 60.2 %Hertford County60.2Johnston County: 60.2 %Johnston County60.2Iredell County: 60.2 %Iredell County60.2Currituck County: 60.2 %Currituck County60.2Harnett County: 60 %Harnett County60Franklin County: 59.9 %Franklin County59.9Rowan County: 59.8 %Rowan County59.8Lincoln County: 59.8 %Lincoln County59.8Alexander County: 59.7 %Alexander County59.7Pasquotank County: 59.7 %Pasquotank County59.7Union County: 59.7 %Union County59.7Camden County: 59.6 %Camden County59.6Avery County: 59.6 %Avery County59.6Catawba County: 59.5 %Catawba County59.5Hyde County: 59.5 %Hyde County59.5Bertie County: 59.4 %Bertie County59.4Davidson County: 59.1 %Davidson County59.1Wayne County: 59.1 %Wayne County59.1Burke County: 59.1 %Burke County59.1McDowell County: 59.1 %McDowell County59.1
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2020 (%)Change on 2019
1Watauga County69.7+0.1 pts
2Onslow County65.8-1 pts
3Durham County65.5-0.7 pts
4Mecklenburg County65-0.3 pts
5Orange County64.1-1.6 pts
6Pitt County63.7+0.2 pts
7Wake County63.7-0.3 pts
8Greene County62.9-0.7 pts
9Cumberland County62.7-0.6 pts
10Jackson County62.5-1.3 pts
11New Hanover County62-0.5 pts
12Guilford County61.7-0.7 pts
13Granville County61.6-0.8 pts
14Buncombe County61-0.4 pts
15Gaston County60.8-0.3 pts
16Cabarrus County60.7-0.1 pts
17Hoke County60.6-0.5 pts
18Alamance County60.5-0.3 pts
19Forsyth County60.4-0.5 pts
20Anson County60.2+0.1 pts
21Hertford County60.2-0.8 pts
22Johnston County60.2-0.1 pts
23Iredell County60.2-0.1 pts
24Currituck County60.2-0.6 pts
25Harnett County60-0.3 pts
26Franklin County59.9-0.4 pts
27Rowan County59.8-0.4 pts
28Lincoln County59.8-0.4 pts
29Alexander County59.7-0.6 pts
30Pasquotank County59.7-0.9 pts
31Union County59.7-0.1 pts
32Camden County59.6-0.5 pts
33Avery County59.6-1.2 pts
34Catawba County59.5-0.5 pts
35Hyde County59.50 pts
36Bertie County59.4-1.3 pts
37Davidson County59.1-0.4 pts
38Wayne County59.1-0.8 pts
39Burke County59.1-0.5 pts
40McDowell County59.1-0.4 pts
41Madison County58.9+0.1 pts
42Stanly County58.9-0.3 pts
43Randolph County58.9-0.2 pts
44Cleveland County58.9-0.6 pts
45Caswell County58.8-1 pts
46Nash County58.8-0.2 pts
47Caldwell County58.7-0.6 pts
48Gates County58.7-0.5 pts
49Robeson County58.6-1.3 pts
50Stokes County58.5-0.7 pts
51Person County58.4-0.3 pts
52Yadkin County58.3-0.4 pts
53Rockingham County58.3-0.4 pts
54Columbus County58.1-0.9 pts
55Wilson County58-0.3 pts
56Richmond County58-0.8 pts
57Lee County57.9-0.8 pts
58Pender County57.8-0.5 pts
59Craven County57.6-0.9 pts
60Rutherford County57.5-0.5 pts
61Sampson County57.4-0.9 pts
62Halifax County57.3-1 pts
63Scotland County57.3-2 pts
64Dare County57.3-1.2 pts
65Surry County57.2-0.5 pts
66Tyrrell County57.2-0.3 pts
67Wilkes County57-0.7 pts
68Vance County57-1 pts
69Davie County56.9-0.4 pts
70Jones County56.9-0.8 pts
71Swain County56.8-0.7 pts
72Montgomery County56.8-0.3 pts
73Edgecombe County56.7-0.8 pts
74Lenoir County56.7-0.6 pts
75Bladen County56.6-0.8 pts
76Carteret County56.3-0.6 pts
77Mitchell County56.1-0.3 pts
78Haywood County56-0.4 pts
79Duplin County55.6-1.3 pts
80Warren County55.5-0.9 pts
81Ashe County55.5-0.2 pts
82Yancey County55.4-0.5 pts
83Martin County54.7-1.3 pts
84Chatham County54.3-0.2 pts
85Beaufort County54.3-0.8 pts
86Henderson County54.2-0.5 pts
87Alleghany County54-0.7 pts
88Chowan County54-0.6 pts
89Northampton County54-1.9 pts
90Graham County54-0.9 pts
91Perquimans County54-0.7 pts
92Moore County53.6-0.5 pts
93Pamlico County53.6-0.6 pts
94Washington County53.3-1.3 pts
95Cherokee County53.1-0.4 pts
96Transylvania County53-0.4 pts
97Macon County52.3-0.5 pts
98Polk County52-0.3 pts
99Brunswick County50.7-0.8 pts
100Clay County50-0.5 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Residents aged 18 to 64 as a percentage of total population on 1 July. United States: Census Bureau county population estimates by age; states and the nation are sums of their counties.

Not comparable with working-age shares for ages 15 to 64 used in EU and World Bank statistics.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 18 to 64 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 18 to 64 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties (Counties in North Carolina by population aged 18 to 64, 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html

MLA 9

Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 18 to 64 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties, Counties in North Carolina by population aged 18 to 64, 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 June 2026, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-18-64/north-carolina-counties?period=2020. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 18 to 64 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties. Counties in North Carolina by population aged 18 to 64, 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-18-64/north-carolina-counties?period=2020.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 18 to 64 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties, Counties in North Carolina by population aged 18 to 64, 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-18-64/north-carolina-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2020,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 18 to 64 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties: Counties in North Carolina by population aged 18 to 64, 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-18-64/north-carolina-counties?period=2020. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 18 to 64 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 18 to 64 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties: Counties in North Carolina by population aged 18 to 64, 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-18-64/north-carolina-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-18-64/north-carolina-counties?period=2020.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 18 to 64 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest population aged 18 to 64?

Watauga County, with 69.7% in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest population aged 18 to 64?

Clay County, with 50% in 2020.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 18 to 64 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Population aged 18 to 64: other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings