Counties in North Carolina by population under 18

Hoke County had the highest population under 18 of 100 counties in 2016, at 28.6%. Watauga County had the lowest, at 14%. The median was 21.4% and the figure for North Carolina was 22.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest28.6Hoke County
Median21.4100 counties
North Carolina22.7History

Map of counties, 2016

Alamance County: 22.4 %Alexander County: 20.6 %Alleghany County: 18.2 %Anson County: 19.1 %Ashe County: 18.4 %Avery County: 15.6 %Beaufort County: 20.7 %Bertie County: 18 %Bladen County: 21.6 %Brunswick County: 16.6 %Buncombe County: 19.2 %Burke County: 20.3 %Cabarrus County: 26.4 %Caldwell County: 20.9 %Camden County: 24 %Carteret County: 18.1 %Caswell County: 18.6 %Catawba County: 22.2 %Chatham County: 21 %Cherokee County: 17.8 %Chowan County: 20.5 %Clay County: 17.3 %Cleveland County: 21.8 %Columbus County: 21.5 %Craven County: 21.6 %Cumberland County: 24.2 %Currituck County: 22.5 %Dare County: 18.7 %Davidson County: 22.6 %Davie County: 21.7 %Duplin County: 24.7 %Durham County: 21.4 %Edgecombe County: 22.7 %Forsyth County: 23.2 %Franklin County: 23 %Gaston County: 22.7 %Gates County: 21.3 %Graham County: 21.6 %Granville County: 21.1 %Greene County: 20.3 %Guilford County: 22.2 %Halifax County: 20.6 %Harnett County: 27.5 %Haywood County: 18.3 %Henderson County: 19.5 %Hertford County: 19.3 %Hoke County: 28.6 %Hyde County: 17.7 %Iredell County: 23.7 %Jackson County: 17.4 %Johnston County: 26.6 %Jones County: 19.3 %Lee County: 24.3 %Lenoir County: 22.5 %Lincoln County: 21.9 %McDowell County: 20.6 %Macon County: 18.8 %Madison County: 18.7 %Martin County: 20.6 %Mecklenburg County: 24.1 %Mitchell County: 18.2 %Montgomery County: 23.1 %Moore County: 21.3 %Nash County: 22.3 %New Hanover County: 19.2 %Northampton County: 18.3 %Onslow County: 23.8 %Orange County: 20.2 %Pamlico County: 15.7 %Pasquotank County: 21.7 %Pender County: 22.6 %Perquimans County: 19 %Person County: 21.6 %Pitt County: 22.6 %Polk County: 17.1 %Randolph County: 23.1 %Richmond County: 22.7 %Robeson County: 25.3 %Rockingham County: 20.7 %Rowan County: 22.4 %Rutherford County: 21 %Sampson County: 24.3 %Scotland County: 21.8 %Stanly County: 21.6 %Stokes County: 19.8 %Surry County: 21.7 %Swain County: 22.4 %Transylvania County: 17.3 %Tyrrell County: 19.7 %Union County: 28.4 %Vance County: 23.3 %Wake County: 24.8 %Warren County: 18.6 %Washington County: 20 %Watauga County: 14 %Wayne County: 23.4 %Wilkes County: 21 %Wilson County: 23.1 %Yadkin County: 21.5 %Yancey County: 18.7 %
  • Under 18
  • 18 to 20
  • 20 to 21
  • 21 to 22
  • 22 to 23
  • 23 and over
%, 2016. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2016

Hoke County: 28.6 %Hoke County28.6Union County: 28.4 %Union County28.4Harnett County: 27.5 %Harnett County27.5Johnston County: 26.6 %Johnston County26.6Cabarrus County: 26.4 %Cabarrus County26.4Robeson County: 25.3 %Robeson County25.3Wake County: 24.8 %Wake County24.8Duplin County: 24.7 %Duplin County24.7Sampson County: 24.3 %Sampson County24.3Lee County: 24.3 %Lee County24.3Cumberland County: 24.2 %Cumberland County24.2Mecklenburg County: 24.1 %Mecklenburg County24.1Camden County: 24 %Camden County24Onslow County: 23.8 %Onslow County23.8Iredell County: 23.7 %Iredell County23.7Wayne County: 23.4 %Wayne County23.4Vance County: 23.3 %Vance County23.3Forsyth County: 23.2 %Forsyth County23.2Randolph County: 23.1 %Randolph County23.1Wilson County: 23.1 %Wilson County23.1Montgomery County: 23.1 %Montgomery County23.1Franklin County: 23 %Franklin County23Edgecombe County: 22.7 %Edgecombe County22.7Gaston County: 22.7 %Gaston County22.7Richmond County: 22.7 %Richmond County22.7Pender County: 22.6 %Pender County22.6Pitt County: 22.6 %Pitt County22.6Davidson County: 22.6 %Davidson County22.6Lenoir County: 22.5 %Lenoir County22.5Currituck County: 22.5 %Currituck County22.5Swain County: 22.4 %Swain County22.4Alamance County: 22.4 %Alamance County22.4Rowan County: 22.4 %Rowan County22.4Nash County: 22.3 %Nash County22.3Guilford County: 22.2 %Guilford County22.2Catawba County: 22.2 %Catawba County22.2Lincoln County: 21.9 %Lincoln County21.9Scotland County: 21.8 %Scotland County21.8Cleveland County: 21.8 %Cleveland County21.8Pasquotank County: 21.7 %Pasquotank County21.7Hoke County: 28.6 %Hoke County28.6Union County: 28.4 %Union County28.4Harnett County: 27.5 %Harnett County27.5Johnston County: 26.6 %Johnston County26.6Cabarrus County: 26.4 %Cabarrus County26.4Robeson County: 25.3 %Robeson County25.3Wake County: 24.8 %Wake County24.8Duplin County: 24.7 %Duplin County24.7Sampson County: 24.3 %Sampson County24.3Lee County: 24.3 %Lee County24.3Cumberland County: 24.2 %Cumberland County24.2Mecklenburg County: 24.1 %Mecklenburg County24.1Camden County: 24 %Camden County24Onslow County: 23.8 %Onslow County23.8Iredell County: 23.7 %Iredell County23.7Wayne County: 23.4 %Wayne County23.4Vance County: 23.3 %Vance County23.3Forsyth County: 23.2 %Forsyth County23.2Randolph County: 23.1 %Randolph County23.1Wilson County: 23.1 %Wilson County23.1Montgomery County: 23.1 %Montgomery County23.1Franklin County: 23 %Franklin County23Edgecombe County: 22.7 %Edgecombe County22.7Gaston County: 22.7 %Gaston County22.7Richmond County: 22.7 %Richmond County22.7Pender County: 22.6 %Pender County22.6Pitt County: 22.6 %Pitt County22.6Davidson County: 22.6 %Davidson County22.6Lenoir County: 22.5 %Lenoir County22.5Currituck County: 22.5 %Currituck County22.5Swain County: 22.4 %Swain County22.4Alamance County: 22.4 %Alamance County22.4Rowan County: 22.4 %Rowan County22.4Nash County: 22.3 %Nash County22.3Guilford County: 22.2 %Guilford County22.2Catawba County: 22.2 %Catawba County22.2Lincoln County: 21.9 %Lincoln County21.9Scotland County: 21.8 %Scotland County21.8Cleveland County: 21.8 %Cleveland County21.8Pasquotank County: 21.7 %Pasquotank County21.7
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2016 (%)Change on 2015
1Hoke County28.6-0.4 pts
2Union County28.4-0.3 pts
3Harnett County27.5-0.1 pts
4Johnston County26.6-0.2 pts
5Cabarrus County26.4-0.1 pts
6Robeson County25.3-0.3 pts
7Wake County24.8-0.2 pts
8Duplin County24.7-0 pts
9Sampson County24.3-0.3 pts
10Lee County24.3-0.5 pts
11Cumberland County24.2-0.3 pts
12Mecklenburg County24.1-0.3 pts
13Camden County24+0.2 pts
14Onslow County23.8-0.1 pts
15Iredell County23.7-0.1 pts
16Wayne County23.4-0.2 pts
17Vance County23.3-0.2 pts
18Forsyth County23.2-0.2 pts
19Randolph County23.1-0.2 pts
20Wilson County23.1-0.2 pts
21Montgomery County23.1-0.2 pts
22Franklin County23-0.3 pts
23Edgecombe County22.7-0.1 pts
24Gaston County22.7-0.1 pts
25Richmond County22.7-0.3 pts
26Pender County22.60 pts
27Pitt County22.6-0 pts
28Davidson County22.6-0.1 pts
29Lenoir County22.5-0 pts
30Currituck County22.5+0.3 pts
31Swain County22.4+0.2 pts
32Alamance County22.4-0.4 pts
33Rowan County22.4-0.1 pts
34Nash County22.3-0.1 pts
35Guilford County22.2-0.3 pts
36Catawba County22.2-0.3 pts
37Lincoln County21.9-0.3 pts
38Scotland County21.8-0.3 pts
39Cleveland County21.8-0 pts
40Pasquotank County21.7-0.3 pts
41Surry County21.7-0.2 pts
42Davie County21.7-0.1 pts
43Stanly County21.60 pts
44Graham County21.60 pts
45Person County21.6-0.1 pts
46Bladen County21.6-0.3 pts
47Craven County21.6-0.3 pts
48Columbus County21.5-0.5 pts
49Yadkin County21.5-0.3 pts
50Durham County21.4-0.3 pts
51Moore County21.3-0.1 pts
52Gates County21.3+0.3 pts
53Granville County21.1-0.3 pts
54Wilkes County21-0.1 pts
55Chatham County210 pts
56Rutherford County21-0.1 pts
57Caldwell County20.9-0.1 pts
58Rockingham County20.7-0.1 pts
59Beaufort County20.7-0.1 pts
60McDowell County20.6-0.1 pts
61Halifax County20.6-0.5 pts
62Martin County20.60 pts
63Alexander County20.6-0.3 pts
64Chowan County20.5-0.2 pts
65Burke County20.3-0.1 pts
66Greene County20.3-0.4 pts
67Orange County20.2-0.2 pts
68Washington County20-0.4 pts
69Stokes County19.8-0.3 pts
70Tyrrell County19.7+1 pts
71Henderson County19.5-0.1 pts
72Jones County19.3-0.2 pts
73Hertford County19.3+0.1 pts
74Buncombe County19.2-0.2 pts
75New Hanover County19.2-0.4 pts
76Anson County19.1-0.2 pts
77Perquimans County19-0.4 pts
78Macon County18.8-0.2 pts
79Madison County18.7+0.1 pts
80Yancey County18.7-0.2 pts
81Dare County18.7-0.3 pts
82Caswell County18.6-0.3 pts
83Warren County18.6-0.2 pts
84Ashe County18.4-0.1 pts
85Northampton County18.3-0.3 pts
86Haywood County18.3-0.1 pts
87Alleghany County18.2-0 pts
88Mitchell County18.2+0.1 pts
89Carteret County18.1-0.2 pts
90Bertie County18-0.1 pts
91Cherokee County17.80 pts
92Hyde County17.7-0.1 pts
93Jackson County17.4-0 pts
94Clay County17.3-0.1 pts
95Transylvania County17.3+0.1 pts
96Polk County17.1-0.3 pts
97Brunswick County16.6-0.4 pts
98Pamlico County15.7-0.2 pts
99Avery County15.6-0.2 pts
100Watauga County14-0 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Residents aged 0 to 17 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.

Uses the US age of majority. Not comparable with population_0_14_share, which stops at 14.

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 0 to 17 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 0 to 17 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 under 18, 2016) [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 0 to 17 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 under 18, 2016. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 June 2026, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 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 under 18, 2016. 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-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2016.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 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 under 18, 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2016,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 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 under 18, 2016}},
  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-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2016. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 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 0 to 17 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 under 18, 2016
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-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2016.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 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 under 18?

Hoke County, with 28.6% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest population under 18?

Watauga County, with 14% in 2016.

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 0 to 17 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 under 18: other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings