Counties in North Carolina by population under 18

Hoke County had the highest population under 18 of 100 counties in 2023, at 27.3%. Watauga County had the lowest, at 11.9%. The median was 20.4% and the figure for North Carolina was 21.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest27.3Hoke County
Lowest11.9Watauga County
Median20.4100 counties
North Carolina21.5History

Map of counties, 2023

Alamance County: 21.6 %Alexander County: 19.6 %Alleghany County: 17.3 %Anson County: 20.3 %Ashe County: 16.4 %Avery County: 15.3 %Beaufort County: 19.3 %Bertie County: 16.6 %Bladen County: 21.4 %Brunswick County: 14.1 %Buncombe County: 17.4 %Burke County: 19.6 %Cabarrus County: 24.9 %Caldwell County: 19.8 %Camden County: 23.5 %Carteret County: 16.7 %Caswell County: 18.5 %Catawba County: 20.8 %Chatham County: 19 %Cherokee County: 15.8 %Chowan County: 19.2 %Clay County: 15.2 %Cleveland County: 21.9 %Columbus County: 21 %Craven County: 20.5 %Cumberland County: 24.7 %Currituck County: 22.1 %Dare County: 17 %Davidson County: 21.3 %Davie County: 20.4 %Duplin County: 25.3 %Durham County: 19.4 %Edgecombe County: 22.5 %Forsyth County: 21.9 %Franklin County: 22.3 %Gaston County: 21.9 %Gates County: 19.8 %Graham County: 19.6 %Granville County: 20.6 %Greene County: 19 %Guilford County: 21.5 %Halifax County: 20.4 %Harnett County: 25.8 %Haywood County: 17 %Henderson County: 17.9 %Hertford County: 19.5 %Hoke County: 27.3 %Hyde County: 15.5 %Iredell County: 22.1 %Jackson County: 16.2 %Johnston County: 24.7 %Jones County: 19.1 %Lee County: 22.8 %Lenoir County: 22.6 %Lincoln County: 20.7 %McDowell County: 18.9 %Macon County: 17.5 %Madison County: 16.9 %Martin County: 20 %Mecklenburg County: 22.4 %Mitchell County: 17.7 %Montgomery County: 21 %Moore County: 21.7 %Nash County: 21.4 %New Hanover County: 17.4 %Northampton County: 18.2 %Onslow County: 24.3 %Orange County: 18.4 %Pamlico County: 13.8 %Pasquotank County: 20.6 %Pender County: 23 %Perquimans County: 18 %Person County: 20.7 %Pitt County: 21.4 %Polk County: 15.8 %Randolph County: 21.8 %Richmond County: 23.3 %Robeson County: 26.1 %Rockingham County: 20.1 %Rowan County: 21.4 %Rutherford County: 20.1 %Sampson County: 24.9 %Scotland County: 22.7 %Stanly County: 21.4 %Stokes County: 18.9 %Surry County: 20.9 %Swain County: 22.1 %Transylvania County: 16.2 %Tyrrell County: 19 %Union County: 25.8 %Vance County: 23.6 %Wake County: 22.8 %Warren County: 18 %Washington County: 19.4 %Watauga County: 11.9 %Wayne County: 23.7 %Wilkes County: 19.9 %Wilson County: 22.3 %Yadkin County: 20.7 %Yancey County: 17.4 %
  • Under 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 to 20
  • 20 to 21
  • 21 to 23
  • 23 and over
%, 2023. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2023

Hoke County: 27.3 %Hoke County27.3Robeson County: 26.1 %Robeson County26.1Harnett County: 25.8 %Harnett County25.8Union County: 25.8 %Union County25.8Duplin County: 25.3 %Duplin County25.3Cabarrus County: 24.9 %Cabarrus County24.9Sampson County: 24.9 %Sampson County24.9Johnston County: 24.7 %Johnston County24.7Cumberland County: 24.7 %Cumberland County24.7Onslow County: 24.3 %Onslow County24.3Wayne County: 23.7 %Wayne County23.7Vance County: 23.6 %Vance County23.6Camden County: 23.5 %Camden County23.5Richmond County: 23.3 %Richmond County23.3Pender County: 23 %Pender County23Lee County: 22.8 %Lee County22.8Wake County: 22.8 %Wake County22.8Scotland County: 22.7 %Scotland County22.7Lenoir County: 22.6 %Lenoir County22.6Edgecombe County: 22.5 %Edgecombe County22.5Mecklenburg County: 22.4 %Mecklenburg County22.4Wilson County: 22.3 %Wilson County22.3Franklin County: 22.3 %Franklin County22.3Currituck County: 22.1 %Currituck County22.1Swain County: 22.1 %Swain County22.1Iredell County: 22.1 %Iredell County22.1Forsyth County: 21.9 %Forsyth County21.9Gaston County: 21.9 %Gaston County21.9Cleveland County: 21.9 %Cleveland County21.9Randolph County: 21.8 %Randolph County21.8Moore County: 21.7 %Moore County21.7Alamance County: 21.6 %Alamance County21.6Guilford County: 21.5 %Guilford County21.5Pitt County: 21.4 %Pitt County21.4Rowan County: 21.4 %Rowan County21.4Stanly County: 21.4 %Stanly County21.4Bladen County: 21.4 %Bladen County21.4Nash County: 21.4 %Nash County21.4Davidson County: 21.3 %Davidson County21.3Columbus County: 21 %Columbus County21Hoke County: 27.3 %Hoke County27.3Robeson County: 26.1 %Robeson County26.1Harnett County: 25.8 %Harnett County25.8Union County: 25.8 %Union County25.8Duplin County: 25.3 %Duplin County25.3Cabarrus County: 24.9 %Cabarrus County24.9Sampson County: 24.9 %Sampson County24.9Johnston County: 24.7 %Johnston County24.7Cumberland County: 24.7 %Cumberland County24.7Onslow County: 24.3 %Onslow County24.3Wayne County: 23.7 %Wayne County23.7Vance County: 23.6 %Vance County23.6Camden County: 23.5 %Camden County23.5Richmond County: 23.3 %Richmond County23.3Pender County: 23 %Pender County23Lee County: 22.8 %Lee County22.8Wake County: 22.8 %Wake County22.8Scotland County: 22.7 %Scotland County22.7Lenoir County: 22.6 %Lenoir County22.6Edgecombe County: 22.5 %Edgecombe County22.5Mecklenburg County: 22.4 %Mecklenburg County22.4Wilson County: 22.3 %Wilson County22.3Franklin County: 22.3 %Franklin County22.3Currituck County: 22.1 %Currituck County22.1Swain County: 22.1 %Swain County22.1Iredell County: 22.1 %Iredell County22.1Forsyth County: 21.9 %Forsyth County21.9Gaston County: 21.9 %Gaston County21.9Cleveland County: 21.9 %Cleveland County21.9Randolph County: 21.8 %Randolph County21.8Moore County: 21.7 %Moore County21.7Alamance County: 21.6 %Alamance County21.6Guilford County: 21.5 %Guilford County21.5Pitt County: 21.4 %Pitt County21.4Rowan County: 21.4 %Rowan County21.4Stanly County: 21.4 %Stanly County21.4Bladen County: 21.4 %Bladen County21.4Nash County: 21.4 %Nash County21.4Davidson County: 21.3 %Davidson County21.3Columbus County: 21 %Columbus County21
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Hoke County27.3-0.6 pts
2Robeson County26.1+0.3 pts
3Harnett County25.8-0.4 pts
4Union County25.8-0.3 pts
5Duplin County25.3-0 pts
6Cabarrus County24.9-0.3 pts
7Sampson County24.9+0.2 pts
8Johnston County24.7-0.3 pts
9Cumberland County24.7+0.2 pts
10Onslow County24.3-0 pts
11Wayne County23.7+0.2 pts
12Vance County23.6-0.1 pts
13Camden County23.5-0.4 pts
14Richmond County23.30 pts
15Pender County23+0.1 pts
16Lee County22.8-0.3 pts
17Wake County22.8-0.4 pts
18Scotland County22.7-0.3 pts
19Lenoir County22.60 pts
20Edgecombe County22.5+0.1 pts
21Mecklenburg County22.4-0.2 pts
22Wilson County22.3-0.1 pts
23Franklin County22.3-0.1 pts
24Currituck County22.1-0.1 pts
25Swain County22.1-0.3 pts
26Iredell County22.1-0.3 pts
27Forsyth County21.9-0.2 pts
28Gaston County21.9-0.1 pts
29Cleveland County21.9-0.1 pts
30Randolph County21.8-0.2 pts
31Moore County21.7-0.1 pts
32Alamance County21.6-0.2 pts
33Guilford County21.5-0.1 pts
34Pitt County21.4-0.3 pts
35Rowan County21.4-0 pts
36Stanly County21.4-0.1 pts
37Bladen County21.4+0.2 pts
38Nash County21.4-0.2 pts
39Davidson County21.3-0.2 pts
40Columbus County21-0.2 pts
41Montgomery County21-0.1 pts
42Surry County20.9-0.1 pts
43Catawba County20.8-0.3 pts
44Yadkin County20.7+0.2 pts
45Lincoln County20.7-0.2 pts
46Person County20.7-0.1 pts
47Granville County20.6-0.3 pts
48Pasquotank County20.6-0.2 pts
49Craven County20.5-0.1 pts
50Halifax County20.4-0.1 pts
51Davie County20.4-0.2 pts
52Anson County20.3+0.1 pts
53Rutherford County20.1-0.1 pts
54Rockingham County20.1-0.1 pts
55Martin County20-0.2 pts
56Wilkes County19.9-0 pts
57Gates County19.8-0.1 pts
58Caldwell County19.8-0.1 pts
59Burke County19.60 pts
60Graham County19.6-0.3 pts
61Alexander County19.6-0.3 pts
62Hertford County19.5+0.2 pts
63Washington County19.4-0 pts
64Durham County19.4-0.2 pts
65Beaufort County19.3-0.2 pts
66Chowan County19.20 pts
67Jones County19.1+0.4 pts
68Tyrrell County19-0.4 pts
69Greene County19-0.4 pts
70Chatham County19-0.3 pts
71McDowell County18.9-0.3 pts
72Stokes County18.9-0.1 pts
73Caswell County18.5+0.5 pts
74Orange County18.4-0.4 pts
75Northampton County18.2+0.2 pts
76Perquimans County18-0.4 pts
77Warren County18+0.2 pts
78Henderson County17.9-0.3 pts
79Mitchell County17.7-0.3 pts
80Macon County17.5-0.3 pts
81Yancey County17.4-0.1 pts
82New Hanover County17.4-0.3 pts
83Buncombe County17.4-0.3 pts
84Alleghany County17.3-0.1 pts
85Dare County17-0.3 pts
86Haywood County17-0.3 pts
87Madison County16.90 pts
88Carteret County16.7-0.3 pts
89Bertie County16.6-0.4 pts
90Ashe County16.4-0.4 pts
91Transylvania County16.2-0.3 pts
92Jackson County16.2-0.1 pts
93Polk County15.8-0.3 pts
94Cherokee County15.8+0.2 pts
95Hyde County15.5-0.7 pts
96Avery County15.3-0.3 pts
97Clay County15.2-0.1 pts
98Brunswick County14.1-0.3 pts
99Pamlico County13.8-0 pts
100Watauga County11.9-0.5 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, 2023) [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, 2023. 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=2023. 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, 2023. 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=2023.

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, 2023 [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=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2023,
  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, 2023}},
  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=2023. 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, 2023
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=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2023.
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 27.3% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest population under 18?

Watauga County, with 11.9% in 2023.

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