Counties in North Carolina by population under 18

Hoke County had the highest population under 18 of 100 counties in 2024, at 26.9%. Watauga County had the lowest, at 11.4%. The median was 20.2% and the figure for North Carolina was 21.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest26.9Hoke County
Lowest11.4Watauga County
Median20.2100 counties
North Carolina21.3History

Map of counties, 2024

Alamance County: 21.4 %Alexander County: 19.2 %Alleghany County: 16.9 %Anson County: 20.7 %Ashe County: 16.1 %Avery County: 14.9 %Beaufort County: 18.9 %Bertie County: 16.2 %Bladen County: 21.4 %Brunswick County: 13.8 %Buncombe County: 17.1 %Burke County: 19.3 %Cabarrus County: 24.6 %Caldwell County: 19.6 %Camden County: 23 %Carteret County: 16.4 %Caswell County: 18.2 %Catawba County: 20.6 %Chatham County: 18.6 %Cherokee County: 15.9 %Chowan County: 18.9 %Clay County: 14.8 %Cleveland County: 21.9 %Columbus County: 21 %Craven County: 20.3 %Cumberland County: 24.7 %Currituck County: 21.9 %Dare County: 16.9 %Davidson County: 21.3 %Davie County: 20.1 %Duplin County: 25.3 %Durham County: 19.4 %Edgecombe County: 22.3 %Forsyth County: 21.7 %Franklin County: 22.1 %Gaston County: 21.9 %Gates County: 19.3 %Graham County: 19.7 %Granville County: 20.1 %Greene County: 18.8 %Guilford County: 21.4 %Halifax County: 20.3 %Harnett County: 25.6 %Haywood County: 16.9 %Henderson County: 17.7 %Hertford County: 19.6 %Hoke County: 26.9 %Hyde County: 15.1 %Iredell County: 21.7 %Jackson County: 15.9 %Johnston County: 24.3 %Jones County: 19.2 %Lee County: 22.7 %Lenoir County: 22.5 %Lincoln County: 20.5 %McDowell County: 18.6 %Macon County: 17.2 %Madison County: 16.7 %Martin County: 20.1 %Mecklenburg County: 22.3 %Mitchell County: 17.5 %Montgomery County: 20.6 %Moore County: 21.7 %Nash County: 21.4 %New Hanover County: 17.1 %Northampton County: 18.1 %Onslow County: 24 %Orange County: 18.1 %Pamlico County: 13.9 %Pasquotank County: 20.3 %Pender County: 22.7 %Perquimans County: 18 %Person County: 20.5 %Pitt County: 21.3 %Polk County: 15.7 %Randolph County: 21.7 %Richmond County: 23.1 %Robeson County: 26.4 %Rockingham County: 20 %Rowan County: 21.2 %Rutherford County: 20 %Sampson County: 24.8 %Scotland County: 22.7 %Stanly County: 21.4 %Stokes County: 18.9 %Surry County: 21 %Swain County: 22 %Transylvania County: 16.1 %Tyrrell County: 18.8 %Union County: 25.2 %Vance County: 23.5 %Wake County: 22.3 %Warren County: 17.6 %Washington County: 19.4 %Watauga County: 11.4 %Wayne County: 23.7 %Wilkes County: 19.7 %Wilson County: 22.1 %Yadkin County: 20.8 %Yancey County: 17.4 %
  • Under 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 to 20
  • 20 to 21
  • 21 to 23
  • 23 and over
%, 2024. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2024

Hoke County: 26.9 %Hoke County26.9Robeson County: 26.4 %Robeson County26.4Harnett County: 25.6 %Harnett County25.6Duplin County: 25.3 %Duplin County25.3Union County: 25.2 %Union County25.2Sampson County: 24.8 %Sampson County24.8Cumberland County: 24.7 %Cumberland County24.7Cabarrus County: 24.6 %Cabarrus County24.6Johnston County: 24.3 %Johnston County24.3Onslow County: 24 %Onslow County24Wayne County: 23.7 %Wayne County23.7Vance County: 23.5 %Vance County23.5Richmond County: 23.1 %Richmond County23.1Camden County: 23 %Camden County23Pender County: 22.7 %Pender County22.7Scotland County: 22.7 %Scotland County22.7Lee County: 22.7 %Lee County22.7Lenoir County: 22.5 %Lenoir County22.5Edgecombe County: 22.3 %Edgecombe County22.3Wake County: 22.3 %Wake County22.3Mecklenburg County: 22.3 %Mecklenburg County22.3Franklin County: 22.1 %Franklin County22.1Wilson County: 22.1 %Wilson County22.1Swain County: 22 %Swain County22Cleveland County: 21.9 %Cleveland County21.9Currituck County: 21.9 %Currituck County21.9Gaston County: 21.9 %Gaston County21.9Iredell County: 21.7 %Iredell County21.7Forsyth County: 21.7 %Forsyth County21.7Randolph County: 21.7 %Randolph County21.7Moore County: 21.7 %Moore County21.7Bladen County: 21.4 %Bladen County21.4Alamance County: 21.4 %Alamance County21.4Stanly County: 21.4 %Stanly County21.4Nash County: 21.4 %Nash County21.4Guilford County: 21.4 %Guilford County21.4Davidson County: 21.3 %Davidson County21.3Pitt County: 21.3 %Pitt County21.3Rowan County: 21.2 %Rowan County21.2Columbus County: 21 %Columbus County21Hoke County: 26.9 %Hoke County26.9Robeson County: 26.4 %Robeson County26.4Harnett County: 25.6 %Harnett County25.6Duplin County: 25.3 %Duplin County25.3Union County: 25.2 %Union County25.2Sampson County: 24.8 %Sampson County24.8Cumberland County: 24.7 %Cumberland County24.7Cabarrus County: 24.6 %Cabarrus County24.6Johnston County: 24.3 %Johnston County24.3Onslow County: 24 %Onslow County24Wayne County: 23.7 %Wayne County23.7Vance County: 23.5 %Vance County23.5Richmond County: 23.1 %Richmond County23.1Camden County: 23 %Camden County23Pender County: 22.7 %Pender County22.7Scotland County: 22.7 %Scotland County22.7Lee County: 22.7 %Lee County22.7Lenoir County: 22.5 %Lenoir County22.5Edgecombe County: 22.3 %Edgecombe County22.3Wake County: 22.3 %Wake County22.3Mecklenburg County: 22.3 %Mecklenburg County22.3Franklin County: 22.1 %Franklin County22.1Wilson County: 22.1 %Wilson County22.1Swain County: 22 %Swain County22Cleveland County: 21.9 %Cleveland County21.9Currituck County: 21.9 %Currituck County21.9Gaston County: 21.9 %Gaston County21.9Iredell County: 21.7 %Iredell County21.7Forsyth County: 21.7 %Forsyth County21.7Randolph County: 21.7 %Randolph County21.7Moore County: 21.7 %Moore County21.7Bladen County: 21.4 %Bladen County21.4Alamance County: 21.4 %Alamance County21.4Stanly County: 21.4 %Stanly County21.4Nash County: 21.4 %Nash County21.4Guilford County: 21.4 %Guilford County21.4Davidson County: 21.3 %Davidson County21.3Pitt County: 21.3 %Pitt County21.3Rowan County: 21.2 %Rowan County21.2Columbus County: 21 %Columbus County21
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Hoke County26.9-0.4 pts
2Robeson County26.4+0.2 pts
3Harnett County25.6-0.2 pts
4Duplin County25.30 pts
5Union County25.2-0.6 pts
6Sampson County24.8-0.1 pts
7Cumberland County24.7+0.1 pts
8Cabarrus County24.6-0.3 pts
9Johnston County24.3-0.4 pts
10Onslow County24-0.3 pts
11Wayne County23.7+0.1 pts
12Vance County23.5-0.1 pts
13Richmond County23.1-0.2 pts
14Camden County23-0.6 pts
15Pender County22.7-0.3 pts
16Scotland County22.7-0 pts
17Lee County22.7-0.1 pts
18Lenoir County22.5-0.1 pts
19Edgecombe County22.3-0.1 pts
20Wake County22.3-0.4 pts
21Mecklenburg County22.3-0.2 pts
22Franklin County22.1-0.2 pts
23Wilson County22.1-0.2 pts
24Swain County22-0.1 pts
25Cleveland County21.9+0.1 pts
26Currituck County21.9-0.2 pts
27Gaston County21.9-0 pts
28Iredell County21.7-0.4 pts
29Forsyth County21.7-0.2 pts
30Randolph County21.7-0.1 pts
31Moore County21.7-0.1 pts
32Bladen County21.40 pts
33Alamance County21.4-0.1 pts
34Stanly County21.4-0 pts
35Nash County21.40 pts
36Guilford County21.4-0.1 pts
37Davidson County21.3-0 pts
38Pitt County21.3-0.1 pts
39Rowan County21.2-0.2 pts
40Columbus County21+0.1 pts
41Surry County21+0.1 pts
42Yadkin County20.8+0.1 pts
43Anson County20.7+0.4 pts
44Catawba County20.6-0.2 pts
45Montgomery County20.6-0.4 pts
46Lincoln County20.5-0.2 pts
47Person County20.5-0.2 pts
48Halifax County20.3-0.1 pts
49Pasquotank County20.3-0.3 pts
50Craven County20.3-0.2 pts
51Martin County20.1+0.2 pts
52Granville County20.1-0.5 pts
53Davie County20.1-0.3 pts
54Rockingham County20-0 pts
55Rutherford County20-0.1 pts
56Wilkes County19.7-0.1 pts
57Graham County19.7+0.1 pts
58Caldwell County19.6-0.1 pts
59Hertford County19.6+0.1 pts
60Washington County19.4-0.1 pts
61Durham County19.4-0 pts
62Burke County19.3-0.3 pts
63Gates County19.3-0.5 pts
64Alexander County19.2-0.4 pts
65Jones County19.2+0.1 pts
66Beaufort County18.9-0.4 pts
67Chowan County18.9-0.4 pts
68Stokes County18.9-0.1 pts
69Greene County18.8-0.2 pts
70Tyrrell County18.8-0.3 pts
71McDowell County18.6-0.3 pts
72Chatham County18.6-0.4 pts
73Caswell County18.2-0.3 pts
74Orange County18.1-0.3 pts
75Northampton County18.1-0.1 pts
76Perquimans County180 pts
77Henderson County17.7-0.3 pts
78Warren County17.6-0.3 pts
79Mitchell County17.5-0.2 pts
80Yancey County17.4-0.1 pts
81Macon County17.2-0.3 pts
82Buncombe County17.1-0.2 pts
83New Hanover County17.1-0.3 pts
84Dare County16.9-0.1 pts
85Alleghany County16.9-0.4 pts
86Haywood County16.9-0.1 pts
87Madison County16.7-0.2 pts
88Carteret County16.4-0.3 pts
89Bertie County16.2-0.4 pts
90Ashe County16.1-0.2 pts
91Transylvania County16.1-0.1 pts
92Jackson County15.9-0.3 pts
93Cherokee County15.90 pts
94Polk County15.7-0.1 pts
95Hyde County15.1-0.4 pts
96Avery County14.9-0.5 pts
97Clay County14.8-0.3 pts
98Pamlico County13.9+0.1 pts
99Brunswick County13.8-0.3 pts
100Watauga County11.4-0.5 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, 2024) [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, 2024. 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=2024. 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, 2024. 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=2024.

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, 2024 [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=2024 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2024,
  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, 2024}},
  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=2024. 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, 2024
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=2024
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2024.
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 26.9% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest population under 18?

Watauga County, with 11.4% in 2024.

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