According to Carolina Demography, the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 county population estimates show North Carolina’s population grew by about 1% compared to 2020. The national rate of growth is 0.1%.
[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]Even though counties in the state have growing populations, demographers say North Carolina had a “natural decrease” for the first time, meaning more deaths than births were recorded; hence, the county population increases stem mainly from migration — meaning both moving to North Carolina from elsewhere and moving around from one part of the state to another.
For the Cape Fear region, compared to last year, Brunswick county had the highest growth in the state at 5.5% (Brunswick actually tied with Currituck for the largest increase) — adding 9,031 people to their population.
Pender County also grew by about 4.3%, adding 2,811 people. New Hanover County grew by about 1.5%, adding 4,006 people.
Further, Brunswick County, a leading destination for retirees, had the largest difference between mortality and birthrate in the state, having 1,509 more deaths than births.
Researchers from Carolina Demography said most of the coastal county growth comes from net in-migration, meaning more people are moving to the region. And the data further suggest a potential “pandemic migration” to coastal counties — but researchers said more data is needed to understand this pattern.
More information and analysis from Carolina Demography: “County estimates show more deaths than births, pandemic migration”
Correction: This article initially stated that 73% of the nation's counties had declining populations — that more accurately describes the percentage of counties with "natural decrease," meaning more deaths than births. Counties with natural decrease can still have a growing population due to migration. The correct figure for counties with stagnant or decreasing populations is 42%.
