Carter County Demographics

A map of Carter County's Population by Race

Carter County, Missouri has an estimated population of 5,297, a slight increase from the 5,202 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 92.6% White, 4.7% Multiracial, 2.3% Hispanic, 0.4% Black, 0.0% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Carter County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Carter has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Missouri overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Carter County, that probability was 14.8% in 2020 and 14.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Carter County is ranked the 107th most populous county in Missouri, out of 115 counties. Carter County was ranked the 108th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Carter County's White Population

4,903 residents of Carter County, or 92.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Carter County is significantly higher than in Missouri overall, where 76.3% of the population is White. Carter County ranks 40th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Carter County's White population has grown by an estimated 2.3%. White residents' share of Carter County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 92.6%.

Carter County is more White than neighboring Ripley County (92.4% White), Reynolds County (90.9% White), Shannon County (92.2% White), and Wayne County (92.4% White).

Carter County's Black Population

22 residents of Carter County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Carter County is considerably lower than in Missouri overall, where 10.9% of the population is Black. Carter County ranks 106th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Carter County's Black population has grown by an estimated 100.0%. Black residents' share of Carter County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Carter County is more Black than neighboring Ripley County (0.3% Black), Shannon County (0.2% Black), and Oregon County (0.1% Black). Carter County is less Black than neighboring Reynolds County (1.5% Black).

Carter County's Asian Population

2 residents of Carter County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Carter County is slightly lower than in Missouri overall, where 2.1% of the population is Asian. Carter County ranks 64th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Carter County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 88.9%. Asian residents' share of Carter County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Carter County is less Asian than neighboring Ripley County (0.3% Asian), Reynolds County (0.2% Asian), Shannon County (0.4% Asian), Oregon County (0.4% Asian), and Wayne County (0.3% Asian).

Carter County's Hispanic Population

121 residents of Carter County, or 2.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Carter County is slightly lower than in Missouri overall, where 5.2% of the population is Hispanic. Carter County ranks 78th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Carter County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 24.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Carter County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.3%.

Carter County is more Hispanic than neighboring Ripley County (1.5% Hispanic), Reynolds County (1.7% Hispanic), Shannon County (0.7% Hispanic), Oregon County (1.5% Hispanic), and Wayne County (1.5% Hispanic).

Carter County's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Carter County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Carter County is comparable to the share in Missouri overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Carter County ranks 100th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Carter County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Carter County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Carter County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Ripley County (0.3% Native American/Other), Reynolds County (0.3% Native American/Other), Shannon County (0.6% Native American/Other), Oregon County (0.3% Native American/Other), and Wayne County (0.8% Native American/Other).

Carter County's Multiracial Population

249 residents of Carter County, or 4.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Carter County is comparable to the share in Missouri overall, where 4.8% of the population is Multiracial. Carter County ranks 39th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Carter County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 4.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Carter County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.7%.

Carter County is more Multiracial than neighboring Wayne County (4.6% Multiracial). Carter County is less Multiracial than neighboring Ripley County (5.2% Multiracial), Reynolds County (5.3% Multiracial), Shannon County (6% Multiracial), and Oregon County (5.1% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.