Chowan County Demographics

A map of Chowan County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	8,353	8,268	60.4%	60.3%
Black	4,484	4,376	32.4%	31.9%
Hispanic	554	530	4.0%	3.9%
Multiracial	417	433	3.0%	3.2%
Native American/Other	19	62	0.1%	0.5%
Asian	9	39	0.1%	0.3%

Chowan County, North Carolina has an estimated population of 13,836, a less than 1% change from the 13,708 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 60.4% White, 32.4% Black, 4.0% Hispanic, 3.0% Multiracial, 0.1% Asian, and 0.1% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Chowan County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Chowan is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Chowan County, that probability was 53.2% in 2020 and 52.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Chowan County is ranked the 89th most populous county in North Carolina, out of 100 counties. Chowan County was ranked the 89th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Chowan County's White Population

8,353 residents of Chowan County, or 60.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Chowan County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Chowan County ranks 63rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Chowan County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.0%. White residents' share of Chowan County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 60.4%.

Chowan County is more White than neighboring Washington County (44.5% White), Bertie County (34.4% White), and Pasquotank County (53.8% White). Chowan County is less White than neighboring Perquimans County (70.3% White), and Gates County (63.2% White).

Chowan County's Black Population

4,484 residents of Chowan County, or 32.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Chowan County is considerably higher than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Chowan County ranks 22nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Chowan County's Black population has grown by an estimated 2.5%. Black residents' share of Chowan County's population has increased from 31.9% to 32.4%.

Chowan County is more Black than neighboring Perquimans County (21.3% Black), and Gates County (31% Black). Chowan County is less Black than neighboring Washington County (47.7% Black), Bertie County (59.6% Black), and Pasquotank County (34.2% Black).

Chowan County's Asian Population

9 residents of Chowan County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Chowan County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Chowan County ranks 89th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Chowan County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 76.9%. Asian residents' share of Chowan County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.1%.

Chowan County is more Asian than neighboring Washington County (0% Asian), and Gates County (0% Asian). Chowan County is less Asian than neighboring Perquimans County (0.4% Asian), Bertie County (0.8% Asian), and Pasquotank County (1.4% Asian).

Chowan County's Hispanic Population

554 residents of Chowan County, or 4.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Chowan County is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Chowan County ranks 87th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Chowan County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 4.5%. Hispanic residents' share of Chowan County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.0%.

Chowan County is more Hispanic than neighboring Perquimans County (3.2% Hispanic), Gates County (2.2% Hispanic), and Bertie County (2.5% Hispanic). Chowan County is less Hispanic than neighboring Pasquotank County (6% Hispanic).

Chowan County's Native American/Other Population

19 residents of Chowan County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Chowan County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Chowan County ranks 94th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Chowan County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 69.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Chowan County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.1%.

Chowan County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Perquimans County (0% Native American/Other). Chowan County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Gates County (0.5% Native American/Other), Bertie County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Pasquotank County (0.8% Native American/Other).

Chowan County's Multiracial Population

417 residents of Chowan County, or 3.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Chowan County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Chowan County ranks 71st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Chowan County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 3.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Chowan County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.0%.

Chowan County is more Multiracial than neighboring Bertie County (2.4% Multiracial). Chowan County is less Multiracial than neighboring Perquimans County (4.7% Multiracial), Washington County (3.7% Multiracial), Gates County (3.1% Multiracial), and Pasquotank County (3.7% 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.