Gates County Demographics

A map of Gates County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	6,562	6,705	63.2%	64.0%
Black	3,214	3,022	31.0%	28.8%
Multiracial	319	426	3.1%	4.1%
Hispanic	225	201	2.2%	1.9%
Native American/Other	56	103	0.5%	1.0%
Asian	0	21	0.0%	0.2%

Gates County, North Carolina has an estimated population of 10,376, a less than 1% change from the 10,478 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 63.2% White, 31.0% Black, 3.1% Multiracial, 2.2% Hispanic, 0.5% Native American/Other, and 0.0% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Gates County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Gates 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 Gates County, that probability was 50.5% in 2020 and 50.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Gates County is ranked the 96th most populous county in North Carolina, out of 100 counties. Gates County was ranked the 95th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Gates County's White Population

6,562 residents of Gates County, or 63.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Gates County is slightly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Gates County ranks 55th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Gates County's White population has declined by an estimated 2.1%. White residents' share of Gates County's population has decreased from 64.0% to 63.2%.

Gates County is more White than neighboring Suffolk County (45.8% White), Hertford County (32.2% White), Chowan County (60.4% White), and Franklin County (37.7% White). Gates County is less White than neighboring Perquimans County (70.3% White).

Gates County's Black Population

3,214 residents of Gates County, or 31.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Gates County is considerably higher than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Gates County ranks 29th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Gates County's Black population has grown by an estimated 6.4%. Black residents' share of Gates County's population has increased from 28.8% to 31.0%.

Gates County is more Black than neighboring Perquimans County (21.3% Black). Gates County is less Black than neighboring Suffolk County (41.6% Black), Hertford County (55.6% Black), Chowan County (32.4% Black), and Franklin County (54.8% Black).

Gates County's Asian Population

0 residents of Gates County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Gates County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Gates County ranks 95th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Gates County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Gates County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Gates County is less Asian than neighboring Suffolk County (1.8% Asian), Hertford County (1.1% Asian), Chowan County (0.1% Asian), and Perquimans County (0.4% Asian).

Gates County's Hispanic Population

225 residents of Gates County, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Gates County is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Gates County ranks 99th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Gates County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 11.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Gates County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.2%.

Gates County is less Hispanic than neighboring Suffolk County (5.2% Hispanic), Hertford County (6.4% Hispanic), Chowan County (4% Hispanic), Franklin County (3.2% Hispanic), and Perquimans County (3.2% Hispanic).

Gates County's Native American/Other Population

56 residents of Gates County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Gates County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Gates County ranks 20th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Gates County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 45.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of Gates County's population has decreased from 1.0% to 0.5%.

Gates County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Chowan County (0.1% Native American/Other), Franklin County (0% Native American/Other), and Perquimans County (0% Native American/Other). Gates County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Suffolk County (1% Native American/Other), and Hertford County (1.2% Native American/Other).

Gates County's Multiracial Population

319 residents of Gates County, or 3.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Gates County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Gates County ranks 21st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Gates County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 25.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Gates County's population has decreased from 4.1% to 3.1%.

Gates County is more Multiracial than neighboring Chowan County (3% Multiracial). Gates County is less Multiracial than neighboring Suffolk County (4.6% Multiracial), Hertford County (3.6% Multiracial), Franklin County (4.2% Multiracial), and Perquimans County (4.7% 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.