Lee County Demographics

A map of Lee County's Population by Race

Lee County, North Carolina has an estimated population of 65,816, an increase from the 63,285 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 55.8% White, 21.7% Hispanic, 17.2% Black, 4.3% Multiracial, 0.9% Asian, and 0.1% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Lee County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Lee has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is more 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 Lee County, that probability was 60.2% in 2020 and 61.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Lee County is ranked the 41st most populous county in North Carolina, out of 100 counties. Lee County was ranked the 42nd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Lee County's White Population

36,695 residents of Lee County, or 55.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Lee County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Lee County ranks 70th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lee County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.8%. White residents' share of Lee County's population has decreased from 57.0% to 55.8%.

Lee County is more White than neighboring Hoke County (36% White), and Cumberland County (39.8% White). Lee County is less White than neighboring Chatham County (69.5% White), Harnett County (58.2% White), and Moore County (75.7% White).

Lee County's Black Population

11,333 residents of Lee County, or 17.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Lee County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Lee County ranks 50th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lee County's Black population has grown by an estimated 5.9%. Black residents' share of Lee County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 17.2%.

Lee County is more Black than neighboring Chatham County (10% Black), and Moore County (8.9% Black). Lee County is less Black than neighboring Harnett County (19.8% Black), Hoke County (32.1% Black), and Cumberland County (36.7% Black).

Lee County's Asian Population

579 residents of Lee County, or 0.9% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Lee County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Lee County ranks 38th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lee County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 10.0%. Asian residents' share of Lee County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.9%.

Lee County is less Asian than neighboring Chatham County (2.2% Asian), Moore County (1.2% Asian), Hoke County (1.5% Asian), and Cumberland County (2.6% Asian).

Lee County's Hispanic Population

14,286 residents of Lee County, or 21.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Lee County is considerably higher than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Lee County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lee County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 8.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Lee County's population has increased from 20.7% to 21.7%.

Lee County is more Hispanic than neighboring Chatham County (13.6% Hispanic), Harnett County (15.1% Hispanic), Moore County (7.8% Hispanic), Hoke County (15.6% Hispanic), and Cumberland County (12.7% Hispanic).

Lee County's Native American/Other Population

81 residents of Lee 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 Lee County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Lee County ranks 44th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lee County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 83.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Lee County's population has decreased from 0.8% to 0.1%.

Lee County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Chatham County (1% Native American/Other), Harnett County (1.3% Native American/Other), Moore County (1% Native American/Other), Hoke County (7.6% Native American/Other), and Cumberland County (2.2% Native American/Other).

Lee County's Multiracial Population

2,842 residents of Lee County, or 4.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Lee County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Lee County ranks 55th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lee County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 25.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Lee County's population has increased from 3.6% to 4.3%.

Lee County is more Multiracial than neighboring Chatham County (3.8% Multiracial). Lee County is less Multiracial than neighboring Harnett County (4.6% Multiracial), Moore County (5.4% Multiracial), Hoke County (7.2% Multiracial), and Cumberland County (5.9% 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.