Lenoir County Demographics

A map of Lenoir County's Population by Race

Lenoir County, North Carolina has an estimated population of 54,919, a less than 1% change from the 55,122 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 47.3% White, 39.2% Black, 8.8% Hispanic, 3.6% Multiracial, 0.7% Asian, and 0.3% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Lenoir County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Lenoir has become 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 Lenoir County, that probability was 60.1% in 2020 and 61.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Lenoir County is ranked the 49th most populous county in North Carolina, out of 100 counties. Lenoir County was ranked the 48th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Lenoir County's White Population

25,969 residents of Lenoir County, or 47.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Lenoir County is considerably lower than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Lenoir County ranks 82nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lenoir County's White population has declined by an estimated 2.3%. White residents' share of Lenoir County's population has decreased from 48.2% to 47.3%.

Lenoir County is more White than neighboring Greene County (45.5% White). Lenoir County is less White than neighboring Jones County (63.1% White), Wayne County (50.2% White), Duplin County (50.2% White), and Pitt County (51.9% White).

Lenoir County's Black Population

21,540 residents of Lenoir County, or 39.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Lenoir County is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Lenoir County ranks 11th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lenoir County's Black population has declined by an estimated 2.2%. Black residents' share of Lenoir County's population has decreased from 40.0% to 39.2%.

Lenoir County is more Black than neighboring Greene County (31.5% Black), Jones County (26.6% Black), Wayne County (29.6% Black), Duplin County (22.1% Black), and Pitt County (34.7% Black).

Lenoir County's Asian Population

410 residents of Lenoir County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Lenoir County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Lenoir County ranks 57th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lenoir County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 23.5%. Asian residents' share of Lenoir County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Lenoir County is more Asian than neighboring Greene County (0% Asian), and Duplin County (0.6% Asian). Lenoir County is less Asian than neighboring Jones County (1.2% Asian), Wayne County (1.2% Asian), and Pitt County (2% Asian).

Lenoir County's Hispanic Population

4,843 residents of Lenoir County, or 8.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Lenoir County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Lenoir County ranks 43rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lenoir County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 11.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Lenoir County's population has increased from 7.9% to 8.8%.

Lenoir County is more Hispanic than neighboring Jones County (5.1% Hispanic), and Pitt County (7.9% Hispanic). Lenoir County is less Hispanic than neighboring Greene County (15.5% Hispanic), Wayne County (13.7% Hispanic), and Duplin County (23.3% Hispanic).

Lenoir County's Native American/Other Population

190 residents of Lenoir County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Lenoir County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Lenoir County ranks 85th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lenoir County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 34.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Lenoir County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Lenoir County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Greene County (1% Native American/Other), Jones County (0.5% Native American/Other), Wayne County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Pitt County (0.5% Native American/Other).

Lenoir County's Multiracial Population

1,967 residents of Lenoir County, or 3.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Lenoir County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Lenoir County ranks 86th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lenoir County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 29.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Lenoir County's population has increased from 2.8% to 3.6%.

Lenoir County is more Multiracial than neighboring Pitt County (3.1% Multiracial). Lenoir County is less Multiracial than neighboring Greene County (6.5% Multiracial), and Wayne County (4.9% 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.