Mecklenburg County Demographics

A map of Mecklenburg County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	498,847	498,683	43.2%	44.7%
Black	343,410	324,832	29.7%	29.1%
Hispanic	184,569	169,922	16.0%	15.2%
Asian	72,816	71,583	6.3%	6.4%
Multiracial	46,855	40,312	4.1%	3.6%
Native American/Other	8,184	10,150	0.7%	0.9%

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina has an estimated population of 1,154,681, an increase from the 1,115,482 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 43.2% White, 29.7% Black, 16.0% Hispanic, 6.3% Asian, 4.1% Multiracial, and 0.7% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Mecklenburg County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Mecklenburg has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably 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 Mecklenburg County, that probability was 68.7% in 2020 and 69.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Mecklenburg County is ranked the 2nd most populous county in North Carolina, out of 100 counties. Mecklenburg County was ranked the 2nd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Mecklenburg County's White Population

498,847 residents of Mecklenburg County, or 43.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Mecklenburg County is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Mecklenburg County ranks 88th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Mecklenburg County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Mecklenburg County's population has decreased from 44.7% to 43.2%.

Mecklenburg County is less White than neighboring Cabarrus County (57.3% White), Gaston County (66.4% White), Union County (66.8% White), York County (66.3% White), and Lincoln County (82% White).

Mecklenburg County's Black Population

343,410 residents of Mecklenburg County, or 29.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Mecklenburg County is higher than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Mecklenburg County ranks 28th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Mecklenburg County's Black population has grown by an estimated 5.7%. Black residents' share of Mecklenburg County's population has increased from 29.1% to 29.7%.

Mecklenburg County is more Black than neighboring Cabarrus County (18.7% Black), Gaston County (17.1% Black), Union County (10.9% Black), York County (18.2% Black), and Lincoln County (5.9% Black).

Mecklenburg County's Asian Population

72,816 residents of Mecklenburg County, or 6.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Mecklenburg County is slightly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Mecklenburg County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Mecklenburg County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 1.7%. Asian residents' share of Mecklenburg County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 6.3%.

Mecklenburg County is more Asian than neighboring Cabarrus County (6.2% Asian), Gaston County (1.6% Asian), Union County (4.5% Asian), York County (3% Asian), and Lincoln County (0.8% Asian).

Mecklenburg County's Hispanic Population

184,569 residents of Mecklenburg County, or 16.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Mecklenburg County is slightly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Mecklenburg County ranks 7th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Mecklenburg County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 8.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Mecklenburg County's population has increased from 15.2% to 16.0%.

Mecklenburg County is more Hispanic than neighboring Cabarrus County (12.7% Hispanic), Gaston County (9.9% Hispanic), Union County (13.4% Hispanic), York County (7.4% Hispanic), and Lincoln County (8.1% Hispanic).

Mecklenburg County's Native American/Other Population

8,184 residents of Mecklenburg County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Mecklenburg County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Mecklenburg County ranks 26th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Mecklenburg County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 19.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Mecklenburg County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Mecklenburg County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Union County (0.6% Native American/Other), and Lincoln County (0.4% Native American/Other). Mecklenburg County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Gaston County (0.8% Native American/Other), and York County (1% Native American/Other).

Mecklenburg County's Multiracial Population

46,855 residents of Mecklenburg County, or 4.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Mecklenburg County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Mecklenburg County ranks 53rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Mecklenburg County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 16.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Mecklenburg County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.1%.

Mecklenburg County is more Multiracial than neighboring Union County (3.8% Multiracial), and Lincoln County (2.9% Multiracial). Mecklenburg County is less Multiracial than neighboring Cabarrus County (4.4% Multiracial), and Gaston County (4.2% 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.