Oak Island, NC Demographics
A map of Oak Island's Population by Race
Oak Island, North Carolina has an estimated population of 9,030, an increase from the 8,396 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 94.1% White, 2.6% Multiracial, 1.1% Hispanic, 0.8% Native American/Other, 0.7% Black, and 0.7% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Oak Island, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.
Oak Island has become less racially diverse since 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 Oak Island, that probability was 13.9% in 2020 and 11.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.
Oak Island is ranked the 106th most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Oak Island was ranked the 112th most populous place in the 2020 Census.
Oak Island's White Population
8,500 residents of Oak Island, or 94.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Oak Island is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Oak Island ranks 48th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Oak Island's White population has grown by an estimated 9.2%. White residents' share of Oak Island's population has increased from 92.7% to 94.1%.
Oak Island is more White than neighboring St. James (90.4% White), Varnamtown (93.1% White), and Southport (88.1% White). Oak Island is less White than neighboring Caswell Beach (98.4% White), and Boiling Spring Lakes (94.4% White).
Oak Island's Black Population
66 residents of Oak Island, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Oak Island is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Oak Island ranks 694th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Oak Island's Black population has declined by an estimated 2.9%. Black residents' share of Oak Island's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.
Oak Island is more Black than neighboring St. James (0.4% Black), Caswell Beach (0% Black), and Varnamtown (0% Black). Oak Island is less Black than neighboring Boiling Spring Lakes (2% Black), and Southport (7.1% Black).
Oak Island's Asian Population
61 residents of Oak Island, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Oak Island is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Oak Island ranks 448th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Oak Island's Asian population has grown by an estimated 41.9%. Asian residents' share of Oak Island's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.
Oak Island is more Asian than neighboring St. James (0.3% Asian), Caswell Beach (0.2% Asian), Varnamtown (0% Asian), Boiling Spring Lakes (0.1% Asian), and Southport (0% Asian).
Oak Island's Hispanic Population
97 residents of Oak Island, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Oak Island is considerably lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Oak Island ranks 710th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Oak Island's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 33.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Oak Island's population has decreased from 1.7% to 1.1%.
Oak Island is more Hispanic than neighboring Caswell Beach (0.6% Hispanic), Varnamtown (0% Hispanic), and Boiling Spring Lakes (1% Hispanic). Oak Island is less Hispanic than neighboring St. James (6.2% Hispanic), and Southport (1.2% Hispanic).
Oak Island's Native American/Other Population
72 residents of Oak Island, or 0.8% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Oak Island is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Oak Island ranks 367th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Oak Island's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 9.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Oak Island's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.8%.
Oak Island is more Native American/Other than neighboring St. James (0% Native American/Other), Caswell Beach (0% Native American/Other), Varnamtown (0% Native American/Other), Boiling Spring Lakes (0% Native American/Other), and Southport (0% Native American/Other).
Oak Island's Multiracial Population
234 residents of Oak Island, or 2.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Oak Island is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Oak Island ranks 444th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Oak Island's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 19.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Oak Island's population has decreased from 3.5% to 2.6%.
Oak Island is more Multiracial than neighboring Caswell Beach (0.8% Multiracial). Oak Island is less Multiracial than neighboring St. James (2.7% Multiracial), Varnamtown (6.9% Multiracial), and Southport (3.6% 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.