Pender County Demographics

A map of Pender County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	48,528	44,418	74.0%	73.8%
Black	7,945	7,544	12.1%	12.5%
Hispanic	5,787	4,982	8.8%	8.3%
Multiracial	2,398	2,479	3.7%	4.1%
Asian	454	319	0.7%	0.5%
Native American/Other	438	461	0.7%	0.8%

Pender County, North Carolina has an estimated population of 65,550, an increase from the 60,203 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 74.0% White, 12.1% Black, 8.8% Hispanic, 3.7% Multiracial, 0.7% Asian, and 0.7% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Pender County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Pender 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 Pender County, that probability was 43.1% in 2020 and 42.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Pender County is ranked the 42nd most populous county in North Carolina, out of 100 counties. Pender County was ranked the 46th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Pender County's White Population

48,528 residents of Pender County, or 74.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Pender County is considerably higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Pender County ranks 40th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Pender County's White population has grown by an estimated 9.3%. White residents' share of Pender County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 74.0%.

Pender County is more White than neighboring Duplin County (50.2% White), Onslow County (64% White), and Sampson County (49.2% White). Pender County is less White than neighboring New Hanover County (74.7% White), and Brunswick County (80.8% White).

Pender County's Black Population

7,945 residents of Pender County, or 12.1% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Pender County is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Pender County ranks 56th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Pender County's Black population has grown by an estimated 5.3%. Black residents' share of Pender County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 12.1%.

Pender County is more Black than neighboring New Hanover County (10.7% Black), Onslow County (11.5% Black), and Brunswick County (8.3% Black). Pender County is less Black than neighboring Duplin County (22.1% Black), and Sampson County (24% Black).

Pender County's Asian Population

454 residents of Pender County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Pender County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Pender County ranks 64th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Pender County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 42.3%. Asian residents' share of Pender County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Pender County is more Asian than neighboring Duplin County (0.6% Asian), and Sampson County (0.4% Asian). Pender County is less Asian than neighboring New Hanover County (1.4% Asian), and Onslow County (1.8% Asian).

Pender County's Hispanic Population

5,787 residents of Pender County, or 8.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Pender County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Pender County ranks 39th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Pender County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 16.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Pender County's population has increased from 8.3% to 8.8%.

Pender County is more Hispanic than neighboring New Hanover County (7.9% Hispanic), and Brunswick County (5.6% Hispanic). Pender County is less Hispanic than neighboring Duplin County (23.3% Hispanic), Onslow County (14% Hispanic), and Sampson County (22% Hispanic).

Pender County's Native American/Other Population

438 residents of Pender 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 Pender County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Pender County ranks 47th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Pender County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 5.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Pender County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Pender County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Duplin County (0.3% Native American/Other), and Brunswick County (0.6% Native American/Other). Pender County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Onslow County (1.2% Native American/Other), and Sampson County (2.1% Native American/Other).

Pender County's Multiracial Population

2,398 residents of Pender County, or 3.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Pender County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Pender County ranks 17th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Pender County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 3.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Pender County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.7%.

Pender County is more Multiracial than neighboring Duplin County (3.6% Multiracial), and Sampson County (2.3% Multiracial). Pender County is less Multiracial than neighboring New Hanover County (4.6% Multiracial), Onslow County (7.4% Multiracial), and Brunswick County (4% 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.