RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Fastest shrinking, North Carolina counties · 2010

North Carolina counties with the steepest population decline since the prior decennial census. This list covers the 100 counties in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

YEAR2000 2010 2020

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01Halifax County, NCNC46,534-4.7%−240%

02Martin County, NCNC21,601-4.3%−307%

03Washington County, NCNC10,638-3.6%+84%

04Jones County, NCNC9,575-2.2%−121%

05Mitchell County, NCNC15,062-0.7%−108%

06Hyde County, NCNC4,554-0.3%−104%

07Lenoir County, NCNC55,837-0.3%−106%

08Northampton County, NCNC16,491+0.1%−99%

09Richmond County, NCNC42,041+0.2%−96%

10Yancey County, NCNC19,084+0.2%−98%

11Scotland County, NCNC33,322+0.4%−93%

12Caswell County, NCNC22,563+0.9%−93%

13Pamlico County, NCNC12,758+1.6%−88%

14Edgecombe County, NCNC49,121+1.7%−201%

15Chowan County, NCNC14,082+1.8%−76%

16Cleveland County, NCNC103,325+1.9%−86%

17Rockingham County, NCNC94,195+1.9%−73%

18Burke County, NCNC88,655+2.0%−89%

19Surry County, NCNC72,287+3.4%−78%

20Montgomery County, NCNC26,403+3.6%−76%

21Avery County, NCNC18,110+3.7%−76%

22Stanly County, NCNC68,830+4.3%−65%

23Alleghany County, NCNC11,479+4.5%−61%

24Warren County, NCNC18,898+5.0%−68%

25Sampson County, NCNC61,504+5.4%−80%

26Cumberland County, NCNC338,473+5.4%−47%

27Wilkes County, NCNC66,233+5.6%−46%

28Yadkin County, NCNC38,325+5.7%−71%

29Vance County, NCNC42,638+5.7%−45%

30Madison County, NCNC22,553+5.7%−64%

31Stokes County, NCNC46,126+6.0%−70%

32Columbus County, NCNC50,487+6.1%−41%

33Rowan County, NCNC155,096+6.2%−65%

34Tyrrell County, NCNC3,537+6.2%−18%

35Beaufort County, NCNC44,670+6.2%−2%

36Anson County, NCNC21,758+6.6%−14%

37McDowell County, NCNC45,198+6.7%−63%

38Caldwell County, NCNC81,105+7.3%−24%

39Bertie County, NCNC17,086+7.6%−353%

40Rutherford County, NCNC65,745+7.8%−26%

41Swain County, NCNC14,024+7.8%−48%

42Wayne County, NCNC122,278+8.2%−1%

43Gaston County, NCNC246,558+8.3%−5%

44Randolph County, NCNC149,516+8.7%−61%

45Robeson County, NCNC119,941+8.8%−49%

46Catawba County, NCNC170,172+8.9%−54%

47Bladen County, NCNC30,007+9.0%−28%

48Hertford County, NCNC19,015+9.2%+2542%

49Haywood County, NCNC63,369+9.3%−39%

50Nash County, NCNC99,365+9.6%−31%

51Wilson County, NCNC81,150+10.1%−14%

52Davidson County, NCNC180,182+10.6%−35%

53Alexander County, NCNC36,958+10.7%−51%

54Person County, NCNC40,636+10.8%−40%

55Graham County, NCNC8,190+10.9%−2%

56Ashe County, NCNC27,514+11.9%+21%

57Polk County, NCNC20,533+11.9%−56%

58Carteret County, NCNC70,469+11.9%−8%

59Greene County, NCNC20,700+12.6%−46%

60Transylvania County, NCNC34,211+12.8%−14%

61Cherokee County, NCNC30,830+12.9%−37%

62Orange County, NCNC152,498+13.2%−49%

63Dare County, NCNC38,245+13.2%−58%

64Craven County, NCNC105,025+13.2%+10%

65Macon County, NCNC39,232+13.8%−49%

66Forsyth County, NCNC401,718+14.6%−4%

67Buncombe County, NCNC277,417+15.5%−14%

68Alamance County, NCNC186,177+15.5%−26%

69Gates County, NCNC10,234+16.0%+23%

70Guilford County, NCNC562,234+16.0%−25%

71Pasquotank County, NCNC42,201+16.5%+44%

72Lee County, NCNC70,258+18.0%−3%

73Moore County, NCNC110,619+18.0%−32%

74Onslow County, NCNC217,175+18.2%+5185%

75Perquimans County, NCNC13,490+18.3%+108%

76Davie County, NCNC45,855+18.4%−27%

77Duplin County, NCNC51,571+19.2%−15%

78Watauga County, NCNC54,786+19.6%+26%

79Henderson County, NCNC122,375+19.7%−31%

80Durham County, NCNC347,240+19.8%−13%

81Clay County, NCNC12,239+20.6%−9%

82Jackson County, NCNC45,039+21.6%−8%

83Lincoln County, NCNC98,654+22.7%−15%

84Granville County, NCNC61,421+23.5%−11%

85Pitt County, NCNC182,936+25.7%+7%

86Harnett County, NCNC150,137+26.0%−24%

87New Hanover County, NCNC245,959+26.4%−21%

88Pender County, NCNC72,111+27.1%−36%

89Franklin County, NCNC82,037+28.3%−5%

90Chatham County, NCNC85,111+28.7%+5%

91Currituck County, NCNC33,158+29.5%−9%

92Iredell County, NCNC211,798+30.0%−6%

93Mecklenburg County, NCNC1,233,383+32.2%−10%

94Cabarrus County, NCNC249,725+35.8%+10%

95Johnston County, NCNC256,448+38.5%−23%

96Hoke County, NCNC56,939+39.5%−16%

97Wake County, NCNC1,257,235+43.5%−10%

98Camden County, NCNC11,315+45.0%+171%

99Brunswick County, NCNC174,702+46.9%+8%

100Union County, NCNC267,674+62.8%+34%

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES