RANKING · 2024 ACS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Highest Scotch-Irish population share, US states

US states ranked by the share of all residents who are Scotch-Irish ancestry (2024 American Community Survey). A concentration measure: Scotch-Irish residents as a percentage of total population. North Carolina leads at 1.8%. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 1.1%, against an all-states median of 0.7%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Vermont, VT, up 7 places to #8.

Scotch-Irish Americans: full group profile →

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros

YEAR2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPSCOTCH-IRISH SHAREVS 2010

USUnited States334,922,4990.8%–

01North Carolina, NCNC10,730,4041.8%−1.9 pts

02▲1Tennessee, TNTN7,066,3831.7%−1.5 pts

03▼1South Carolina, SCSC5,296,2251.7%−1.6 pts

04West Virginia, WVWV1,778,3731.6%−1.3 pts

05Maine, MEME1,387,8171.4%−2.3 pts

06Montana, MTMT1,116,8751.2%−1.4 pts

07▲3Wyoming, WYWY582,3971.2%−1.8 pts

08▲7Vermont, VTVT647,1061.2%−1.5 pts

09▲2Kentucky, KYKY4,534,8241.2%−0.9 pts

10▼2Alabama, ALAL5,086,7681.2%−1.2 pts

11▼4Virginia, VAVA8,705,1701.2%−1.4 pts

12▲1Oregon, OROR4,254,2931.1%−1.5 pts

13▲1New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,8681.1%−1.5 pts

14▼5Mississippi, MSMS2,946,7791.1%−1.2 pts

15▼3Alaska, AKAK735,7061.0%−1.4 pts

16Colorado, COCO5,862,1891.0%−1.2 pts

17Washington, WAWA7,816,1161.0%−1.5 pts

18▲5Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,6341.0%−0.9 pts

19▼1Georgia, GAGA10,940,4070.9%−1.0 pts

20Arkansas, ARAR3,049,3910.9%−1.1 pts

21Missouri, MOMO6,191,8140.9%−1.1 pts

22▼3Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,6390.9%−1.1 pts

23▲1Idaho, IDID1,934,2620.9%−1.2 pts

24▼2Kansas, KSKS2,947,1970.8%−1.2 pts

25Ohio, OHOH11,810,2930.8%−0.9 pts

26▲1Utah, UTUT3,392,3310.7%−0.6 pts

27▼1Texas, TXTX30,188,4240.7%−0.9 pts

28▲4New Mexico, NMNM2,120,2460.7%−0.9 pts

29Arizona, AZAZ7,378,8380.7%−1.0 pts

30▼2Indiana, ININ6,851,0730.7%−0.8 pts

31▼1Nebraska, NENE1,978,7070.6%−0.9 pts

32▲1Iowa, IAIA3,210,5070.6%−0.9 pts

33▲2Michigan, MIMI10,077,7610.6%−1.0 pts

34▼3Florida, FLFL22,416,0770.6%−1.0 pts

35▼1Louisiana, LALA4,611,9610.6%−0.7 pts

36▲1Delaware, DEDE1,021,1910.6%−1.2 pts

37▼1Maryland, MDMD6,206,0110.6%−0.9 pts

38District of Columbia, DCDC681,2940.6%−0.5 pts

39Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,0560.5%−1.4 pts

40▲1South Dakota, SDSD907,4280.5%−0.7 pts

41▲3North Dakota, NDND784,8410.5%−0.7 pts

42▼2Nevada, NVNV3,184,6120.5%−0.9 pts

43▼1Illinois, ILIL12,694,7980.5%−0.6 pts

44▼1California, CACA39,287,3770.5%−0.7 pts

45▲2Minnesota, MNMN5,739,4450.4%−0.6 pts

46Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,8010.4%−1.0 pts

47▼2Connecticut, CTCT3,624,5080.4%−1.0 pts

48Hawaii, HIHI1,445,2350.4%−0.6 pts

49Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,8720.3%−0.5 pts

50New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8090.3%−0.6 pts

51New York, NYNY19,852,3660.3%−0.5 pts

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest scotch-irish share?

North Carolina ranks #1 with 1.8% (2024 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by scotch-irish share?

North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, West Virginia, Maine.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2024 ACS 5-year data.

How is scotch-irish share measured?

Share of all residents who are Scotch-Irish ancestry (Ancestry, ACS detailed tables). Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024).