RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Highest Scotch-Irish population share, US states · 2020

US states ranked by the share of all residents who are Scotch-Irish ancestry (2023 American Community Survey). A concentration measure: Scotch-Irish residents as a percentage of total population. North Carolina leads at 2.3%. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 1.4%, against an all-states median of 0.9%.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros

YEAR2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPSCOTCH-IRISH SHAREVS 2000

01North Carolina, NCNC10,730,4042.3%–

02South Carolina, SCSC5,296,2252.2%–

03Tennessee, TNTN7,066,3832.1%–

04West Virginia, WVWV1,778,3731.8%–

05Maine, MEME1,387,8171.5%–

06Montana, MTMT1,116,8751.5%–

07Virginia, VAVA8,705,1701.4%–

08Alabama, ALAL5,086,7681.4%–

09Mississippi, MSMS2,946,7791.4%–

10Wyoming, WYWY582,3971.4%–

11Kentucky, KYKY4,534,8241.3%–

12Alaska, AKAK735,7061.3%–

13Oregon, OROR4,254,2931.2%–

14New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,8681.2%–

15Vermont, VTVT647,1061.2%–

16Colorado, COCO5,862,1891.1%–

17Washington, WAWA7,816,1161.1%–

18Georgia, GAGA10,940,4071.1%–

19Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,6391.1%–

20Arkansas, ARAR3,049,3911.1%–

21Missouri, MOMO6,191,8141.1%–

22Kansas, KSKS2,947,1971.0%–

23Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,6341.0%–

24Idaho, IDID1,934,2621.0%–

25Ohio, OHOH11,810,2930.9%–

26Texas, TXTX30,188,4240.9%–

27Utah, UTUT3,392,3310.8%–

28Indiana, ININ6,851,0730.8%–

29Arizona, AZAZ7,378,8380.8%–

30Nebraska, NENE1,978,7070.8%–

31Florida, FLFL22,416,0770.8%–

32New Mexico, NMNM2,120,2460.8%–

33Iowa, IAIA3,210,5070.8%–

34Louisiana, LALA4,611,9610.7%–

35Michigan, MIMI10,077,7610.7%–

36Maryland, MDMD6,206,0110.7%–

37Delaware, DEDE1,021,1910.7%–

38District of Columbia, DCDC681,2940.6%–

39Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,0560.6%–

40Nevada, NVNV3,184,6120.6%–

41South Dakota, SDSD907,4280.6%–

42Illinois, ILIL12,694,7980.5%–

43California, CACA39,287,3770.5%–

44North Dakota, NDND784,8410.5%–

45Connecticut, CTCT3,624,5080.5%–

46Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,8010.5%–

47Minnesota, MNMN5,739,4450.5%–

48Hawaii, HIHI1,445,2350.4%–

49Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,8720.4%–

50New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8090.4%–

51New York, NYNY19,852,3660.3%–

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest scotch-irish share?

North Carolina ranks #1 with 2.3% (2020 American Community Survey).

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

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

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 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 (2020).