This document summarizes demographic trends in North Carolina through 2035. It finds that North Carolina's population will continue growing, reaching over 12 million by 2035, with growth concentrated in urban areas like Raleigh, Charlotte, and Greensboro. An aging population and declining numbers of children and young adults in many counties will shape North Carolina's future demographics. The state will also see growing demand for housing as its population increases.

1. Welcome

2. NC Demographic
Trends Through 2035
Association Executives of North Carolina
July 17, 2016
Rebecca Tippett, University of North Carolina

3. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017 2020 2023 2026 2029 2032 2035
July1Population(Millions)
Year
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates, NCOSBM Projections
North Carolina’s Total Population (July 1), 1990-2035

4. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017 2020 2023 2026 2029 2032 2035
July1Population(Millions)
Year
Officially 9th most
populous state
as of 2014
North Carolina’s Total Population (July 1), 1990-2035
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau

5. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017 2020 2023 2026 2029 2032 2035
July1Population(Millions)
Year
Officially 9th most
populous state
as of 2014
>10M
in 2015
North Carolina’s Total Population (July 1), 1990-2035
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau

6. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017 2020 2023 2026 2029 2032 2035
July1Population(Millions)
Year
Officially 9th most
populous state
as of 2014
>10M
in 2015
North Carolina’s Total Population (July 1), 1990-2035
Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, NC OSBM

7. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017 2020 2023 2026 2029 2032 2035
July1Population(Millions)
Year
Officially 9th most
populous state
as of 2014
>10M
in 2015
12.1M
in 2035
Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, NC OSBM
North Carolina’s Total Population (July 1), 1990-2035

8. Urbanization
50% in 1990
vs.
66% in 2010
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau

9. Population growth will be uneven across North Carolina
Projected population growth, 2010-2035
Data Source: NC OSBM

10. Data Source: NC OSBM
Nearly all of the fastest growing counties are in major metro areas
Projected population growth, 2010-2035

11. Data Source: NC OSBM
Many counties outside of major metros projected to lose population
Projected population growth, 2010-2035

12. 34%
34%
10%
7%
5%
10%
1%
Triangle
Charlotte
Triad
Wilmington
Asheville
All Other
Metros
No Metro
Area
Almost all future NC growth projected to occur in urban areas
Projected share of 2010-2035 state population growth for select North Carolina metropolitan areas
Data Source: NC OSBM

13. 34%
34%
10%
7%
5%
10%
1%
Triangle
Charlotte
Triad
Wilmington
Asheville
All Other
Metros
No Metro
Area
Two-thirds of NC growth projected to occur in Triangle or Charlotte
Projected share of 2010-2035 state population growth for select North Carolina metropolitan areas
Data Source: NC OSBM

14. Observed growth more uneven than projected
Population growth, 2010-2015
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau

15. 34%
34%
10%
7%
5%
10%
1%
40%
34%
10%
8%
4%
5%
-2%
Triangle
Charlotte
Triad
Wilmington
Asheville
All Other
Metros
No Metro
Area
Projected (2010-35)
Observed (2010-15)
Observed growth suggests Triangle may outpace projections
Share of state projected vs. observed growth for select North Carolina metro areas
Data Sources: NC OSBM, U.S. Census Bureau

16. Concentration of jobs in urban centers drives population shifts
Share of state employment in Mecklenburg, Wake, and Durham, Q2 2005 vs. Q2 2015
Data Source: QCEW, BLS
13.7%
10.7%
4.4%
15.6%
12.6%
4.7%
Mecklenburg Wake Durham
2005 (Q2) 2015 (Q2)

17. -100,000 0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000
Mecklenburg
Wake
Guilford
Durham
Forsyth
Residents who Work Elsewhere
Resident Workers
Non-Resident Workers
Data Source: 2009-2013 5-Year American Community Survey
More than 40% of NC workers work in these 5 counties
Net commuting patterns, 2009-2013

18. Average commute to work:
24minutes
Data Source: 2014 American Community Survey

19. Data Source: 2014 American Community Survey
54,700 public transit
91,000 bike or walk
209,100 work at home
Non-car commuting
(among 4.4 million workers)

20. 152,000
373,000
549,000
994,000
Under 18 18 to 34 35 to 64 65+
Half of state’s 2 million new residents in next 20 years will be 65+
Projected NC population growth by age, 2015-2035
Data Source: NC OSBM

21. 21.4%
13%
20.6%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035
PopulationProportion65+
Year
US NC
Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, NC OSBM
By 2035, more than 1 in 5 NC residents will be 65 or older
Projected population share 65+, NC vs. US, 2010-2035

22. 54 counties projected to have fewer children by 2035
Counties with projected declines in child population (0-17), 2015-2035
Data Source: NC OSBM

23. 42 counties projected to have fewer young adults by 2035
Counties with projected declines in young adult population (18-34), 2015-2035
Data Source: NC OSBM

24. 53 counties projected to have fewer working age adults by 2035
Counties with projected declines in prime working age adult population (35-64), 2015-2035
Data Source: NC OSBM

25. Only one county projected to have fewer older adults by 2035
Counties with projected declines in older adult population (65+), 2015-2035
Data Source: NC OSBM

26. Greatest
( -1927)
Silent
(1928-1945)
Boomers
(1946-1964)
Gen X
(1965-1981)
Millennial
(1982-2004)
Gen Z
(2005- )
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035
Proportionof18+Population
Year
Data Source: NC OSBM
Baby Boomers are currently largest adult generation in NC
Generational composition of North Carolina's 18+ population, 2010-2035

27. Greatest
( -1927)
Silent
(1928-1945)
Boomers
(1946-1964)
Gen X
(1965-1981)
31% Millennial
in 2017
Millennial
(1982-2004)
Gen Z
(2005- )
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035
Proportionof18+Population
Year
Data Source: NC OSBM
Millennial adults will outnumber Boomers in NC by 2017
Generational composition of North Carolina's 18+ population, 2010-2035

28. Source: Carolina Demography projections using ACS, CPS, and NC OSBM data
+793K homeowners
+1.1M households
Housing Unit Demand
2015-2035

29. North Carolina’s appeal evident in growth in vacation homes
Vacation home change by NC census tract, 2000 to 2010
Data Source: Carolina Demography
Loss of 100 or more
-99 to -5
-4 to 4
5 to 99
100 to 249
250 or more

30. We help organizations make
data-driven decisions.
DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH AND CONSULTING
Contact us:
demography@unc.edu | (919) 962-6151
Learn more:
http://demography.cpc.unc.edu | @ncdemography