North Carolina remains one of the fastest-growing states in the country, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates released this week. Despite a nationwide slowdown in population growth last year, North Carolina grew by nearly 150,000 people, making it the state with third-largest total population increase after Texas and Florida. North Carolina was also ranked the No. 1 state for domestic (state-to-state) migration. North Carolina’s population was 11.2 million as of July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau.