Jayne Kirkpatrick, Director, Public Affairs

Prepared by: John Boyette, Public Affairs Specialist

 

For more information: Mitchell Silver, Chief Planning and Development Officer,

919-996-2625

 

May 29, 2013

 

Raleigh’s Population Continues to Grow

 

The Capital City’s population grew by 4.8 percent during the two-year period from 2010 to 2012. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 population estimates released last week, the number of people who call Raleigh home totals 423,179, an increase of 19,232 people in the last two years.

 

Among cities and towns with populations of more than 50,000 Raleigh continues to be one of the top five fastest-growing cities in North Carolina. Raleigh’s 4.8 percent population growth from 2010-2012 was exceeded only by Cary’s 7.7 percent growth and Charlotte’s 5.4 percent rate. Durham also had a growth rate of 4.8 percent for 2010-2012 with Concord following at 3.7 percent, according to the Census Bureau.

 

Raleigh has the second-largest population in the state, behind Charlotte’s 775,202. Rounding out the top five largest cities in North Carolina are Greensboro, 277,080; Durham, 239,358 and Winston-Salem at 234,349, the Census Bureau said. Raleigh is the 42^nd largest city in the nation population-wise.

 

Only two of North Carolina’s largest cities lost population from 2010-2012, according to the Census Bureau: Jacksonville, a drop of 1.3 percent or 935 people; and Rocky Mount, a decline of 335 persons or 0.6 percent.