Wayne County Demographics

A map of Wayne County's Population by Race

Wayne County, North Carolina had a population of 117,333 in 2020. It was 51.3% White, 30.1% Black, 1.3% Asian, 12.7% Hispanic, 0.7% Native American/Other, and 3.8% Multiracial. This map presents the population of Wayne County, with one dot drawn for each person counted in the 2020 Census, color-coded by race.

Wayne County is the 24th most populous county of the 100 counties in North Carolina.

Wayne County's White Population

60,199 residents of Wayne County identify as White, or 51.3%. This makes the White share of the population of Wayne County slightly less than the White share of the population of North Carolina (60.5% White). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Wayne County is ranked #77 in terms of White residents as a share of the population.

Wayne County is more White than neighboring Greene County (47.2% White), Wilson County (45.8% White), Lenoir County (48.2% White), and Duplin County (51.2% White). Wayne County is less White than neighboring Johnston County (63.2% White).

Wayne County's Black Population

35,329 residents of Wayne County identify as Black, or 30.1%. This makes the Black share of the population of Wayne County slightly larger than the Black share of the population of North Carolina (20.2% Black). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Wayne County is ranked #24 in terms of Black residents as a share of the population.

Wayne County is more Black than neighboring Johnston County (15.3% Black), and Duplin County (23.5% Black). Wayne County is less Black than neighboring Greene County (35.2% Black), Wilson County (37.9% Black), and Lenoir County (40% Black).

Wayne County's Asian Population

1,542 residents of Wayne County identify as Asian, or 1.3%. This makes the Asian share of the population of Wayne County roughly similar to the Asian share of the population of North Carolina (3.3% Asian). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Wayne County is ranked #27 in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population.

Wayne County is more Asian than neighboring Greene County (0.2% Asian), Wilson County (1.1% Asian), Lenoir County (0.6% Asian), Johnston County (0.8% Asian), and Duplin County (0.3% Asian).

Wayne County's Hispanic Population

14,927 residents of Wayne County identify as Hispanic, or 12.7%. This makes the Hispanic share of the population of Wayne County roughly similar to the Hispanic share of the population of North Carolina (10.7% Hispanic). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Wayne County is ranked #17 in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population.

Wayne County is more Hispanic than neighboring Wilson County (11.5% Hispanic), and Lenoir County (7.9% Hispanic). Wayne County is less Hispanic than neighboring Greene County (14.4% Hispanic), Johnston County (15.9% Hispanic), and Duplin County (22.2% Hispanic).

Wayne County's Native American/Other Population

860 residents of Wayne County identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other, or 0.7%. This makes the Native American/Other share of the population of Wayne County roughly similar to the Native American/Other share of the population of North Carolina (1.5% Native American/Other). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Wayne County is ranked #52 in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population.

Wayne County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Wilson County (0.6% Native American/Other), Lenoir County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Duplin County (0.6% Native American/Other). Wayne County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Greene County (0.8% Native American/Other), and Johnston County (0.9% Native American/Other).

Wayne County's Multiracial Population

4,476 residents of Wayne County identify as Multiracial, or 3.8%. This makes the Multiracial share of the population of Wayne County roughly similar to the Multiracial share of the population of North Carolina (3.9% Multiracial). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Wayne County is ranked #37 in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population.

Wayne County is more Multiracial than neighboring Greene County (2.2% Multiracial), Wilson County (3.1% Multiracial), Lenoir County (2.8% Multiracial), and Duplin County (2.2% Multiracial). Wayne County is less Multiracial than neighboring Johnston County (3.9% Multiracial).

Source: 2020 Census State Redistricting Data and Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.