Polish Population in North Carolina by City : 2025 Ranking & Insights

The Polish population in North Carolina totals 148,819, according to recent U.S. Census estimates. Leading cities include Charlotte (12,965), followed by Raleigh (8,856) and Durham (5,128), each hosting visible segments of the community. While these urban centers anchor much of the population, the statewide total points to a broader presence in unincorporated areas and smaller towns beyond major city boundaries. The analysis below explores how Polish residents are distributed across North Carolina''s urban and rural landscape.

Top 5 cities with the largest Polish population in North Carolina

View All
  • 1
    Charlotte
    Polish population in Charlotte is 12,965
    1.46% of Charlotte population is Polish
  • 2
    Raleigh
    Polish population in Raleigh is 8,856
    1.88% of Raleigh population is Polish
  • 3
    Durham
    Polish population in Durham is 5,128
    1.78% of Durham population is Polish
  • 4
    Cary
    Polish population in Cary is 4,066
    2.30% of Cary population is Polish
  • 5
    Wilmington
    Polish population in Wilmington is 2,612
    2.20% of Wilmington population is Polish

Overview of Polish population in North Carolina

  • Population Count and Percentage: American Community Survey documents North Carolina with 148,819 Polish residents (1.4% of 10.6 million total state population), ranking the state at the 66th percentile nationally among U.S. jurisdictions for Polish demographic representation.
  • Comparison to State and National Averages: U.S. Census surveys show North Carolina's Polish demographic representation of 1.4% remains below the national average of 2.6%, positioning the state below typical U.S. demographic distribution patterns.
  • Share of Total National Population: Official American Community Survey document North Carolina's 148,819 Polish residents constitute 1.8% of the nation's total Polish population of 8.5 million, providing the state with a measurable but modest share of the national demographic community.
  • Population Density per Square Mile: U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey data show North Carolina maintains 3.1 Polish Americans per square mile compared to the national average of 2.4, indicating higher demographic concentration relative to national averages.
  • Need additional overviews? Extended research data available for purchase and license. ➔

419 Cities in North Carolina Ranked by Polish Population

View Methodology
American Community Survey data [1] show Polish population in North Carolina present in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham, along with several other incorporated cities reporting non-zero populations. The table below provides broader statistics, including total population figures, density measures, and demographic distributions based on current ACS data for all incorporated cities included in this analysis*.
cities in North Carolina ranked by Polish population count
Rank by Polish Population
City
Polish Population
% of Total City Population
% of Total North Carolina Polish Population
5 Year Rank Trend
1 Charlotte 12,965 1.46% 8.71%
2 Raleigh 8,856 1.88% 5.95%
3 Durham 5,128 1.78% 3.45%
4 Cary 4,066 2.30% 2.73%
5 Wilmington 2,612 2.20% 1.76%
6 Greensboro 2,390 0.80% 1.61%
7 Huntersville 2,252 3.61% 1.51%
8 2,190 1.04% 1.47%
9 2,021 0.81% 1.36%
10 1,993 2.94% 1.34%
11 1,860 1.97% 1.25%
12 1,835 3.57% 1.23%
13 1,689 2.82% 1.13%
14 1,446 4.83% 0.97%
15 1,352 2.64% 0.91%
16 1,276 2.94% 0.86%
17 1,239 1.16% 0.83%
18 1,188 1.62% 0.80%
19 1,183 2.88% 0.79%
20 1,017 0.88% 0.68%
21 1,004 1.13% 0.67%
22 912 6.14% 0.61%
23 798 2.49% 0.54%
24 795 2.11% 0.53%
25 770 1.76% 0.52%
26 765 0.94% 0.51%
27 750 1.33% 0.50%
28 749 2.85% 0.50%
29 672 2.21% 0.45%
30 612 2.84% 0.41%
31 591 1.66% 0.40%
32 577 1.83% 0.39%
33 546 3.03% 0.37%
34 514 4.54% 0.35%
35 503 0.86% 0.34%
36 461 2.36% 0.31%
37 455 2.83% 0.31%
38 420 1.29% 0.28%
39 417 4.01% 0.28%
40 398 4.44% 0.27%
41 386 1.41% 0.26%
42 381 1.36% 0.26%
43 380 3.94% 0.26%
44 371 1.90% 0.25%
45 366 2.42% 0.25%
45 366 9.12% 0.25%
46 360 2.18% 0.24%
47 357 1.89% 0.24%
48 344 5.16% 0.23%
49 343 1.62% 0.23%
50 329 4.30% 0.22%
51 317 4.59% 0.21%
52 308 1.14% 0.21%
53 304 1.41% 0.20%
54 298 2.18% 0.20%
55 293 2.66% 0.20%
56 292 12.47% 0.20%
57 277 0.78% 0.19%
58 275 2.59% 0.18%
59 270 1.64% 0.18%
60 264 4.25% 0.18%
61 260 8.22% 0.17%
61 260 2.91% 0.17%
62 256 1.90% 0.17%
63 247 5.10% 0.17%
64 242 5.82% 0.16%
65 240 3.11% 0.16%
66 237 0.44% 0.16%
67 231 7.41% 0.16%
68 229 3.50% 0.15%
69 225 1.48% 0.15%
70 222 1.27% 0.15%
70 222 2.50% 0.15%
71 221 1.15% 0.15%
72 212 1.13% 0.14%
73 208 5.31% 0.14%
74 207 3.48% 0.14%
75 205 4.63% 0.14%
76 200 2.15% 0.13%
77 199 1.01% 0.13%
78 188 0.56% 0.13%
79 185 2.33% 0.12%
80 175 0.98% 0.12%
80 175 4.05% 0.12%
81 174 0.97% 0.12%
82 165 2.25% 0.11%
83 156 1.61% 0.10%
84 153 1.33% 0.10%
85 151 1.48% 0.10%
86 150 1.13% 0.10%
86 150 0.49% 0.10%
87 147 3.19% 0.10%
88 146 0.88% 0.10%
89 144 0.82% 0.10%
90 141 0.64% 0.09%
91 140 1.17% 0.09%
92 138 0.70% 0.09%
93 134 0.49% 0.09%
94 130 1.22% 0.09%
95 124 2.31% 0.08%
96 121 3.28% 0.08%
97 118 0.25% 0.08%
98 117 5.04% 0.08%
98 117 1.02% 0.08%
98 117 0.40% 0.08%
99 116 1.42% 0.08%
100 115 2.00% 0.08%
101 113 1.33% 0.08%
102 112 1.32% 0.08%
103 108 0.72% 0.07%
103 108 1.36% 0.07%
104 101 0.66% 0.07%
105 97 1.09% 0.07%
105 97 1.37% 0.07%
106 96 4.02% 0.06%
107 95 0.88% 0.06%
108 94 0.34% 0.06%
108 94 0.96% 0.06%
109 93 3.79% 0.06%
110 92 3.98% 0.06%
110 92 3.18% 0.06%
111 90 2.67% 0.06%
112 89 0.77% 0.06%
113 83 2.98% 0.06%
114 81 0.42% 0.05%
115 80 2.15% 0.05%
115 80 1.33% 0.05%
116 77 2.55% 0.05%
116 77 2.25% 0.05%
116 77 0.66% 0.05%
117 76 1.65% 0.05%
118 74 3.12% 0.05%
119 73 1.19% 0.05%
119 73 1.63% 0.05%
120 72 0.92% 0.05%
120 72 3.02% 0.05%
121 71 1.59% 0.05%
122 69 8.30% 0.05%
123 68 2.53% 0.05%
123 68 0.47% 0.05%
123 68 0.86% 0.05%
123 68 1.64% 0.05%
123 68 2.54% 0.05%
124 67 4.50% 0.05%
124 67 0.93% 0.05%
125 65 1.41% 0.04%
126 63 1.24% 0.04%
127 62 1.95% 0.04%
127 62 1.96% 0.04%
127 62 1.34% 0.04%
128 59 0.74% 0.04%
128 59 1.30% 0.04%
129 57 1.15% 0.04%
130 56 1.63% 0.04%
131 50 0.60% 0.03%
131 50 2.40% 0.03%
132 49 0.89% 0.03%
132 49 1.20% 0.03%
133 47 1.51% 0.03%
134 45 1.73% 0.03%
134 45 1.07% 0.03%
135 44 3.24% 0.03%
135 44 1.34% 0.03%
135 44 0.55% 0.03%
135 44 0.97% 0.03%
136 43 5.52% 0.03%
137 42 2.46% 0.03%
137 42 0.36% 0.03%
138 41 2.04% 0.03%
138 41 1.12% 0.03%
138 41 0.88% 0.03%
139 40 2.34% 0.03%
139 40 0.59% 0.03%
140 39 0.78% 0.03%
141 38 1.55% 0.03%
141 38 1.17% 0.03%
142 36 2.82% 0.02%
142 36 0.24% 0.02%
143 35 0.41% 0.02%
143 35 0.75% 0.02%
144 34 1.42% 0.02%
144 34 0.89% 0.02%
144 34 1.00% 0.02%
145 32 0.71% 0.02%
146 30 0.92% 0.02%
146 30 1.48% 0.02%
146 30 3.23% 0.02%
147 29 1.21% 0.02%
147 29 0.86% 0.02%
147 29 1.08% 0.02%
148 28 1.51% 0.02%
148 28 1.05% 0.02%
148 28 0.58% 0.02%
148 28 0.60% 0.02%
149 27 1.56% 0.02%
150 26 1.40% 0.02%
150 26 1.39% 0.02%
150 26 1.54% 0.02%
151 25 0.57% 0.02%
151 25 0.97% 0.02%
151 25 0.66% 0.02%
151 25 0.91% 0.02%
152 24 1.29% 0.02%
152 24 0.92% 0.02%
152 24 0.65% 0.02%
152 24 0.47% 0.02%
153 23 0.38% 0.02%
153 23 1.73% 0.02%
153 23 2.16% 0.02%
153 23 0.59% 0.02%
154 22 0.53% 0.01%
154 22 1.10% 0.01%
154 22 1.00% 0.01%
154 22 2.76% 0.01%
154 22 1.39% 0.01%
154 22 1.59% 0.01%
154 22 0.82% 0.01%
155 21 1.59% 0.01%
155 21 1.01% 0.01%
156 20 0.77% 0.01%
157 19 0.93% 0.01%
157 19 0.47% 0.01%
157 19 0.54% 0.01%
157 19 0.25% 0.01%
157 19 2.95% 0.01%
157 19 0.97% 0.01%
158 18 0.84% 0.01%
158 18 2.72% 0.01%
158 18 0.68% 0.01%
158 18 0.60% 0.01%
159 17 1.73% 0.01%
159 17 0.49% 0.01%
159 17 1.62% 0.01%
159 17 0.46% 0.01%
159 17 0.79% 0.01%
159 17 0.99% 0.01%
160 16 1.04% 0.01%
160 16 0.73% 0.01%
160 16 0.36% 0.01%
160 16 0.62% 0.01%
160 16 0.57% 0.01%
160 16 2.02% 0.01%
161 15 1.38% 0.01%
161 15 1.85% 0.01%
161 15 0.54% 0.01%
161 15 2.05% 0.01%
162 14 0.25% 0.01%
162 14 1.65% 0.01%
162 14 0.84% 0.01%
162 14 0.28% 0.01%
162 14 1.63% 0.01%
163 13 0.26% 0.01%
163 13 0.97% 0.01%
163 13 0.30% 0.01%
163 13 1.92% 0.01%
163 13 0.39% 0.01%
163 13 0.35% 0.01%
164 12 0.84% 0.01%
165 11 0.56% 0.01%
165 11 0.47% 0.01%
165 11 1.09% 0.01%
165 11 0.23% 0.01%
165 11 0.39% 0.01%
166 10 0.26% 0.01%
166 10 0.22% 0.01%
166 10 0.64% 0.01%
166 10 0.82% 0.01%
166 10 0.41% 0.01%
166 10 0.09% 0.01%
166 10 0.21% 0.01%
167 9 0.77% 0.01%
167 9 0.95% 0.01%
168 8 1.00% 0.01%
168 8 1.27% 0.01%
168 8 0.17% 0.01%
168 8 0.11% 0.01%
168 8 0.59% 0.01%
168 8 1.14% 0.01%
168 8 0.50% 0.01%
168 8 0.34% 0.01%
168 8 0.53% 0.01%
168 8 0.19% 0.01%
169 7 0.14% 0.00%
169 7 1.39% 0.00%
169 7 0.66% 0.00%
169 7 0.78% 0.00%
169 7 0.27% 0.00%
169 7 0.61% 0.00%
169 7 0.08% 0.00%
169 7 0.34% 0.00%
169 7 0.26% 0.00%
170 6 0.47% 0.00%
170 6 0.71% 0.00%
170 6 0.14% 0.00%
170 6 0.29% 0.00%
170 6 0.45% 0.00%
171 5 0.10% 0.00%
171 5 0.18% 0.00%
171 5 0.97% 0.00%
171 5 0.72% 0.00%
171 5 0.16% 0.00%
171 5 0.16% 0.00%
171 5 0.35% 0.00%
171 5 0.52% 0.00%
172 4 0.18% 0.00%
172 4 0.37% 0.00%
172 4 0.17% 0.00%
172 4 0.67% 0.00%
172 4 0.48% 0.00%
172 4 0.26% 0.00%
173 3 0.37% 0.00%
173 3 0.32% 0.00%
173 3 0.20% 0.00%
173 3 0.61% 0.00%
173 3 0.26% 0.00%
173 3 0.27% 0.00%
173 3 0.52% 0.00%
174 2 0.14% 0.00%
174 2 0.06% 0.00%
174 2 0.34% 0.00%
174 2 0.38% 0.00%
174 2 0.17% 0.00%
174 2 0.31% 0.00%
174 2 0.13% 0.00%
174 2 0.15% 0.00%
174 2 0.34% 0.00%
174 2 0.08% 0.00%
175 1 0.09% 0.00%
175 1 0.17% 0.00%
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
176 0 - -
Need the complete table? Full rankings and the underlying data sets for California and other locations are available for purchase or license.

Methodology

This ranking list is based on data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The ACS is one of the most reliable sources for understanding population trends across different locations, and it provides estimates for various racial and ethnic groups at city, county, state and all geography levels down to the Census block group.
This list ranks city in North Carolina by their Polish population, using the most recent ACS data available.

How the Census defines Polish population

The U.S. Census Bureau allows people to self-identify their ancestry, meaning individuals can write upto ancestries when responding to the survey. In this ranking, we include everyone who identifies as having Polish ancestry, whether alone or in combination with another ancestry.
Here are a few important things to know about how ancestry is reported:
  • Some people identify as Polish alone, while others identify as Polish along with another race (such as Polish and German).
  • We’ve used the “Polish alone or in any combination” category unless noted otherwise, which gives a broader picture of the Polish population in each area.

How We Ranked the Data

This ranking is based on the total number of people who identified as Polish alone or in combination in city. To provide additional context, we’ve also included two key percentages:
  1. % of Total City Population – This shows what percentage of the total state population identifies as Polish .
  2. % of Total North Carolina Polish Population – This tells us how much of the entire U.S. Polish population lives in that state.
To keep things simple, all population numbers have been rounded to the nearest whole number, and percentages are rounded to one decimal place. Because of rounding, some percentages may not add up to exactly 100%.

Things to Keep in Mind

Like all survey-based data, ACS estimates come with some limitations. Here are a few things to be aware of:
  • In places with very small Polish populations, the numbers may not be reported at all due to privacy protections or sampling variability in the survey.
  • Since the ACS is based on a sample, the numbers are estimates, not exact counts. That means they may slightly differ from other sources like the decennial U.S. Census.
  • City that don’t have any reported Polish population are not included in the ranking but are listed separately below for reference.
This ranking is meant to provide a clear, data-driven look at where Polish populations are most concentrated while keeping the numbers easy to understand.

Sources

  1. 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.
  2. 2023.