In the 2000 census, North Carolina ranked 11th in population in the nation. It had 8,049,313 people, an increase of 21.4 percent over the 1990 population of 6,628,637. In 2004 North Carolina�s population density was 68 persons per sq km (175 per sq mi). North Carolina is less urbanized than most other states. In 2000 only 60 percent of the state�s inhabitants were classified as urban dwellers.

In 2000 blacks accounted for 21.6 percent of the state�s population. Whites comprised the largest share of the population, representing 72.1 percent of the people. Asians were 1.4 percent, Native Americans 1.2 percent, and those of mixed heritage or not reporting race were 3.6 percent. Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders numbered 3,983. Hispanics, who may be of any race, were 4.7 percent of the people.