| Free, enslaved, and total population of North Carolina and the United States, 1790–1860 | 
| Year | North Carolina | United States | 
| 1790 | Total: 395,005 Free: 293,180 Enslaved: 100,571 | Total: 3,929,214 Free: 3,231,533 Enslaved: 697,681 | 
| 1800 | Total: 478,103 Free: 344,684 Enslaved: 133,296 | Total: 5,308,483 Free: 4,414,881 Enslaved: 893,602 | 
| 1810 | Total: 555,500 Free: 386,676 Enslaved: 168,824 | Total: 7,239,881 Free: 6,048,819 Enslaved: 1,191,362 | 
| 1820 | Total: 638,829 Free: 433,812 Enslaved: 205,017 | Total: 9,638,453 Free: 8,100,431 Enslaved: 1,538,022 | 
| 1830 | Total: 737,987 Free: 492,386 Enslaved: 245,601 | Total: 12,860,702 Free: 10,851,659 Enslaved: 2,009,043 | 
| 1840 | Total: 753,419 Free: 507,602 Enslaved: 245,817 | Total: 17,063,353 Free: 14,575,998 Enslaved: 2,487,355 | 
| 1850 | Total: 869,039 Free: 560,491 Enslaved: 288,548 | Total: 23,191,876 Free: 19,987,563 Enslaved: 3,204,313 | 
| 1860 | Total: 992,622 Free: 661,563 Enslaved: 331,059 | Total: 31,443,321 Free: 27,489,561 Enslaved: 3,953,760 |