Percentage of the population under the age of 18
As the Charlotte area grows and changes, neighborhoods can experience large demographic changes over short periods of time. The youth population is especially dynamic, and also tends to be more diverse. Shifts in the youth population can change demand for services such as schools, child care, out-of-school time programs, and family support programs, and increase demand for certain housing types and retail goods.
The youth population in Mecklenburg County was 23.8% in 2019, similar to North Carolina (22.9%) and the United States (22.6%). Between 2000 and 2010, the youth population in the Charlotte metro area grew by almost 33%, the 4th highest of the nation's largest metros. The pace of growth slowed somewhat during the economic recession, but overall the number of children is continuing to increase. Key regional factors that influence growth in the youth population include economic growth, housing affordability, lower population density, and growing immigrant populations.
Note: In order to make equal comparisons to the smaller areas, the values for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and the United States in the previous paragraph are also from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. While more current 1-year estimates are available for the larger areas, it is important to use the most precise and most comparable 5-year estimates. Click here to learn more on the difference between 1-and 5-year estimates.
There were 14,746 babies born in Mecklenburg County in 2017, a birth rate of 14.2 per 1,000 people, down from a high of 17.3 per 1,000 people in 2006.
Population - Older Adult
Population Density
Age of Residents
Proximity to School-Age Care
Proximity to Early Care and Education
Population under 18 divided by total population
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey. The Census collects ACS data from only a small sample of households every month. For reliable small-area estimates, the Census compiles five years of ACS data, which are used in the Quality of Life Explorer, 5-Year Estimates: Table B01001
| Resource | Learn More and Take Action |
|---|---|
| Regional Indicators Project - The Council for Children’s Rights | Explore data and stories on the health, safety and education of Mecklenburg County's children. |
| Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Find out more about the county's public school system, including student assignment maps. |
| Services for Children | Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services offers multiple services for children and caregivers for a wide range of needs, including food and nutrition, health insurance and care, adoption and child protective services. |
| share CHARLOTTE | Connect to local nonprofits that support children and families. |
| Get Involved | Make a difference for children by volunteering with members of the Children's Alliance. |