The Charlotte area population is expected to soar by 50% by 2050. That growth is uneven
The ever-growing Charlotte region is home to 3 million people, but the population is projected to swell by more than 50% over the next 25 years, according to local researchers.
By 2050, some 4.6 million people will be living in Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance said in a report released Thursday. The growth of 1.6 million additional residents will require investments in infrastructure, housing and transportation, the organization added.
The numbers were provided by the group’s research team with data from the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management and the South Carolina Department of Revenue.
“Few regions can match our economy, professional opportunities, affordability, location, and quality of life,” researchers said in a statement.
Here are some of the highlights from findings.
Growth continues in Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg County is currently home to 1.2 million people. And more than 600,000 residents are projected to move to the county in the next 25 years — raising the total to 1.7 million by 2050.
Along with Mecklenburg, approximately 79% of the growth in the Charlotte region is expected to occur in the counties of York, S.C., (312,810 to 481,714 people), Union (269,572 to 481,612), and Iredell (212,583 to 335,056 ).
A historic jump
In the last 25 years, more than 962,000 people moved to the Charlotte region.
And for the next 20-plus years, a population increase of 1.3 million people is expected to be a historic increase for the area, according to researchers.
Keeping up
The projected growth supports the focus of the alliance’s legislative agenda, which includes transportation investments to improve connections, reduce traffic and support of development in high-growth areas.
Businesses can also take advantage of a population increase with market expansions and growing the workforce, according to the group.
More on the CLT Alliance
The organization is an advocate for businesses and growing the economy. It represents Charlotte and the 14-county, two-state region.
This story was originally published January 24, 2025 at 8:50 AM.
