How many counties are there in North Carolina? As of 2024, there are a total of 100 counties in the state of North Carolina. Among them, Chowan County is the oldest one (established in 1668) while Avery County is the youngest (established in 1911). With population of 1,034,290, Mecklenburg County is the most populated. The biggest county by land area is Dare County (4,046 km²) and the smallest is Clay County (572 km²).
