A coastal Carolina reference
North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Statistics
Useful numbers for writers, local businesses, and anyone keeping an eye on the great North Carolina habit of getting outside.
Last updated September 25, 2026. Source years are shown with every stat.The quick read
The coast, the woods, and a mighty lot of people out in them.
North Carolina’s outdoor economy reaches well beyond a day on the water. It supports makers, outfitters, retailers, parks, guides, hospitality businesses, and the local places that give a trip its character.
This page gathers recent public figures in one steady place. Every number links to its original source, carries its reporting year, and uses a stable anchor so it is easy to cite without hunting through the weeds.
North Carolina by the numbers
Citable statistics
These figures are reported by state agencies and official tourism research. Fishing figures are survey estimates, as noted by the reporting agency.
$16.2B
Outdoor recreation value added
Outdoor recreation contributed $16.2 billion in value added to North Carolina in 2023.
Source: North Carolina Outdoor Economy Office, 2023145,433
Outdoor recreation jobs
The state counted 145,433 outdoor recreation jobs in 2023.
Source: North Carolina Outdoor Economy Office, 20232.1%
Share of state GDP
Outdoor recreation represented 2.1% of North Carolina’s GDP in 2023.
Source: North Carolina Outdoor Economy Office, 20239.6%
One-year outdoor economy growth
North Carolina’s outdoor recreation economy grew 9.6% from 2022 to 2023.
Source: North Carolina Outdoor Economy Office, 2023$36.7B
Visitor spending
Domestic and international visitors spent $36.7 billion in North Carolina in 2024.
Source: Visit North Carolina, 2024230,338
Direct tourism jobs
Direct tourism employment in North Carolina reached 230,338 jobs in 2024.
Source: Visit North Carolina, 202440M
Person-trips in the state
About 40 million person-trips were taken in North Carolina during 2024.
Source: Visit North Carolina Visitor Profile, 202420.1M+
State park visits
North Carolina State Parks welcomed more than 20.1 million visitors in 2023.
Source: North Carolina State Parks, 202318.57M
Coastal recreational fishing trips
North Carolina recorded an estimated 18,570,731 marine recreational fishing trips in 2024.
Source: North Carolina Coastal Angling Program, 202457.06M
Fish released by recreational anglers
North Carolina’s marine recreational anglers released an estimated 57,057,195 finfish in 2024.
Source: North Carolina Coastal Angling Program, 2024Method and sources
How to read these numbers.
This is a reference page, not a new study. It brings together the latest available figures from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Visit North Carolina, North Carolina State Parks, and the North Carolina Coastal Angling Program. The source year belongs to each statistic because the reporting calendars are not all the same.
For tourism data, Visit North Carolina’s figures cover domestic and international visitor spending and direct tourism employment. Its visitor-profile estimates describe person-trips and traveler behavior. The Coastal Angling Program states that recreational fishing trip and catch figures are estimates based on surveys, rather than a literal tally of every cast and cooler.
- North Carolina Outdoor Economy Office, outdoor recreation value added, jobs, GDP share, and growth, 2023.
- Visit North Carolina tourism release, statewide visitor spending and direct tourism employment, 2024.
- Visit North Carolina Visitor Profile, person-trips, 2024.
- North Carolina State Parks, park visitation, 2023.
- North Carolina Coastal Angling Program, marine recreational fishing trips and released finfish, 2024.
Cite this page
North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Statistics
Shipwreck Cargo. Updated September 25, 2026. shipwreckcargo.com/north-carolina-outdoor-recreation-statistics