Statehood Comparison
Geography

Delaware vs North Carolina: Statehood

Delaware became a state before North Carolina.

Delaware flag
Delaware
DE • South
Winner
December 7, 1787 (#1)
When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.
North Carolina flag
North Carolina
NC • South
November 21, 1789 (#12)
When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.

Visual Comparison

Delaware December 7, 1787 (#1)
North Carolina November 21, 1789 (#12)

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for statehood.

Delaware #1 · December 7, 1787 (#1)
North Carolina #12 · November 21, 1789 (#12)
Best Worst

10 Best States — Statehood

Lower is better
#1 Delaware flag Delaware
December 7, 1787 (#1)
#2 Pennsylvania flag Pennsylvania
December 12, 1787 (#2)
#3 New Jersey flag New Jersey
December 18, 1787 (#3)
#4 Georgia flag Georgia
January 2, 1788 (#4)
#5 Connecticut flag Connecticut
January 9, 1788 (#5)
#6 Massachusetts flag Massachusetts
February 6, 1788 (#6)
#7 Maryland flag Maryland
April 28, 1788 (#7)
#8 South Carolina flag South Carolina
May 23, 1788 (#8)
#9 New Hampshire flag New Hampshire
June 21, 1788 (#9)
#10 Virginia flag Virginia
June 25, 1788 (#10)
Selected states
#12 North Carolina flag North Carolina
November 21, 1789 (#12)

Delaware ranks 1st and North Carolina ranks 12th nationally for statehood.

Related Context

Historical Context

The statehood order mirrors westward expansion and regional settlement history.

What This Means

Delaware vs North Carolina: Statehood in context

Delaware has a statehood of December 7, 1787 (#1), compared with November 21, 1789 (#12) in North Carolina. When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.

Delaware
December 7, 1787 (#1)
North Carolina
November 21, 1789 (#12)

People Also Ask

Delaware vs North Carolina Statehood — Common Questions

Q What is Delaware's statehood?

Delaware's statehood is December 7, 1787 (#1).

Q What is North Carolina's statehood?

North Carolina's statehood is November 21, 1789 (#12).

Q Which state has a lower statehood — Delaware or North Carolina?

Delaware became a state before North Carolina.

Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.