Why did North Carolina have fewer slaves than the other southern colonies?

North Carolina had fewer slaves than other southern colonies primarily due to its less established plantation economy, which was less reliant on large-scale agriculture. The region's geography and smaller landholdings favored small farms that did not require as many enslaved laborers. Additionally, the colony's initial settlement patterns attracted more small-scale farmers and less wealthy individuals, leading to a slower growth of the slave population compared to larger plantation economies in states like Virginia and South Carolina.