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What are the largest counties in Minnesota?

Hennepin County is the largest county in Minnesota, with 1,284,784 residents in 2025 (Census PEP). Ramsey County (541,623) and Dakota County (457,710) come next.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 87 ranked Minnesota counties

Minnesota counties ranked by population
RankCountyResidents 2025Change 2020–25
1Hennepin County1,284,784+0.2%
2Ramsey County541,623−1.8%
3Dakota County457,710+3.9%
4Anoka County381,605+4.7%
5Washington County286,895+6.9%
6St. Louis County200,518+0.2%
7Olmsted County166,731+2.3%
8Stearns County164,110+3.6%
9Scott County159,017+5.1%
10Wright County157,559+11.1%
11Carver County114,379+6.6%
12Sherburne County104,194+6.8%
13Blue Earth County70,634+2.1%
14Rice County69,939+4.2%
15Crow Wing County69,132+4.3%
16Clay County67,734+3.6%
17Otter Tail County61,041+1.6%
18Chisago County59,142+4.3%
19Winona County50,523+1.7%
20Goodhue County48,195+1.3%
21Beltrami County47,055+1.8%
22Itasca County45,404+0.8%
23Kandiyohi County44,720+2.3%
24Isanti County44,386+7.3%
25Benton County41,744+0.9%
26Mower County40,971+2.3%
27Douglas County40,120+2.6%
28Steele County37,464+0.2%
29Carlton County36,711+1.4%
30McLeod County36,631−0.3%
31Becker County35,497+0.9%
32Morrison County34,620+1.9%
33Nicollet County34,273−0.7%
34Cass County31,430+4.2%
35Polk County30,545−1.8%
36Pine County30,472+5.5%
37Freeborn County30,440−1.5%
38Le Sueur County29,453+2.9%
39Mille Lacs County27,753+4.8%
40Todd County26,060+3.0%
41Lyon County25,684+1.0%
42Brown County25,517−1.5%
43Meeker County23,603+0.7%
44Hubbard County22,369+4.6%
45Nobles County22,338+0.6%
46Fillmore County21,540+1.4%
47Wabasha County21,537+0.7%
48Dodge County21,376+2.3%
49Martin County19,440−2.8%
50Waseca County18,688−1.5%
51Houston County18,400−2.4%
52Kanabec County16,628+3.6%
53Aitkin County16,252+3.5%
54Sibley County15,356+3.6%
55Redwood County15,265−1.0%
56Roseau County15,246−0.3%
57Wadena County14,388+1.9%
58Renville County14,356−2.3%
59Faribault County13,888−0.1%
60Pennington County13,686−1.8%
61Chippewa County12,406−1.6%
62Koochiching County11,587−3.7%
63Watonwan County11,459+2.0%
64Pope County11,420+0.8%
65Cottonwood County11,405−1.0%
66Lake County10,746−1.6%
67Jackson County9,857−1.3%
68Swift County9,763−0.4%
69Stevens County9,747+0.8%
70Rock County9,524−1.7%
71Yellow Medicine County9,477−0.2%
72Pipestone County9,260−1.7%
73Marshall County8,798−2.5%
74Clearwater County8,647+1.0%
75Murray County7,942−2.9%
76Lac qui Parle County6,704+0.2%
77Norman County6,336−1.6%
78Wilkin County6,288−2.9%
79Grant County6,085−0.1%
80Lincoln County5,583−0.7%
81Cook County5,522−1.4%
82Mahnomen County5,153−4.1%
83Big Stone County5,054−2.0%
84Kittson County4,031−3.7%
85Red Lake County3,940+0.1%
86Lake of the Woods County3,770+0.0%
87Traverse County3,130−6.8%

How this is ranked

The Census Bureau's July 1 resident population estimates for 2025, largest first, with the change since 2020. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents are not ranked. Areas without an estimate for the same year as the others are not ranked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built.

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Questions

What is the largest county in Minnesota?

Hennepin County is the largest county in Minnesota, with 1,284,784 residents in 2025 (Census PEP). Ramsey County (541,623) and Dakota County (457,710) come next.

How is this ranking calculated?

The Census Bureau's July 1 resident population estimates for 2025, largest first, with the change since 2020. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents are not ranked. Areas without an estimate for the same year as the others are not ranked.

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