Which counties in Georgia are people leaving?

41 of the 159 counties in Georgia had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025. Quitman County had the largest net outflow for its size: 18.2 per 1,000 residents (−41 people). In people, DeKalb County had the largest net outflow (−8,187).

Net out-migration does not always mean fewer residents: 21 of these 41 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

Data as of 2025 · updated November 5, 2026

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All 41 Georgia counties with net out-migration

Counties with the most out-migration in Georgia
Rank	County	Per 1,000 residents, 2025	Net movers 2025	Residents	Population change 2020–25
1	Quitman County	−18.2	−41	2,254	+1.3%
2	Clarke County	−16.0	−2,084	129,921	+1.0%
3	Atkinson County	−13.5	−114	8,454	+1.8%
4	Terrell County	−11.4	−99	8,656	−5.3%
5	Chattahoochee County	−11.3	−96	8,465	−10.6%
6	DeKalb County	−10.6	−8,187	774,394	+1.3%
7	Sumter County	−10.3	−296	28,801	−2.4%
8	Irwin County	−10.2	−92	9,020	−6.5%
9	Echols County	−9.8	−36	3,685	−0.8%
10	Brooks County	−8.8	−142	16,101	−1.0%
11	Crisp County	−8.4	−162	19,237	−4.1%
12	Macon County	−7.3	−86	11,756	−2.2%
13	Gwinnett County	−7.3	−7,392	1,018,099	+6.2%
14	Jefferson County	−7.2	−108	15,011	−4.2%
15	Washington County	−6.9	−135	19,453	−2.5%
16	Clayton County	−6.8	−2,020	297,471	−0.6%
17	Dooly County	−5.4	−60	11,156	−0.1%
18	Cobb County	−5.4	−4,260	793,345	+3.5%
19	Wilcox County	−4.7	−41	8,797	+0.1%
20	Seminole County	−4.6	−42	9,162	+0.4%
21	Clinch County	−4.4	−30	6,847	+1.8%
22	Turner County	−4.0	−36	8,983	−0.1%
23	Toombs County	−3.9	−107	27,545	+1.7%
24	Emanuel County	−3.8	−87	23,147	+1.2%
25	Jeff Davis County	−3.5	−54	15,219	+2.8%
26	Dougherty County	−3.5	−289	82,616	−3.0%
27	Richmond County	−3.2	−667	206,559	−0.0%
28	Muscogee County	−3.0	−609	202,171	−2.3%
29	Liberty County	−3.0	−209	70,313	+7.6%
30	Fulton County	−2.8	−3,057	1,098,791	+2.7%
31	Wilkinson County	−2.8	−24	8,650	−2.1%
32	McDuffie County	−2.6	−56	21,640	+0.1%
33	Calhoun County	−2.4	−13	5,413	−2.9%
34	Lowndes County	−1.1	−133	122,867	+3.7%
35	Worth County	−0.8	−17	20,059	−3.2%
36	Bibb County	−0.7	−115	157,556	+0.3%
37	Elbert County	−0.7	−14	20,072	+2.1%
38	Tift County	−0.6	−27	42,254	+2.1%
39	Tattnall County	−0.5	−12	24,376	+0.2%
40	Decatur County	−0.5	−14	29,432	−0.0%
41	Colquitt County	−0.3	−12	47,438	+3.3%

How this is ranked

Counties where more residents moved away to other U.S. counties than moved in (negative net domestic migration in the Census Bureau's population estimates for 2025), per 1,000 residents, largest net outflow first. Moves from and to other countries, births and deaths are not counted. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are left out, as on every ranking.

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. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

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Questions

Which county in Georgia are the most people leaving?

For its size, Quitman County: net domestic migration of −18.2 per 1,000 residents in 2025 (−41 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Clarke County (−16.0) and Atkinson County (−13.5).

How many counties in Georgia have more people moving out than in?

41 of the 159 counties in Georgia had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025.

Does net out-migration mean a county is losing population?

Not always. Net domestic migration counts moves between U.S. counties only; births, deaths and international migration also change the total. 21 of these 41 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

More county rankings for Georgia

Counties with the most out-migration in other states

Across the U.S.