Which counties in Minnesota are people leaving?

40 of the 87 counties in Minnesota had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025. Mahnomen County had the largest net outflow for its size: 16.9 per 1,000 residents (−87 people). In people, Ramsey County had the largest net outflow (−2,924).

Net out-migration does not always mean fewer residents: 15 of these 40 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

Data as of 2025 · updated November 5, 2026

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All 40 Minnesota counties with net out-migration

Counties with the most out-migration in Minnesota
Rank	County	Per 1,000 residents, 2025	Net movers 2025	Residents	Population change 2020–25
1	Mahnomen County	−16.9	−87	5,153	−4.1%
2	Stevens County	−14.2	−138	9,747	+0.8%
3	Kandiyohi County	−10.0	−446	44,720	+2.3%
4	Murray County	−9.2	−73	7,942	−2.9%
5	Nobles County	−8.7	−194	22,338	+0.6%
6	Grant County	−8.5	−52	6,085	−0.1%
7	Lyon County	−7.7	−197	25,684	+1.0%
8	Pennington County	−7.3	−100	13,686	−1.8%
9	McLeod County	−5.5	−200	36,631	−0.3%
10	Ramsey County	−5.4	−2,924	541,623	−1.8%
11	Wilkin County	−5.1	−32	6,288	−2.9%
12	Yellow Medicine County	−5.0	−47	9,477	−0.2%
13	Cottonwood County	−4.9	−56	11,405	−1.0%
14	Chippewa County	−4.7	−58	12,406	−1.6%
15	Polk County	−4.5	−138	30,545	−1.8%
16	Renville County	−4.2	−60	14,356	−2.3%
17	Traverse County	−4.2	−13	3,130	−6.8%
18	Benton County	−3.9	−162	41,744	+0.9%
19	Clearwater County	−3.6	−31	8,647	+1.0%
20	Martin County	−3.1	−60	19,440	−2.8%
21	Lincoln County	−3.0	−17	5,583	−0.7%
22	Roseau County	−3.0	−46	15,246	−0.3%
23	Watonwan County	−2.8	−32	11,459	+2.0%
24	Stearns County	−2.2	−362	164,110	+3.6%
25	Dodge County	−2.2	−47	21,376	+2.3%
26	Le Sueur County	−1.9	−55	29,453	+2.9%
27	Pope County	−1.7	−19	11,420	+0.8%
28	Jackson County	−1.4	−14	9,857	−1.3%
29	Houston County	−1.2	−23	18,400	−2.4%
30	Nicollet County	−1.1	−36	34,273	−0.7%
31	Rock County	−1.0	−10	9,524	−1.7%
32	Olmsted County	−0.9	−153	166,731	+2.3%
33	Cook County	−0.9	−5	5,522	−1.4%
34	Marshall County	−0.8	−7	8,798	−2.5%
35	Steele County	−0.7	−25	37,464	+0.2%
36	Hennepin County	−0.5	−703	1,284,784	+0.2%
37	Sibley County	−0.5	−8	15,356	+3.6%
38	Swift County	−0.4	−4	9,763	−0.4%
39	Big Stone County	−0.4	−2	5,054	−2.0%
40	Redwood County	−0.1	−1	15,265	−1.0%

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 Minnesota are the most people leaving?

For its size, Mahnomen County: net domestic migration of −16.9 per 1,000 residents in 2025 (−87 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Stevens County (−14.2) and Kandiyohi County (−10.0).

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

40 of the 87 counties in Minnesota 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. 15 of these 40 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

More county rankings for Minnesota

Counties with the most out-migration in other states

Across the U.S.