Which counties in South Dakota are people leaving?

39 of the 65 ranked counties in South Dakota had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025. Mellette County had the largest net outflow for its size: 22.9 per 1,000 residents (−49 people). In people, Beadle County had the largest net outflow (−265).

Net out-migration does not always mean fewer residents: 19 of these 39 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

Data as of 2025 · updated November 5, 2026

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All 39 South Dakota counties with net out-migration

Counties with the most out-migration in South Dakota
Rank	County	Per 1,000 residents, 2025	Net movers 2025	Residents	Population change 2020–25
1	Mellette County	−22.9	−49	2,137	+11.5%
2	Jackson County	−22.5	−60	2,666	−4.8%
3	Hanson County	−21.1	−73	3,456	−0.3%
4	Beadle County	−13.5	−265	19,624	+2.4%
5	Oglala Lakota County	−12.7	−170	13,338	−2.3%
6	Clay County	−12.1	−182	15,031	+0.2%
7	Bennett County	−9.4	−31	3,307	−2.6%
8	Haakon County	−8.9	−16	1,802	−3.6%
9	Corson County	−8.7	−33	3,781	−2.8%
10	Hyde County	−8.4	−10	1,191	−4.6%
11	Lyman County	−8.4	−31	3,694	−0.1%
12	Grant County	−8.4	−63	7,534	−0.0%
13	Brule County	−8.0	−42	5,278	+0.5%
14	Potter County	−7.6	−18	2,377	−3.8%
15	Roberts County	−7.1	−73	10,255	−0.1%
16	Moody County	−6.8	−45	6,632	+4.5%
17	Buffalo County	−6.7	−12	1,802	−6.8%
18	Union County	−6.6	−115	17,402	+3.2%
19	Faulk County	−6.4	−14	2,178	+2.3%
20	Douglas County	−6.2	−18	2,888	+1.9%
21	Edmunds County	−6.2	−25	4,022	+1.0%
22	Tripp County	−6.1	−35	5,708	+1.8%
23	Walworth County	−5.9	−31	5,217	−1.4%
24	Meade County	−5.5	−168	30,711	+2.7%
25	Lake County	−5.1	−56	10,993	−0.2%
26	Butte County	−5.1	−55	10,856	+5.5%
27	Dewey County	−5.0	−27	5,419	+3.8%
28	Marshall County	−5.0	−22	4,426	+2.9%
29	Jerauld County	−4.8	−8	1,654	+0.6%
30	Todd County	−4.7	−42	8,863	−4.9%
31	Gregory County	−4.7	−19	4,037	+1.1%
32	Brown County	−3.1	−116	37,561	−1.7%
33	Turner County	−2.5	−23	9,314	+7.3%
34	Aurora County	−2.1	−6	2,801	+2.6%
35	Hamlin County	−1.4	−10	6,900	+11.8%
36	Hughes County	−1.2	−21	17,570	−0.9%
37	Spink County	−1.1	−7	6,155	−3.0%
38	Ziebach County	−0.4	−1	2,389	−0.1%
39	Charles Mix County	−0.2	−2	9,303	−0.5%

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 South Dakota are the most people leaving?

For its size, Mellette County: net domestic migration of −22.9 per 1,000 residents in 2025 (−49 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Jackson County (−22.5) and Hanson County (−21.1).

How many counties in South Dakota have more people moving out than in?

39 of the 65 ranked counties in South Dakota 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. 19 of these 39 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

More county rankings for South Dakota

Counties with the most out-migration in other states

Across the U.S.