Which counties in the U.S. are losing population?

800 of the 2,407 U.S. counties with at least 10,000 residents had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Reeves County, TX lost the largest share, down 17.8% (−2,631 people). Los Angeles County, CA lost the most residents (−301,576).

Of the 800 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 472 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 328 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated November 5, 2026

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The 100 steepest declines among 800 U.S. counties

Counties losing population in the U.S.
Rank	County	Change 2020–25	Residents lost 2020–25	Residents 2025	Largest factor 2020–25
1	Reeves County, TX	−17.8%	−2,631	12,138	Domestic migration (−3,238)
2	Tallahatchie County, MS	−14.0%	−1,775	10,877	Domestic migration (−1,544)
3	Yazoo County, MS	−14.0%	−3,724	22,947	Domestic migration (−3,672)
4	Lassen County, CA	−13.1%	−4,232	28,117	Domestic migration (−4,528)
5	Phillips County, AR	−13.0%	−2,128	14,255	Domestic migration (−1,950)
6	Howard County, TX	−12.4%	−4,307	30,504	Domestic migration (−5,047)
7	Hertford County, NC	−11.2%	−2,399	19,015	Domestic migration (−1,921)
8	Sunflower County, MS	−10.9%	−2,802	22,893	Domestic migration (−2,501)
9	McDowell County, WV	−10.9%	−2,064	16,878	Natural change (−1,146)
10	Telfair County, GA	−10.1%	−1,254	11,195	Domestic migration (−1,163)
11	Lawrence County, IL	−9.7%	−1,487	13,790	Domestic migration (−1,297)
12	Washington County, MS	−9.4%	−4,193	40,446	Domestic migration (−3,638)
13	Leflore County, MS	−9.4%	−2,658	25,686	Domestic migration (−2,460)
14	Buchanan County, VA	−8.7%	−1,755	18,492	Natural change (−1,035)
15	Mingo County, WV	−8.7%	−2,034	21,455	Domestic migration (−1,072)
16	Holmes County, MS	−8.4%	−1,421	15,465	Domestic migration (−1,214)
17	Bolivar County, MS	−8.4%	−2,576	28,262	Domestic migration (−2,239)
18	Breathitt County, KY	−8.3%	−1,143	12,558	Domestic migration (−657)
19	Dallas County, AL	−8.0%	−3,036	35,140	Domestic migration (−2,688)
20	New Madrid County, MO	−7.6%	−1,243	15,086	Domestic migration (−755)
21	Harlan County, KY	−7.6%	−2,027	24,725	Natural change (−1,187)
22	Arkansas County, AR	−7.4%	−1,270	15,836	Domestic migration (−768)
23	St. Louis (city), MO	−7.4%	−22,158	278,144	Domestic migration (−30,729)
24	Vernon Parish, LA	−7.3%	−3,541	45,091	Domestic migration (−5,627)
25	Pemiscot County, MO	−7.2%	−1,118	14,465	Domestic migration (−974)
26	Wyoming County, WV	−7.1%	−1,521	19,801	Natural change (−874)
27	Letcher County, KY	−7.0%	−1,513	19,952	Natural change (−996)
28	Morehouse Parish, LA	−6.9%	−1,754	23,705	Domestic migration (−1,149)
29	Boone County, WV	−6.9%	−1,495	20,251	Natural change (−915)
30	Macon County, AL	−6.8%	−1,332	18,132	Domestic migration (−1,066)
31	Mississippi County, AR	−6.7%	−2,707	37,828	Domestic migration (−2,615)
32	Logan County, WV	−6.6%	−2,139	30,375	Natural change (−1,423)
33	Hinds County, MS	−6.6%	−14,890	211,888	Domestic migration (−18,330)
34	Coahoma County, MS	−6.5%	−1,379	19,849	Domestic migration (−1,829)
35	Perry County, KY	−6.4%	−1,815	26,555	Natural change (−919)
36	Pike County, KY	−6.4%	−3,738	54,721	Natural change (−2,343)
37	Warren County, MS	−6.3%	−2,789	41,759	Domestic migration (−2,451)
38	McKinley County, NM	−6.1%	−4,421	68,119	Domestic migration (−3,820)
39	Dickenson County, VA	−6.0%	−839	13,236	Natural change (−648)
40	Brooke County, WV	−6.0%	−1,339	21,142	Natural change (−1,051)
41	Ashley County, AR	−5.9%	−1,128	17,831	Domestic migration (−597)
42	Knott County, KY	−5.9%	−842	13,321	Natural change (−705)
43	Assumption Parish, LA	−5.9%	−1,242	19,720	Domestic migration (−883)
44	Union County, KY	−5.9%	−805	12,839	Domestic migration (−499)
45	Plumas County, CA	−5.9%	−1,162	18,583	Domestic migration (−723)
46	St. John the Baptist Parish, LA	−5.9%	−2,487	39,875	Domestic migration (−3,166)
47	St. James Parish, LA	−5.9%	−1,179	18,938	Domestic migration (−1,079)
48	Lincoln County, WV	−5.9%	−1,192	19,177	Natural change (−872)
49	Jefferson County, AR	−5.7%	−3,838	62,987	Domestic migration (−3,118)
50	Choctaw County, AL	−5.7%	−719	11,904	Natural change (−407)
51	Conecuh County, AL	−5.7%	−655	10,899	Natural change (−530)
52	Fayette County, WV	−5.6%	−2,277	38,165	Natural change (−1,855)
53	San Francisco County, CA	−5.6%	−49,060	826,079	Domestic migration (−79,909)
54	Dawson County, TX	−5.6%	−698	11,776	Domestic migration (−712)
55	Pointe Coupee Parish, LA	−5.6%	−1,156	19,520	Domestic migration (−809)
56	Mitchell County, GA	−5.6%	−1,209	20,467	Domestic migration (−927)
57	Orleans Parish, LA	−5.5%	−21,207	362,154	Domestic migration (−30,880)
58	Greene County, PA	−5.5%	−1,984	33,885	Natural change (−1,104)
59	Mono County, CA	−5.4%	−717	12,505	Domestic migration (−1,254)
60	Northampton County, NC	−5.4%	−942	16,491	Natural change (−825)
61	Caddo Parish, LA	−5.4%	−12,798	224,226	Domestic migration (−12,066)
62	Henry County, IA	−5.4%	−1,101	19,349	Domestic migration (−855)
63	Claiborne Parish, LA	−5.3%	−754	13,354	Domestic migration (−390)
64	Plaquemines Parish, LA	−5.3%	−1,247	22,256	Domestic migration (−1,714)
65	St. Francis County, AR	−5.3%	−1,219	21,800	Domestic migration (−1,315)
66	St. Mary Parish, LA	−5.3%	−2,597	46,552	Domestic migration (−3,125)
67	Schuyler County, NY	−5.3%	−939	16,924	Natural change (−510)
68	Webster Parish, LA	−5.2%	−1,936	34,948	Natural change (−1,044)
69	Roosevelt County, MT	−5.2%	−566	10,242	Domestic migration (−554)
70	Otero County, CO	−5.2%	−976	17,683	Domestic migration (−538)
71	Bristol (city), VA	−5.2%	−903	16,418	Natural change (−891)
72	Union County, AR	−5.2%	−2,016	36,926	Domestic migration (−1,683)
73	Greene County, IL	−5.1%	−611	11,313	Natural change (−385)
74	Kodiak Island Borough, AK	−5.1%	−659	12,387	Domestic migration (−1,371)
75	Bienville Parish, LA	−5.0%	−647	12,269	Natural change (−359)
76	Sumter County, AL	−5.0%	−605	11,588	Domestic migration (−448)
77	Lee County, SC	−5.0%	−821	15,730	Domestic migration (−612)
78	Marengo County, AL	−5.0%	−955	18,311	Domestic migration (−535)
79	Martin County, KY	−4.9%	−555	10,697	Natural change (−355)
80	Mason County, IL	−4.9%	−639	12,411	Natural change (−539)
81	Butler County, AL	−4.8%	−922	18,100	Domestic migration (−507)
82	Dunklin County, MO	−4.8%	−1,361	26,855	Domestic migration (−746)
83	Bell County, KY	−4.8%	−1,152	22,829	Natural change (−1,040)
84	Terrebonne Parish, LA	−4.8%	−5,252	104,163	Domestic migration (−7,966)
85	Roane County, WV	−4.8%	−671	13,317	Natural change (−604)
86	Santa Cruz County, CA	−4.7%	−12,906	258,852	Domestic migration (−15,429)
87	Ward County, TX	−4.7%	−554	11,125	Domestic migration (−783)
88	Wetzel County, WV	−4.7%	−670	13,734	Natural change (−456)
89	Iberia Parish, LA	−4.6%	−3,208	66,846	Domestic migration (−3,615)
90	Hempstead County, AR	−4.6%	−913	19,080	Domestic migration (−842)
91	Texas County, OK	−4.6%	−969	20,322	Domestic migration (−2,598)
92	Hutchinson County, TX	−4.6%	−936	19,633	Domestic migration (−586)
93	Massac County, IL	−4.5%	−639	13,502	Natural change (−588)
94	Hancock County, WV	−4.5%	−1,311	27,729	Natural change (−1,294)
95	Siskiyou County, CA	−4.5%	−1,970	42,013	Natural change (−1,351)
96	McDonough County, IL	−4.5%	−1,212	25,916	Domestic migration (−997)
97	Scurry County, TX	−4.5%	−754	16,162	Domestic migration (−975)
98	Floyd County, IA	−4.5%	−694	14,901	Domestic migration (−470)
99	Charlottesville (city), VA	−4.4%	−2,045	44,388	Domestic migration (−4,479)
100	Haywood County, TN	−4.4%	−785	17,042	Domestic migration (−553)

How this is ranked

Counties whose Census Bureau resident population estimate for July 1, 2025 is lower than for July 1, 2020, steepest percentage decline first. The largest factor is the most negative of natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration and net international migration over the same years (Census Bureau components of population change). Only counties with at least 10,000 residents are listed here (the first 100 of 800). 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 the U.S. is losing population fastest?

Reeves County, TX: down 17.8% between 2020 and 2025, to 12,138 residents (−2,631 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Tallahatchie County, MS (−14.0%) and Yazoo County, MS (−14.0%).

How many counties in the U.S. are losing population?

800 of the 2,407 U.S. counties with at least 10,000 residents had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 1,607 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in the U.S. losing population?

Which counties in the U.S. are losing population?

The 100 steepest declines among 800 U.S. counties

How this is ranked

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Questions

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