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Which counties in Georgia are losing population?

38 of the 159 counties in Georgia had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Stewart County lost the largest share, down 12.5% (−664 people). Muscogee County lost the most residents (−4,845).

Of the 38 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 25 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 13 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 38 Georgia counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in Georgia
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Stewart County−12.5%−6644,631Domestic migration (−713)
2Chattahoochee County−10.6%−1,0038,465Domestic migration (−1,807)
3Telfair County−10.1%−1,25411,195Domestic migration (−1,163)
4Irwin County−6.5%−6269,020Domestic migration (−393)
5Mitchell County−5.6%−1,20920,467Domestic migration (−927)
6Terrell County−5.3%−4838,656Domestic migration (−300)
7Twiggs County−5.1%−4127,597Natural change (−521)
8Baker County−4.3%−1232,725Natural change (−125)
9Jefferson County−4.2%−66615,011Natural change (−435)
10Crisp County−4.1%−82119,237Domestic migration (−498)
11Randolph County−3.3%−2106,156Natural change (−202)
12Worth County−3.2%−66020,059Natural change (−516)
13Early County−3.1%−33810,455Natural change (−242)
14Miller County−3.1%−1835,812Natural change (−244)
15Dougherty County−3.0%−2,55782,616Domestic migration (−3,004)
16Calhoun County−2.9%−1595,413Natural change (−89)
17Washington County−2.5%−49619,453Natural change (−557)
18Sumter County−2.4%−71728,801Domestic migration (−679)
19Muscogee County−2.3%−4,845202,171Domestic migration (−8,842)
20Macon County−2.2%−26211,756Natural change (−237)
21Wilkinson County−2.1%−1828,650Natural change (−196)
22Dodge County−1.4%−28619,663Natural change (−502)
23Brooks County−1.0%−17016,101Natural change (−463)
24Burke County−0.9%−22424,408Natural change (−223)
25Echols County−0.8%−313,685Domestic migration (−160)
26Clayton County−0.6%−1,874297,471Domestic migration (−13,951)
27Clay County−0.5%−152,815Natural change (−92)
28Dade County−0.5%−7916,154Natural change (−401)
29Ben Hill County−0.4%−6717,099Natural change (−264)
30Bacon County−0.4%−4311,070Natural change (−70)
31Talbot County−0.3%−205,709Natural change (−275)
32Hancock County−0.3%−298,682Natural change (−403)
33Wilkes County−0.1%−149,540Natural change (−380)
34Dooly County−0.1%−1011,156Natural change (−227)
35Turner County−0.1%−68,983Natural change (−118)
36Taylor County−0.0%−27,818Natural change (−147)
37Decatur County−0.0%−429,432Natural change (−237)
38Richmond County−0.0%−22206,559Domestic migration (−3,137)

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). 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 is losing population fastest?

Stewart County: down 12.5% between 2020 and 2025, to 4,631 residents (−664 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Chattahoochee County (−10.6%) and Telfair County (−10.1%).

How many counties in Georgia are losing population?

38 of the 159 counties in Georgia had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 121 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in Georgia losing population?

Of the 38 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 25 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 13 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for Georgia

Counties losing population in other states

Across the U.S.