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Which counties in Iowa are losing population?

64 of the 99 counties in Iowa had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Henry County lost the largest share, down 5.4% (−1,101 people). Muscatine County lost the most residents (−1,298).

Of the 64 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 35 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 29 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 64 Iowa counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in Iowa
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Henry County−5.4%−1,10119,349Domestic migration (−855)
2Floyd County−4.5%−69414,901Domestic migration (−470)
3Winnebago County−3.8%−40210,251Natural change (−244)
4Louisa County−3.8%−40610,416Domestic migration (−487)
5Lee County−3.6%−1,22132,306Natural change (−751)
6Osceola County−3.6%−2215,980Domestic migration (−219)
7Pocahontas County−3.6%−2516,819Domestic migration (−190)
8Ida County−3.4%−2426,777Natural change (−171)
9Calhoun County−3.4%−3339,562Natural change (−285)
10Montgomery County−3.2%−33210,002Natural change (−342)
11Kossuth County−3.2%−47214,322Domestic migration (−410)
12Audubon County−3.0%−1715,509Natural change (−143)
13Muscatine County−3.0%−1,29841,853Domestic migration (−1,664)
14Chickasaw County−2.8%−33211,663Domestic migration (−416)
15Sac County−2.7%−2669,525Domestic migration (−177)
16Monroe County−2.6%−1947,406Natural change (−195)
17Jefferson County−2.5%−39715,291Domestic migration (−1,069)
18Adams County−2.5%−933,617Natural change (−53)
19Emmet County−2.5%−2349,107Natural change (−143)
20Union County−2.5%−30111,829Natural change (−293)
21Cherokee County−2.4%−27911,369Natural change (−370)
22Monona County−2.4%−2078,539Natural change (−194)
23Page County−2.3%−34614,856Natural change (−444)
24Hardin County−2.2%−37616,455Natural change (−453)
25Hancock County−2.2%−23510,528Domestic migration (−185)
26Fayette County−2.1%−40119,047Natural change (−254)
27Carroll County−2.0%−42220,303Domestic migration (−321)
28Keokuk County−2.0%−2039,797Natural change (−197)
29Butler County−2.0%−28814,049Natural change (−238)
30Des Moines County−2.0%−77238,077Natural change (−670)
31Humboldt County−2.0%−1909,409Domestic migration (−216)
32Buena Vista County−1.7%−35120,449Domestic migration (−1,662)
33Appanoose County−1.7%−20612,077Natural change (−333)
34Clarke County−1.6%−1579,574Domestic migration (−244)
35Winneshiek County−1.6%−31319,733Domestic migration (−393)
36Crawford County−1.5%−25016,237Domestic migration (−876)
37Cerro Gordo County−1.5%−64642,372Natural change (−699)
38Tama County−1.5%−25416,796Domestic migration (−349)
39Poweshiek County−1.4%−27018,368Natural change (−261)
40Worth County−1.3%−997,338Domestic migration (−84)
41Adair County−1.3%−957,403Natural change (−150)
42Van Buren County−1.2%−907,131Domestic migration (−81)
43Franklin County−1.2%−1239,868Domestic migration (−210)
44Mahaska County−1.2%−27121,880Domestic migration (−222)
45Cass County−1.2%−15812,960Natural change (−419)
46Clayton County−1.1%−18216,845Natural change (−160)
47Greene County−1.0%−918,658Natural change (−192)
48Palo Alto County−1.0%−918,899Natural change (−105)
49Iowa County−1.0%−16116,504Domestic migration (−82)
50Decatur County−0.9%−737,655Natural change (−56)
51Clinton County−0.9%−42946,002Natural change (−576)
52Wright County−0.9%−11812,801Domestic migration (−651)
53Clay County−0.9%−13916,202Natural change (−185)
54Howard County−0.8%−799,415Domestic migration (−137)
55Jackson County−0.8%−15919,288Natural change (−182)
56Fremont County−0.8%−536,522Natural change (−130)
57Pottawattamie County−0.7%−67192,996Natural change (−904)
58Cedar County−0.7%−12718,359Natural change (−221)
59Marshall County−0.5%−21039,890Domestic migration (−1,137)
60Hamilton County−0.5%−7014,944Domestic migration (−400)
61Taylor County−0.5%−275,835Natural change (−69)
62Webster County−0.4%−15936,838Domestic migration (−480)
63Wapello County−0.4%−12435,210Domestic migration (−1,091)
64Shelby County−0.2%−2911,689Natural change (−241)

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 Iowa is losing population fastest?

Henry County: down 5.4% between 2020 and 2025, to 19,349 residents (−1,101 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Floyd County (−4.5%) and Winnebago County (−3.8%).

How many counties in Iowa are losing population?

64 of the 99 counties in Iowa had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 35 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in Iowa losing population?

Of the 64 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 35 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 29 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for Iowa

Counties losing population in other states

Across the U.S.