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Which counties in Minnesota are losing population?

34 of the 87 counties in Minnesota had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Traverse County lost the largest share, down 6.8% (−229 people). Ramsey County lost the most residents (−10,110).

Of the 34 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 14 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 20 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 34 Minnesota counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in Minnesota
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Traverse County−6.8%−2293,130Domestic migration (−146)
2Mahnomen County−4.1%−2205,153Domestic migration (−205)
3Kittson County−3.7%−1564,031Natural change (−137)
4Koochiching County−3.7%−44011,587Natural change (−429)
5Wilkin County−2.9%−1896,288Domestic migration (−132)
6Murray County−2.9%−2357,942Domestic migration (−166)
7Martin County−2.8%−55819,440Natural change (−334)
8Marshall County−2.5%−2278,798Domestic migration (−281)
9Houston County−2.4%−44318,400Natural change (−408)
10Renville County−2.3%−33514,356Domestic migration (−292)
11Big Stone County−2.0%−1045,054Natural change (−120)
12Pennington County−1.8%−25613,686Domestic migration (−376)
13Ramsey County−1.8%−10,110541,623Domestic migration (−32,976)
14Polk County−1.8%−55430,545Domestic migration (−601)
15Pipestone County−1.7%−1589,260Domestic migration (−295)
16Rock County−1.7%−1619,524Natural change (−138)
17Lake County−1.6%−17710,746Natural change (−360)
18Chippewa County−1.6%−20012,406Domestic migration (−589)
19Norman County−1.6%−1026,336Natural change (−129)
20Brown County−1.5%−39125,517Natural change (−319)
21Waseca County−1.5%−28518,688Domestic migration (−274)
22Freeborn County−1.5%−45930,440Natural change (−527)
23Cook County−1.4%−765,522Natural change (−88)
24Jackson County−1.3%−1339,857Domestic migration (−109)
25Redwood County−1.0%−15215,265Domestic migration (−268)
26Cottonwood County−1.0%−11211,405Domestic migration (−329)
27Lincoln County−0.7%−405,583Natural change (−34)
28Nicollet County−0.7%−23134,273Domestic migration (−656)
29Swift County−0.4%−389,763Domestic migration (−221)
30Roseau County−0.3%−5215,246Domestic migration (−175)
31McLeod County−0.3%−11236,631Domestic migration (−230)
32Yellow Medicine County−0.2%−219,477Domestic migration (−210)
33Grant County−0.1%−86,085Natural change (−71)
34Faribault County−0.1%−1113,888Natural change (−237)

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 Minnesota is losing population fastest?

Traverse County: down 6.8% between 2020 and 2025, to 3,130 residents (−229 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Mahnomen County (−4.1%) and Kittson County (−3.7%).

How many counties in Minnesota are losing population?

34 of the 87 counties in Minnesota had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 53 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in Minnesota losing population?

Of the 34 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 14 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 20 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for Minnesota

Counties losing population in other states

Across the U.S.