Which counties in Missouri are losing population?
33 of the 115 counties in Missouri had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. DeKalb County lost the largest share, down 15.6% (−1,810 people). St. Louis (city) lost the most residents (−22,158).
Of the 33 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 20 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
All 33 Missouri counties that lost residents
| Rank | County | Change 2020–25 | Residents lost 2020–25 | Residents 2025 | Largest factor 2020–25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DeKalb County | −15.6% | −1,810 | 9,795 | Domestic migration (−1,668) |
| 2 | New Madrid County | −7.6% | −1,243 | 15,086 | Domestic migration (−755) |
| 3 | St. Louis (city) | −7.4% | −22,158 | 278,144 | Domestic migration (−30,729) |
| 4 | Pemiscot County | −7.2% | −1,118 | 14,465 | Domestic migration (−974) |
| 5 | Dunklin County | −4.8% | −1,361 | 26,855 | Domestic migration (−746) |
| 6 | Sullivan County | −4.1% | −247 | 5,738 | Domestic migration (−300) |
| 7 | Nodaway County | −4.0% | −847 | 20,174 | Domestic migration (−1,132) |
| 8 | Shelby County | −3.6% | −220 | 5,870 | Domestic migration (−174) |
| 9 | Mercer County | −3.2% | −112 | 3,404 | Domestic migration (−153) |
| 10 | Putnam County | −3.0% | −140 | 4,546 | Domestic migration (−114) |
| 11 | Clark County | −2.8% | −189 | 6,475 | Natural change (−105) |
| 12 | Worth County | −2.6% | −51 | 1,914 | Natural change (−38) |
| 13 | Atchison County | −2.5% | −132 | 5,175 | Natural change (−182) |
| 14 | Iron County | −2.0% | −194 | 9,318 | Natural change (−477) |
| 15 | Lewis County | −1.6% | −163 | 9,879 | Natural change (−155) |
| 16 | Wayne County | −1.4% | −155 | 10,782 | Natural change (−427) |
| 17 | Reynolds County | −1.4% | −85 | 5,992 | Natural change (−168) |
| 18 | Stoddard County | −1.3% | −372 | 28,284 | Natural change (−669) |
| 19 | St. Louis County | −1.2% | −12,454 | 990,911 | Domestic migration (−26,493) |
| 20 | Buchanan County | −1.1% | −931 | 83,540 | Domestic migration (−1,920) |
| 21 | Mississippi County | −1.1% | −130 | 12,003 | Natural change (−288) |
| 22 | Audrain County | −1.0% | −250 | 24,528 | Natural change (−170) |
| 23 | Maries County | −0.7% | −58 | 8,397 | Natural change (−179) |
| 24 | Carroll County | −0.6% | −49 | 8,417 | Natural change (−203) |
| 25 | Crawford County | −0.4% | −101 | 22,929 | Natural change (−552) |
| 26 | Butler County | −0.4% | −160 | 41,904 | Natural change (−776) |
| 27 | Linn County | −0.3% | −39 | 11,815 | Natural change (−283) |
| 28 | Saline County | −0.3% | −69 | 23,265 | Domestic migration (−275) |
| 29 | Grundy County | −0.2% | −20 | 9,744 | Natural change (−85) |
| 30 | Knox County | −0.1% | −5 | 3,728 | Natural change (−60) |
| 31 | Chariton County | −0.1% | −9 | 7,377 | Natural change (−220) |
| 32 | Scott County | −0.1% | −46 | 37,975 | Natural change (−332) |
| 33 | Macon County | −0.1% | −9 | 15,190 | Natural change (−238) |
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 Missouri is losing population fastest?
DeKalb County: down 15.6% between 2020 and 2025, to 9,795 residents (−1,810 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: New Madrid County (−7.6%) and St. Louis (city) (−7.4%).
How many counties in Missouri are losing population?
33 of the 115 counties in Missouri had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 82 grew or held steady.
Why are counties in Missouri losing population?
Of the 33 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 20 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 Missouri
Counties losing population in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming