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Which counties in Mississippi are losing population?

54 of the 82 counties in Mississippi had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Sharkey County lost the largest share, down 17.9% (−676 people). Hinds County lost the most residents (−14,890).

Of the 54 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 29 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 54 Mississippi counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in Mississippi
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Sharkey County−17.9%−6763,097Domestic migration (−529)
2Tallahatchie County−14.0%−1,77510,877Domestic migration (−1,544)
3Yazoo County−14.0%−3,72422,947Domestic migration (−3,672)
4Quitman County−12.9%−7935,364Domestic migration (−557)
5Claiborne County−11.4%−1,0358,058Domestic migration (−945)
6Wilkinson County−11.0%−9407,582Domestic migration (−649)
7Sunflower County−10.9%−2,80222,893Domestic migration (−2,501)
8Humphreys County−9.5%−7337,001Domestic migration (−585)
9Washington County−9.4%−4,19340,446Domestic migration (−3,638)
10Tunica County−9.4%−9138,819Domestic migration (−919)
11Leflore County−9.4%−2,65825,686Domestic migration (−2,460)
12Holmes County−8.4%−1,42115,465Domestic migration (−1,214)
13Bolivar County−8.4%−2,57628,262Domestic migration (−2,239)
14Carroll County−7.2%−7119,226Natural change (−415)
15Hinds County−6.6%−14,890211,888Domestic migration (−18,330)
16Coahoma County−6.5%−1,37919,849Domestic migration (−1,829)
17Warren County−6.3%−2,78941,759Domestic migration (−2,451)
18Jefferson County−5.8%−4236,825Domestic migration (−290)
19Issaquena County−4.8%−631,263Natural change (−43)
20Montgomery County−4.5%−4409,354Natural change (−241)
21Calhoun County−4.4%−58012,643Domestic migration (−354)
22Noxubee County−4.2%−4289,798Domestic migration (−493)
23Kemper County−4.1%−3688,600Natural change (−178)
24Attala County−4.1%−72217,100Natural change (−428)
25Pike County−3.7%−1,48238,712Domestic migration (−924)
26Jasper County−3.5%−56515,785Natural change (−322)
27Grenada County−3.3%−70620,868Natural change (−491)
28Lauderdale County−3.2%−2,36170,317Domestic migration (−2,151)
29Jefferson Davis County−3.0%−33310,941Natural change (−352)
30Clarke County−2.8%−44315,102Natural change (−248)
31Copiah County−2.7%−76627,497Domestic migration (−980)
32Lowndes County−2.4%−1,43757,346Domestic migration (−1,908)
33Monroe County−2.4%−81833,318Natural change (−621)
34Franklin County−2.2%−1707,491Natural change (−183)
35Covington County−2.2%−40117,898Natural change (−305)
36Benton County−2.2%−1657,502Natural change (−211)
37Chickasaw County−2.1%−35116,730Domestic migration (−205)
38Clay County−2.1%−38218,238Domestic migration (−249)
39Choctaw County−1.9%−1568,048Natural change (−192)
40Amite County−1.7%−21612,487Natural change (−385)
41Tippah County−1.6%−35521,389Natural change (−307)
42Marion County−1.5%−36924,001Natural change (−709)
43Simpson County−1.5%−38925,498Natural change (−347)
44Smith County−1.5%−20913,991Natural change (−203)
45Panola County−1.5%−48232,691Natural change (−480)
46Lawrence County−1.4%−16811,819Natural change (−206)
47Newton County−1.4%−29020,960Domestic migration (−282)
48Winston County−1.2%−21617,473Natural change (−278)
49Tishomingo County−1.1%−20918,639Natural change (−797)
50Jones County−1.0%−67166,496Domestic migration (−818)
51Neshoba County−0.9%−25028,732Domestic migration (−253)
52Yalobusha County−0.6%−6912,375Natural change (−283)
53Alcorn County−0.5%−16334,569Natural change (−531)
54Wayne County−0.0%−219,807Domestic migration (−161)

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 Mississippi is losing population fastest?

Sharkey County: down 17.9% between 2020 and 2025, to 3,097 residents (−676 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Tallahatchie County (−14.0%) and Yazoo County (−14.0%).

How many counties in Mississippi are losing population?

54 of the 82 counties in Mississippi had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 28 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in Mississippi losing population?

Of the 54 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 29 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for Mississippi

Counties losing population in other states

Across the U.S.