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Which counties in Montana are losing population?

17 of the 52 ranked counties in Montana had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Roosevelt County lost the largest share, down 5.2% (−566 people).

Of the 17 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 7 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 10 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 17 Montana counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in Montana
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Roosevelt County−5.2%−56610,242Domestic migration (−554)
2Sheridan County−2.9%−1043,436Natural change (−113)
3Dawson County−2.6%−2298,692Natural change (−149)
4Big Horn County−2.5%−32712,752Domestic migration (−454)
5Valley County−2.4%−1797,385Natural change (−148)
6Fallon County−2.3%−702,959Domestic migration (−115)
7Daniels County−2.3%−381,612Natural change (−27)
8Blaine County−2.1%−1496,860Domestic migration (−159)
9Glacier County−2.0%−27313,463Domestic migration (−179)
10Garfield County−1.9%−221,148Domestic migration (−18)
11Carter County−1.6%−231,383Natural change (−11)
12Richland County−1.3%−15011,377Domestic migration (−354)
13Chouteau County−0.8%−465,865Natural change (−121)
14Rosebud County−0.7%−568,253Domestic migration (−189)
15McCone County−0.6%−111,720Domestic migration (−33)
16Hill County−0.5%−8116,167Domestic migration (−278)
17Phillips County−0.1%−54,203Natural change (−77)

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 Montana is losing population fastest?

Roosevelt County: down 5.2% between 2020 and 2025, to 10,242 residents (−566 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Sheridan County (−2.9%) and Dawson County (−2.6%).

How many counties in Montana are losing population?

17 of the 52 ranked counties in Montana had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 35 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in Montana losing population?

Of the 17 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 7 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 10 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for Montana

Counties losing population in other states

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