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Which counties in New York are losing population?

40 of the 62 counties in New York had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Schuyler County lost the largest share, down 5.3% (−939 people). Kings County lost the most residents (−68,296).

Of the 40 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 21 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 19 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 40 New York counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in New York
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Schuyler County−5.3%−93916,924Natural change (−510)
2Jefferson County−3.9%−4,535111,540Domestic migration (−9,045)
3Chemung County−3.9%−3,23780,415Domestic migration (−1,948)
4Bronx County−3.8%−54,9011,406,332Domestic migration (−193,619)
5Washington County−2.9%−1,77459,353Natural change (−1,192)
6Chenango County−2.9%−1,35645,715Natural change (−1,071)
7Chautauqua County−2.6%−3,257124,126Natural change (−2,269)
8Kings County−2.5%−68,2962,653,963Domestic migration (−295,781)
9St. Lawrence County−2.5%−2,694105,488Domestic migration (−2,175)
10Cayuga County−2.3%−1,74274,365Domestic migration (−1,047)
11Essex County−2.2%−83736,438Natural change (−1,353)
12Columbia County−2.1%−1,30060,168Natural change (−1,368)
13Oneida County−2.1%−4,873226,392Domestic migration (−4,544)
14Cattaraugus County−2.1%−1,58775,390Natural change (−1,263)
15Clinton County−2.0%−1,57578,138Natural change (−1,156)
16Cortland County−1.9%−89545,850Domestic migration (−691)
17Onondaga County−1.9%−8,845466,584Domestic migration (−14,665)
18Tioga County−1.9%−89947,453Natural change (−657)
19Seneca County−1.7%−56232,883Domestic migration (−536)
20Fulton County−1.6%−86852,216Natural change (−1,456)
21Steuben County−1.6%−1,51691,855Natural change (−1,189)
22Franklin County−1.6%−75246,500Natural change (−666)
23Niagara County−1.5%−3,206208,912Natural change (−4,036)
24Tompkins County−1.4%−1,461104,047Domestic migration (−4,052)
25Herkimer County−1.4%−82459,219Natural change (−1,058)
26Hamilton County−1.3%−675,006Natural change (−244)
27New York County−1.3%−22,1711,664,862Domestic migration (−118,352)
28Wyoming County−1.3%−52339,741Domestic migration (−416)
29Broome County−1.2%−2,409195,736Natural change (−3,248)
30Madison County−1.2%−82267,120Natural change (−801)
31Queens County−1.1%−27,3592,358,182Domestic migration (−252,568)
32Greene County−1.1%−50547,238Natural change (−1,050)
33Monroe County−1.0%−7,878750,506Domestic migration (−16,770)
34Warren County−0.9%−57765,020Natural change (−1,377)
35Yates County−0.8%−18824,547Domestic migration (−462)
36Erie County−0.6%−5,750946,741Domestic migration (−12,443)
37Orleans County−0.6%−22239,825Natural change (−418)
38Lewis County−0.3%−9226,479Domestic migration (−107)
39Rensselaer County−0.2%−379160,510Domestic migration (−1,528)
40Livingston County−0.2%−13961,438Natural change (−651)

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 New York is losing population fastest?

Schuyler County: down 5.3% between 2020 and 2025, to 16,924 residents (−939 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Jefferson County (−3.9%) and Chemung County (−3.9%).

How many counties in New York are losing population?

40 of the 62 counties in New York had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 22 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in New York losing population?

Of the 40 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 21 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 19 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for New York

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