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Which counties in Pennsylvania are losing population?

41 of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Cameron County lost the largest share, down 7.0% (−318 people). Philadelphia County lost the most residents (−26,456).

Of the 41 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 33 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 8 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 41 Pennsylvania counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in Pennsylvania
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Cameron County−7.0%−3184,211Natural change (−252)
2Greene County−5.5%−1,98433,885Natural change (−1,104)
3Forest County−5.1%−3586,614Natural change (−378)
4Fayette County−4.3%−5,564123,021Natural change (−5,263)
5Warren County−3.8%−1,47537,038Natural change (−1,245)
6McKean County−3.5%−1,42138,984Natural change (−1,224)
7Elk County−3.3%−1,01429,926Natural change (−862)
8Cambria County−3.2%−4,232128,968Natural change (−4,283)
9Potter County−3.0%−49215,897Natural change (−428)
10Clearfield County−2.9%−2,32778,100Natural change (−2,070)
11Jefferson County−2.8%−1,23343,255Natural change (−942)
12Armstrong County−2.7%−1,79863,698Natural change (−2,012)
13Somerset County−2.7%−1,99072,004Natural change (−2,360)
14Blair County−2.5%−3,126119,541Natural change (−3,064)
15Mercer County−2.4%−2,693107,860Natural change (−3,119)
16Crawford County−2.4%−2,00581,792Natural change (−1,334)
17Lawrence County−2.4%−2,05083,911Natural change (−2,747)
18Huntingdon County−2.4%−1,04243,001Natural change (−704)
19Venango County−2.0%−1,02449,346Natural change (−1,655)
20Allegheny County−2.0%−24,5501,225,035Domestic migration (−31,483)
21Erie County−1.8%−4,892265,832Domestic migration (−3,573)
22Northumberland County−1.8%−1,62489,920Natural change (−2,209)
23Philadelphia County−1.7%−26,4561,574,281Domestic migration (−103,517)
24Montour County−1.4%−26217,868Domestic migration (−281)
25Clarion County−1.4%−52036,680Natural change (−839)
26Westmoreland County−1.4%−4,946349,324Natural change (−10,501)
27Lycoming County−1.3%−1,533112,587Natural change (−1,808)
28Tioga County−1.3%−52340,502Natural change (−1,033)
29Beaver County−1.1%−1,825166,032Natural change (−4,134)
30Wyoming County−0.9%−24325,790Natural change (−629)
31Union County−0.8%−34642,313Domestic migration (−323)
32Monroe County−0.7%−1,131167,179Natural change (−1,821)
33Fulton County−0.7%−9514,483Natural change (−243)
34Bradford County−0.6%−37559,600Natural change (−859)
35Centre County−0.4%−642157,393Domestic migration (−5,476)
36Indiana County−0.3%−28082,878Natural change (−1,624)
37Juniata County−0.3%−7323,403Domestic migration (−269)
38Susquehanna County−0.3%−11838,237Natural change (−839)
39Snyder County−0.2%−8239,655Domestic migration (−188)
40Bedford County−0.2%−8947,480Natural change (−848)
41Mifflin County−0.0%−1746,127Natural change (−382)

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 Pennsylvania is losing population fastest?

Cameron County: down 7.0% between 2020 and 2025, to 4,211 residents (−318 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Greene County (−5.5%) and Forest County (−5.1%).

How many counties in Pennsylvania are losing population?

41 of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 26 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in Pennsylvania losing population?

Of the 41 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 33 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 8 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for Pennsylvania

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