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Which counties in South Dakota are losing population?

25 of the 65 ranked counties in South Dakota had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Buffalo County lost the largest share, down 6.8% (−131 people). Brown County lost the most residents (−669).

Of the 25 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 8 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 17 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 25 South Dakota counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in South Dakota
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Buffalo County−6.8%−1311,802Domestic migration (−111)
2Todd County−4.9%−4538,863Domestic migration (−530)
3Jackson County−4.8%−1332,666Domestic migration (−223)
4Hyde County−4.6%−571,191Natural change (−44)
5Potter County−3.8%−952,377Natural change (−62)
6Haakon County−3.6%−671,802Domestic migration (−50)
7Spink County−3.0%−1886,155Domestic migration (−171)
8Corson County−2.8%−1103,781Domestic migration (−214)
9Bennett County−2.6%−903,307Domestic migration (−183)
10Oglala Lakota County−2.3%−30913,338Domestic migration (−615)
11McPherson County−2.2%−522,347Natural change (−52)
12Brown County−1.7%−66937,561Domestic migration (−998)
13Walworth County−1.4%−745,217Domestic migration (−77)
14Hughes County−0.9%−16417,570Domestic migration (−327)
15Miner County−0.8%−192,281Natural change (−46)
16Hand County−0.7%−233,121Natural change (−51)
17Charles Mix County−0.5%−509,303Domestic migration (−201)
18Hanson County−0.3%−103,456Domestic migration (−122)
19Lake County−0.2%−2210,993Domestic migration (−74)
20Hutchinson County−0.1%−117,413Natural change (−125)
21Roberts County−0.1%−1110,255Domestic migration (−142)
22Ziebach County−0.1%−22,389Domestic migration (−64)
23Lyman County−0.1%−33,694Domestic migration (−132)
24Campbell County−0.1%−11,377Natural change (−22)
25Grant County−0.0%−37,534Natural change (−127)

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 South Dakota is losing population fastest?

Buffalo County: down 6.8% between 2020 and 2025, to 1,802 residents (−131 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Todd County (−4.9%) and Jackson County (−4.8%).

How many counties in South Dakota are losing population?

25 of the 65 ranked counties in South Dakota had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 40 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in South Dakota losing population?

Of the 25 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 8 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 17 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for South Dakota

Counties losing population in other states

Across the U.S.