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Which counties in Texas are losing population?

77 of the 246 ranked counties in Texas had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Garza County lost the largest share, down 22.3% (−1,296 people). Howard County lost the most residents (−4,307).

Of the 77 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 22 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 55 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 77 Texas counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in Texas
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Garza County−22.3%−1,2964,510Domestic migration (−1,638)
2Reeves County−17.8%−2,63112,138Domestic migration (−3,238)
3Jeff Davis County−13.9%−2761,711Domestic migration (−180)
4Howard County−12.4%−4,30730,504Domestic migration (−5,047)
5Presidio County−11.0%−6725,433Domestic migration (−840)
6Crockett County−10.5%−3262,769Domestic migration (−253)
7Cottle County−10.4%−1421,224Domestic migration (−81)
8Floyd County−9.1%−4884,881Domestic migration (−410)
9Hemphill County−8.4%−2823,083Domestic migration (−249)
10Hartley County−8.1%−4334,904Domestic migration (−570)
11Schleicher County−7.9%−1932,245Domestic migration (−155)
12Reagan County−7.5%−2573,166Domestic migration (−376)
13Hardeman County−7.5%−2663,292Domestic migration (−194)
14Brooks County−7.3%−5166,579Domestic migration (−547)
15Ochiltree County−6.7%−6709,284Domestic migration (−1,275)
16Zavala County−6.5%−6319,037Domestic migration (−725)
17Dimmit County−6.5%−5608,024Domestic migration (−585)
18Jim Hogg County−6.0%−2904,555Domestic migration (−238)
19Hansford County−5.9%−3094,944Domestic migration (−416)
20Collingsworth County−5.9%−1552,487Natural change (−120)
21Dawson County−5.6%−69811,776Domestic migration (−712)
22Upton County−5.1%−1703,131Domestic migration (−177)
23Crosby County−4.8%−2444,852Domestic migration (−183)
24Ward County−4.7%−55411,125Domestic migration (−783)
25Sutton County−4.7%−1583,203Domestic migration (−157)
26Stonewall County−4.7%−581,186Natural change (−82)
27Knox County−4.6%−1543,192Natural change (−103)
28Hutchinson County−4.6%−93619,633Domestic migration (−586)
29Scurry County−4.5%−75416,162Domestic migration (−975)
30Foard County−4.2%−461,044Natural change (−78)
31Duval County−4.2%−4099,402Domestic migration (−264)
32Pecos County−4.1%−62814,560Domestic migration (−1,007)
33Nolan County−4.1%−60714,117Domestic migration (−470)
34Wheeler County−4.1%−2034,773Domestic migration (−155)
35Dickens County−3.8%−661,692Natural change (−84)
36Edwards County−3.6%−511,370Natural change (−47)
37Swisher County−3.5%−2456,703Domestic migration (−219)
38Potter County−3.3%−3,900114,453Domestic migration (−7,415)
39Lamb County−3.3%−42612,579Domestic migration (−651)
40Yoakum County−3.1%−2347,438Domestic migration (−760)
41Irion County−2.9%−431,463Domestic migration (−37)
42Wilbarger County−2.8%−36112,481Domestic migration (−310)
43Winkler County−2.8%−2177,540Domestic migration (−723)
44Lipscomb County−2.8%−842,955Domestic migration (−167)
45San Augustine County−2.5%−2017,722Natural change (−416)
46Crane County−2.5%−1174,554Domestic migration (−220)
47Sterling County−2.5%−341,349Domestic migration (−53)
48Hall County−2.4%−682,737Natural change (−118)
49Calhoun County−2.3%−46519,599Domestic migration (−479)
50Runnels County−2.2%−2239,693Natural change (−209)
51Kleberg County−2.2%−67130,315Domestic migration (−1,442)
52Hale County−2.0%−63931,819Domestic migration (−1,114)
53Donley County−1.9%−633,213Natural change (−167)
54La Salle County−1.9%−1256,517Domestic migration (−235)
55Parmer County−1.8%−1789,678Domestic migration (−824)
56Motley County−1.8%−191,043Natural change (−70)
57Newton County−1.7%−20911,954Natural change (−355)
58McCulloch County−1.6%−1207,472Natural change (−299)
59Gray County−1.3%−27820,919Natural change (−356)
60Refugio County−1.3%−856,657Natural change (−214)
61Brewster County−1.1%−1039,458Domestic migration (−304)
62Zapata County−0.9%−12213,753Domestic migration (−628)
63Willacy County−0.8%−15419,971Domestic migration (−284)
64Mitchell County−0.7%−668,947Natural change (−161)
65Jefferson County−0.7%−1,820254,321Domestic migration (−8,815)
66Terry County−0.6%−7211,720Domestic migration (−450)
67Cochran County−0.5%−132,546Domestic migration (−182)
68Armstrong County−0.4%−81,843Natural change (−45)
69Castro County−0.4%−297,295Domestic migration (−437)
70Bowie County−0.2%−21192,696Natural change (−961)
71Jim Wells County−0.2%−8438,804Domestic migration (−268)
72Childress County−0.2%−146,643Natural change (−77)
73Nueces County−0.2%−562352,992Domestic migration (−7,566)
74Menard County−0.2%−31,956Natural change (−104)
75Real County−0.1%−42,745Natural change (−204)
76Sherman County−0.1%−32,781Domestic migration (−189)
77Wichita County−0.0%−56129,555Natural change (−607)

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 Texas is losing population fastest?

Garza County: down 22.3% between 2020 and 2025, to 4,510 residents (−1,296 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Reeves County (−17.8%) and Jeff Davis County (−13.9%).

How many counties in Texas are losing population?

77 of the 246 ranked counties in Texas had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 169 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in Texas losing population?

Of the 77 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 22 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 55 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for Texas

Counties losing population in other states

Across the U.S.