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Which counties in Virginia are losing population?

43 of the 133 counties in Virginia had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Buchanan County lost the largest share, down 8.7% (−1,755 people). Norfolk (city) lost the most residents (−6,846).

Of the 43 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 10 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 43 Virginia counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in Virginia
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Buchanan County−8.7%−1,75518,492Natural change (−1,035)
2Dickenson County−6.0%−83913,236Natural change (−648)
3Norton (city)−5.5%−2033,477Natural change (−167)
4Bristol (city)−5.2%−90316,418Natural change (−891)
5Charlottesville (city)−4.4%−2,04544,388Domestic migration (−4,479)
6Emporia (city)−4.4%−2505,447Domestic migration (−152)
7Tazewell County−4.4%−1,77238,635Natural change (−2,082)
8Alleghany County−4.2%−64114,546Natural change (−827)
9Manassas Park (city)−3.5%−60116,560Domestic migration (−1,211)
10Wise County−3.5%−1,24834,824Natural change (−1,289)
11Henry County−3.2%−1,60349,242Natural change (−2,592)
12Smyth County−3.0%−89828,882Natural change (−1,453)
13Norfolk (city)−2.9%−6,846231,013Domestic migration (−15,736)
14Northampton County−2.8%−33811,879Natural change (−479)
15Bath County−2.6%−1094,076Natural change (−165)
16Danville (city)−2.2%−92541,647Natural change (−1,516)
17Lee County−2.1%−46821,642Natural change (−1,048)
18Charles City County−1.8%−1246,623Natural change (−290)
19Scott County−1.8%−39521,200Natural change (−1,122)
20Greensville County−1.8%−20611,181Natural change (−293)
21Russell County−1.7%−42925,332Natural change (−783)
22Bland County−1.7%−1046,151Natural change (−252)
23Harrisonburg (city)−1.7%−85950,839Domestic migration (−4,641)
24Craig County−1.6%−764,800Natural change (−187)
25Newport News (city)−1.5%−2,800183,230Domestic migration (−8,912)
26Pittsylvania County−1.5%−87959,490Natural change (−2,033)
27Halifax County−1.4%−49233,447Natural change (−1,246)
28Giles County−1.3%−22216,564Natural change (−521)
29Virginia Beach (city)−1.3%−5,889453,737Domestic migration (−17,665)
30Portsmouth (city)−1.2%−1,21496,777Domestic migration (−1,896)
31Wythe County−1.2%−34127,983Natural change (−976)
32Charlotte County−1.2%−13711,401Natural change (−224)
33Covington (city)−1.2%−675,680Natural change (−86)
34Montgomery County−1.2%−1,15998,434Domestic migration (−3,841)
35Patrick County−0.9%−15917,424Natural change (−922)
36Roanoke (city)−0.8%−79299,111Domestic migration (−2,646)
37Galax (city)−0.7%−466,670Natural change (−151)
38Pulaski County−0.7%−22033,586Natural change (−1,323)
39Brunswick County−0.6%−9715,727Natural change (−630)
40Sussex County−0.4%−4410,755Natural change (−381)
41Grayson County−0.3%−5215,230Natural change (−837)
42Washington County−0.0%−1253,898Natural change (−2,013)
43Rockbridge County−0.0%−522,663Natural change (−968)

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 Virginia is losing population fastest?

Buchanan County: down 8.7% between 2020 and 2025, to 18,492 residents (−1,755 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Dickenson County (−6.0%) and Norton (city) (−5.5%).

How many counties in Virginia are losing population?

43 of the 133 counties in Virginia had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 90 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in Virginia losing population?

Of the 43 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 10 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for Virginia

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