RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 58 SHOWN OF 58

Fastest shrinking, California counties

California counties with the steepest population decline since the prior decennial census. This list covers the 58 counties in California that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

Flip the list · Fastest growing, US counties →

CaliforniaAll states All rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Most densely populated Most sparsely populated Best broadband access Worst broadband access

YEAR2000 2010 2020

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01Modoc County, CACA8,426-10.2%+330%

02Mono County, CACA12,505-7.1%−124%

03Lassen County, CACA28,117-6.2%−127%

04Mariposa County, CACA16,918-6.1%−131%

05Butte County, CACA209,211-3.8%−133%

06Del Norte County, CACA26,410-3.0%−118%

07Siskiyou County, CACA42,013-1.8%−204%

08Plumas County, CACA18,583-1.1%−120%

09Calaveras County, CACA46,605-0.6%−102%

10Kings County, CACA154,327-0.3%−101%

11Sierra County, CACA3,098-0.1%−102%

12Tuolumne County, CACA53,160+0.5%−96%

13Sonoma County, CACA486,444+1.0%−94%

14Napa County, CACA132,949+1.1%−91%

15Humboldt County, CACA131,647+1.4%−78%

16Colusa County, CACA21,836+2.0%−87%

17Los Angeles County, CACA9,694,934+2.0%−73%

18Alpine County, CACA1,043+2.5%−71%

19Ventura County, CACA830,851+2.5%−80%

20Inyo County, CACA18,158+2.5%−238%

21Shasta County, CACA181,648+2.8%−75%

22Glenn County, CACA28,141+2.8%−58%

23Imperial County, CACA181,411+3.0%−90%

24Santa Cruz County, CACA258,852+3.2%−71%

25Nevada County, CACA101,911+3.5%−80%

26Madera County, CACA167,927+3.6%−91%

27Tehama County, CACA64,665+3.7%−71%

28Marin County, CACA253,694+3.9%−47%

29Mendocino County, CACA88,122+4.3%−42%

30San Luis Obispo County, CACA282,367+4.7%−65%

31Sutter County, CACA98,787+5.2%−77%

32Lake County, CACA67,772+5.4%−64%

33El Dorado County, CACA192,323+5.6%−77%

34Santa Barbara County, CACA442,065+5.7%−29%

35Monterey County, CACA433,729+5.8%−55%

36Orange County, CACA3,149,507+5.9%−68%

37Amador County, CACA41,876+6.3%−63%

38San Mateo County, CACA743,568+6.4%−28%

39San Diego County, CACA3,282,248+6.6%−48%

40Tulare County, CACA485,146+7.0%−61%

41San Bernardino County, CACA2,224,091+7.2%−65%

42Stanislaus County, CACA557,719+7.5%−64%

43Yolo County, CACA224,410+7.7%−60%

44Kern County, CACA927,068+8.3%−62%

45Fresno County, CACA1,035,456+8.4%−57%

46San Francisco County, CACA826,079+8.5%+17%

47Santa Clara County, CACA1,914,391+8.7%−30%

48Solano County, CACA455,376+9.7%−39%

49Merced County, CACA297,260+9.9%−45%

50Riverside County, CACA2,544,916+10.4%−67%

51Contra Costa County, CACA1,170,070+11.1%−38%

52Alameda County, CACA1,636,630+11.4%−11%

53Sacramento County, CACA1,618,460+11.7%−33%

54Yuba County, CACA88,691+13.1%+282%

55San Joaquin County, CACA823,815+13.7%−21%

56Placer County, CACA442,081+16.2%−63%

57San Benito County, CACA70,082+16.2%−64%

58Trinity County, CACA15,720+16.9%−5476%

SHOWING 1–58 OF 58

Download CSV (full list, 58 rows)

UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES