RANKING · 2025 ESTIMATES · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Fastest shrinking, Minnesota counties

Minnesota counties with the steepest population decline from the 2020 census to 2025. This list covers the 87 counties in Minnesota that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Most population gained Most population lost Most densely populated Most sparsely populated

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01Traverse County, MNMN3,130-6.8%−7%

02Mahnomen County, MNMN5,153-4.8%−265%

03Kittson County, MNMN4,031-4.2%−50%

04Koochiching County, MNMN11,587-3.9%−67%

05Wilkin County, MNMN6,288-3.4%−33%

06Martin County, MNMN19,440-2.9%−40%

07Murray County, MNMN7,942-2.9%−43%

08Marshall County, MNMN8,798-2.7%−65%

09Renville County, MNMN14,356-2.5%−15%

10Houston County, MNMN18,400-2.4%−136%

11Pennington County, MNMN13,686-2.2%−205%

12Big Stone County, MNMN5,054-2.2%−71%

13Polk County, MNMN30,545-2.1%−40%

14Ramsey County, MNMN541,623-1.9%−137%

15Rock County, MNMN9,524-1.9%+114%

16Pipestone County, MNMN9,260-1.7%−69%

17Norman County, MNMN6,336-1.6%−76%

18Brown County, MNMN25,517-1.5%+463%

19Chippewa County, MNMN12,406-1.5%+44%

20Waseca County, MNMN18,688-1.5%−118%

21Freeborn County, MNMN30,440-1.5%+2%

22Lake County, MNMN10,746-1.5%−124%

23Cook County, MNMN5,522-1.4%−104%

24Jackson County, MNMN9,857-1.3%−62%

25Redwood County, MNMN15,265-1.0%−59%

26Lincoln County, MNMN5,583-1.0%−85%

27Cottonwood County, MNMN11,405-1.0%−77%

28Swift County, MNMN9,763-0.8%−107%

29Roseau County, MNMN15,246-0.6%−106%

30Yellow Medicine County, MNMN9,477-0.5%−90%

31Nicollet County, MNMN34,273-0.5%−109%

32McLeod County, MNMN36,631-0.4%−104%

33Faribault County, MNMN13,888-0.2%−95%

34Lac qui Parle County, MNMN6,704-0.2%−98%

35Red Lake County, MNMN3,940+0.1%−103%

36St. Louis County, MNMN200,518+0.1%−88%

37Steele County, MNMN37,464+0.2%−98%

38Grant County, MNMN6,085+0.2%−74%

39Lake of the Woods County, MNMN3,770+0.2%−98%

40Nobles County, MNMN22,338+0.2%−94%

41Hennepin County, MNMN1,284,784+0.3%−97%

42Wabasha County, MNMN21,537+0.7%−93%

43Stevens County, MNMN9,747+0.8%−114%

44Itasca County, MNMN45,404+0.9%−89%

45Meeker County, MNMN23,603+0.9%−90%

46Benton County, MNMN41,744+0.9%−93%

47Becker County, MNMN35,497+0.9%−88%

48Pope County, MNMN11,420+1.0%−78%

49Goodhue County, MNMN48,195+1.3%−85%

50Carlton County, MNMN36,711+1.4%−83%

51Clearwater County, MNMN8,647+1.4%+5%

52Fillmore County, MNMN21,540+1.5%−11%

53Otter Tail County, MNMN61,041+1.6%−87%

54Lyon County, MNMN25,684+1.6%−36%

55Winona County, MNMN50,523+1.7%−62%

56Beltrami County, MNMN47,055+1.8%−88%

57Morrison County, MNMN34,620+1.8%−75%

58Watonwan County, MNMN11,459+1.8%+10%

59Blue Earth County, MNMN70,634+2.2%−37%

60Kandiyohi County, MNMN44,720+2.3%−64%

61Wadena County, MNMN14,388+2.3%−46%

62Mower County, MNMN40,971+2.4%−28%

63Olmsted County, MNMN166,731+2.4%−86%

64Dodge County, MNMN21,376+2.4%−81%

65Le Sueur County, MNMN29,453+2.7%−71%

66Douglas County, MNMN40,120+2.9%−80%

67Todd County, MNMN26,060+3.2%−31%

68Sibley County, MNMN15,356+3.5%−49%

69Aitkin County, MNMN16,252+3.5%−85%

70Stearns County, MNMN164,110+3.7%−70%

71Clay County, MNMN67,734+3.7%+131%

72Kanabec County, MNMN16,628+3.7%−78%

73Dakota County, MNMN457,710+4.1%−86%

74Rice County, MNMN69,939+4.2%−72%

75Chisago County, MNMN59,142+4.5%−87%

76Cass County, MNMN31,430+4.5%−82%

77Crow Wing County, MNMN69,132+4.6%−81%

78Hubbard County, MNMN22,369+4.8%−79%

79Anoka County, MNMN381,605+4.9%−78%

80Mille Lacs County, MNMN27,753+4.9%−75%

81Scott County, MNMN159,017+5.4%−90%

82Pine County, MNMN30,472+5.5%−78%

83Carver County, MNMN114,379+7.0%−85%

84Sherburne County, MNMN104,194+7.2%−87%

85Washington County, MNMN286,895+7.2%−81%

86Isanti County, MNMN44,386+7.9%−62%

87Wright County, MNMN157,559+11.5%−63%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION ESTIMATES