RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Fastest shrinking, Minnesota counties

Minnesota counties with the steepest population decline since the prior decennial census. This list covers the 87 counties in Minnesota that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

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YEAR2000 2010 2020

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01Koochiching County, MNMN11,587-9.4%−21%

02Yellow Medicine County, MNMN9,477-8.7%+69%

03Kittson County, MNMN4,031-7.6%−9%

04Lac qui Parle County, MNMN6,704-7.4%−23%

05Lake of the Woods County, MNMN3,770-7.0%−164%

06Renville County, MNMN14,356-6.4%+118%

07Murray County, MNMN7,942-6.3%+22%

08Norman County, MNMN6,336-6.0%−10%

09Traverse County, MNMN3,130-5.6%−25%

10Faribault County, MNMN13,888-4.3%−3%

11Lincoln County, MNMN5,583-4.3%−35%

12Marshall County, MNMN8,798-4.2%−45%

13Redwood County, MNMN15,265-3.9%+55%

14Martin County, MNMN19,440-3.9%−19%

15Red Lake County, MNMN3,940-3.8%−25%

16Winona County, MNMN50,523-3.5%−177%

17Aitkin County, MNMN16,252-3.1%−113%

18Pine County, MNMN30,472-2.9%−112%

19Jackson County, MNMN9,857-2.7%−23%

20Sibley County, MNMN15,356-2.6%−137%

21Lyon County, MNMN25,684-2.3%−189%

22Clearwater County, MNMN8,647-2.0%−243%

23Big Stone County, MNMN5,054-2.0%−74%

24Roseau County, MNMN15,246-1.9%−122%

25Pipestone County, MNMN9,260-1.8%−68%

26Cottonwood County, MNMN11,405-1.5%−65%

27Wabasha County, MNMN21,537-1.3%−114%

28Polk County, MNMN30,545-1.3%−63%

29Kanabec County, MNMN16,628-1.3%−107%

30Freeborn County, MNMN30,440-1.2%−20%

31Wilkin County, MNMN6,288-1.1%−79%

32Houston County, MNMN18,400-1.0%−115%

33Waseca County, MNMN18,688-0.9%−111%

34Stevens County, MNMN9,747-0.6%−90%

35Itasca County, MNMN45,404-0.1%−101%

36Mahnomen County, MNMN5,153-0.0%−101%

37St. Louis County, MNMN200,518+0.0%−100%

38Brown County, MNMN25,517+0.1%−127%

39Rock County, MNMN9,524+0.2%−120%

40McLeod County, MNMN36,631+0.3%−96%

41Lake County, MNMN10,746+0.4%−94%

42Watonwan County, MNMN11,459+0.4%−77%

43Meeker County, MNMN23,603+0.4%−95%

44Pennington County, MNMN13,686+0.4%−79%

45Swift County, MNMN9,763+0.6%−95%

46Grant County, MNMN6,085+0.9%+35%

47Chippewa County, MNMN12,406+1.3%−219%

48Mille Lacs County, MNMN27,753+1.4%−93%

49Todd County, MNMN26,060+1.5%−68%

50Wadena County, MNMN14,388+1.6%−62%

51Fillmore County, MNMN21,540+1.7%+4%

52Mower County, MNMN40,971+2.2%−32%

53Steele County, MNMN37,464+2.3%−76%

54Carlton County, MNMN36,711+2.3%−72%

55Morrison County, MNMN34,620+2.4%−66%

56Pope County, MNMN11,420+2.8%−38%

57Goodhue County, MNMN48,195+3.0%−64%

58Le Sueur County, MNMN29,453+3.5%−63%

59Kandiyohi County, MNMN44,720+3.5%−44%

60Dodge County, MNMN21,376+3.9%−69%

61Beltrami County, MNMN47,055+4.0%−74%

62Nobles County, MNMN22,338+4.3%+17%

63Hubbard County, MNMN22,369+4.5%−81%

64Rice County, MNMN69,939+4.6%−70%

65Otter Tail County, MNMN61,041+4.8%−62%

66Chisago County, MNMN59,142+5.1%−85%

67Stearns County, MNMN164,110+5.1%−58%

68Cass County, MNMN31,430+5.2%−79%

69Nicollet County, MNMN34,273+5.3%−13%

70Crow Wing County, MNMN69,132+5.8%−76%

71Benton County, MNMN41,744+7.6%−43%

72Blue Earth County, MNMN70,634+8.0%+127%

73Cook County, MNMN5,522+8.2%−76%

74Becker County, MNMN35,497+8.2%+8%

75Douglas County, MNMN40,120+8.3%−42%

76Ramsey County, MNMN541,623+8.6%+65%

77Isanti County, MNMN44,386+8.8%−58%

78Sherburne County, MNMN104,194+9.8%−82%

79Anoka County, MNMN381,605+10.0%−55%

80Dakota County, MNMN457,710+10.4%−65%

81Clay County, MNMN67,734+10.7%+569%

82Hennepin County, MNMN1,284,784+11.2%+38%

83Washington County, MNMN286,895+12.4%−67%

84Olmsted County, MNMN166,731+12.9%−23%

85Wright County, MNMN157,559+13.3%−57%

86Scott County, MNMN159,017+16.2%−70%

87Carver County, MNMN114,379+17.4%−63%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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