RANKING · 2025 ESTIMATES · 53 SHOWN OF 53

Fastest shrinking, North Dakota counties

North Dakota counties with the steepest population decline from the 2020 census to 2025. This list covers the 53 counties in North Dakota that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 53 is -1.5%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Mountrail County, ND, up 42 places to #8.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01▲21Slope County, NDND628-11.0%+4.4 pts

02▲13Bowman County, NDND2,762-7.7%+2.1 pts

03▲11Wells County, NDND3,729-6.4%+6.6 pts

04▲6Sioux County, NDND3,667-5.9%−13.5 pts

05▲15Towner County, NDND2,040-5.6%+15.1 pts

06▲2Cavalier County, NDND3,497-5.6%+14.7 pts

07▲28Foster County, NDND3,212-5.4%+0.2 pts

08▲42Mountrail County, NDND9,395-4.2%+1.3 pts

09▲10Grant County, NDND2,206-4.1%+15.8 pts

10▼9Rolette County, NDND11,688-4.1%−11.2 pts

11▼5Pembina County, NDND6,568-4.0%+3.0 pts

12▲16McHenry County, NDND5,130-4.0%+4.3 pts

13▲19Sargent County, NDND3,711-3.9%+0.1 pts

14▲26Divide County, NDND2,110-3.9%+17.4 pts

15▼10Pierce County, NDND3,838-3.8%+3.7 pts

16Walsh County, NDND10,179-3.6%+6.8 pts

17▼15Benson County, NDND5,759-3.4%−0.2 pts

18▲25Burke County, NDND2,132-3.1%+22.2 pts

19▼16McIntosh County, NDND2,451-3.1%+12.6 pts

20▼3Griggs County, NDND2,239-2.9%+13.7 pts

21▼12Emmons County, NDND3,215-2.6%+7.7 pts

22▲1Barnes County, NDND10,573-2.6%+3.6 pts

23▲21Ward County, NDND68,233-2.4%−3.9 pts

24▼11Dickey County, NDND4,895-2.1%+3.7 pts

25▼4Nelson County, NDND2,963-1.7%+14.0 pts

26▲13Ransom County, NDND5,617-1.5%−1.0 pts

27▲3Bottineau County, NDND6,284-1.5%+9.3 pts

28▼2Traill County, NDND7,920-1.0%+2.2 pts

29▼17Logan County, NDND1,859-0.9%+18.0 pts

30▲15Dunn County, NDND4,058-0.9%+9.2 pts

31▲6Stutsman County, NDND21,414-0.8%+0.7 pts

32▼7Eddy County, NDND2,329-0.8%+5.8 pts

33▲1Ramsey County, NDND11,530-0.6%+4.2 pts

34▲7McLean County, NDND9,740-0.3%+10.6 pts

35▼31Steele County, NDND1,797-0.1%+6.6 pts

36▼12Kidder County, NDND2,393-0.0%+17.3 pts

37▼6Hettinger County, NDND2,492+0.1%+21.3 pts

38▼11LaMoure County, NDND4,135+1.0%+13.7 pts

39▼10Mercer County, NDND8,441+1.1%+13.0 pts

40▲11Stark County, NDND34,013+1.1%+1.9 pts

41▼5Oliver County, NDND1,898+1.1%+14.4 pts

42▼9Richland County, NDND16,731+1.2%+2.0 pts

43▼1Grand Forks County, NDND74,501+1.8%+8.3 pts

44▲8Williams County, NDND41,767+2.0%+8.5 pts

45▼38Renville County, NDND2,331+2.1%+19.6 pts

46▼28Sheridan County, NDND1,296+2.5%+22.8 pts

47▲6McKenzie County, NDND15,192+3.3%+13.4 pts

48▼37Adams County, NDND2,275+3.4%+21.7 pts

49▼1Morton County, NDND34,601+3.9%−2.8 pts

50▼12Golden Valley County, NDND1,808+4.1%+12.9 pts

51▼4Burleigh County, NDND103,251+4.9%−10.6 pts

52▼3Cass County, NDND201,794+9.4%−10.3 pts

53▼7Billings County, NDND1,071+13.3%+33.2 pts

SHOWING 1–53 OF 53

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION ESTIMATES