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.

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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

01Slope County, NDND628-11.0%+4.4 pts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION ESTIMATES