RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Fastest shrinking, US states · 2020

US states with the steepest population decline from the 2010 census to 2020. West Virginia leads at -3.2%. 51 states qualify in total.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

USUnited States331,449,281+7.7%–

01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,373-3.2%−486%

02Mississippi, MSMS2,946,779-0.2%−102%

03Illinois, ILIL12,694,798-0.1%−102%

04Connecticut, CTCT3,624,508+0.9%−75%

05Michigan, MIMI10,077,761+2.0%−72%

06Ohio, OHOH11,810,293+2.3%−51%

07Wyoming, WYWY582,397+2.3%−74%

08Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,639+2.4%−30%

09Maine, MEME1,387,817+2.6%−33%

10Louisiana, LALA4,611,961+2.7%−54%

11Vermont, VTVT647,106+2.8%−66%

12Missouri, MOMO6,191,814+2.8%−70%

13New Mexico, NMNM2,120,246+2.8%−86%

14Kansas, KSKS2,947,197+3.0%−65%

15Alaska, AKAK735,706+3.3%−77%

16Arkansas, ARAR3,049,391+3.3%−76%

17Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,872+3.6%−62%

18Kentucky, KYKY4,534,824+3.8%−60%

19New York, NYNY19,852,366+4.2%−22%

20Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,801+4.3%−5%

21New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,868+4.6%−59%

22Indiana, ININ6,851,073+4.7%−52%

23Iowa, IAIA3,210,507+4.7%−12%

24Alabama, ALAL5,086,768+5.1%−49%

25Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,634+5.5%−43%

26New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,809+5.7%−36%

27California, CACA39,287,377+6.1%−56%

28Hawaii, HIHI1,445,235+7.0%−25%

29Maryland, MDMD6,206,011+7.0%−35%

30Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,056+7.4%+33%

31Nebraska, NENE1,978,707+7.4%−12%

32Minnesota, MNMN5,739,445+7.6%−39%

33Virginia, VAVA8,705,170+7.9%−45%

34Tennessee, TNTN7,066,383+8.9%−47%

35South Dakota, SDSD907,428+8.9%+5%

36North Carolina, NCNC10,730,404+9.5%−56%

37Montana, MTMT1,116,875+9.6%−26%

38Delaware, DEDE1,021,191+10.2%−42%

39Georgia, GAGA10,940,407+10.6%−60%

40Oregon, OROR4,254,293+10.6%−48%

41South Carolina, SCSC5,296,225+10.7%−29%

42Arizona, AZAZ7,378,838+11.9%−70%

43Florida, FLFL22,416,077+14.6%−38%

44Washington, WAWA7,816,116+14.6%−31%

45District of Columbia, DCDC681,294+14.6%−354%

46Colorado, COCO5,862,189+14.8%−52%

47Nevada, NVNV3,184,612+15.0%−77%

48North Dakota, NDND784,841+15.8%+2875%

49Texas, TXTX30,188,424+15.9%−30%

50Idaho, IDID1,934,262+17.3%−39%

51Utah, UTUT3,392,331+18.4%−38%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the lowest population growth?

West Virginia ranks #1 with -3.2% (2020 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by population growth?

West Virginia, Mississippi, Illinois, Connecticut, Michigan.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 Decennial Census data.

How is population growth measured?

Percent change in population from the prior decennial census. Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.