CensusEasy
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.

Flip the list · Fastest growing, US states →
All statesAll rankings
SAME RANKING BYCitiesCountiesMetros
RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000
USUnited States331,449,281+7.7%–
01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,373-3.2%−4.0 pts
02Mississippi, MSMS2,946,779-0.2%−10.8 pts
03Illinois, ILIL12,694,798-0.1%−8.8 pts
04Connecticut, CTCT3,624,508+0.9%−2.7 pts
05Michigan, MIMI10,077,761+2.0%−5.0 pts
06Ohio, OHOH11,810,293+2.3%−2.4 pts
07Wyoming, WYWY582,397+2.3%−6.5 pts
08Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,639+2.4%−1.0 pts
09Maine, MEME1,387,817+2.6%−1.3 pts
10Louisiana, LALA4,611,961+2.7%−3.2 pts
11Vermont, VTVT647,106+2.8%−5.4 pts
12Missouri, MOMO6,191,814+2.8%−6.6 pts
13New Mexico, NMNM2,120,246+2.8%−17.2 pts
14Kansas, KSKS2,947,197+3.0%−5.5 pts
15Alaska, AKAK735,706+3.3%−10.7 pts
16Arkansas, ARAR3,049,391+3.3%−10.4 pts
17Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,872+3.6%−6.0 pts
18Kentucky, KYKY4,534,824+3.8%−5.8 pts
19New York, NYNY19,852,366+4.2%−1.2 pts
20Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,801+4.3%−0.2 pts
21New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,868+4.6%−6.8 pts
22Indiana, ININ6,851,073+4.7%−5.0 pts
23Iowa, IAIA3,210,507+4.7%−0.7 pts
24Alabama, ALAL5,086,768+5.1%−4.9 pts
25Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,634+5.5%−4.2 pts
26New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,809+5.7%−3.2 pts
27California, CACA39,287,377+6.1%−7.7 pts
28Hawaii, HIHI1,445,235+7.0%−2.3 pts
29Maryland, MDMD6,206,011+7.0%−3.8 pts
30Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,056+7.4%+1.8 pts
31Nebraska, NENE1,978,707+7.4%−1.0 pts
32Minnesota, MNMN5,739,445+7.6%−4.9 pts
33Virginia, VAVA8,705,170+7.9%−6.5 pts
34Tennessee, TNTN7,066,383+8.9%−7.8 pts
35South Dakota, SDSD907,428+8.9%+0.4 pts
36North Carolina, NCNC10,730,404+9.5%−12.0 pts
37Montana, MTMT1,116,875+9.6%−3.3 pts
38Delaware, DEDE1,021,191+10.2%−7.4 pts
39Georgia, GAGA10,940,407+10.6%−15.8 pts
40Oregon, OROR4,254,293+10.6%−9.8 pts
41South Carolina, SCSC5,296,225+10.7%−4.4 pts
42Arizona, AZAZ7,378,838+11.9%−28.1 pts
43Florida, FLFL22,416,077+14.6%−9.0 pts
44Washington, WAWA7,816,116+14.6%−6.5 pts
45District of Columbia, DCDC681,294+14.6%+20.3 pts
46Colorado, COCO5,862,189+14.8%−15.8 pts
47Nevada, NVNV3,184,612+15.0%−51.3 pts
48North Dakota, NDND784,841+15.8%+15.3 pts
49Texas, TXTX30,188,424+15.9%−6.8 pts
50Idaho, IDID1,934,262+17.3%−11.2 pts
51Utah, UTUT3,392,331+18.4%−11.3 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-08-08 · 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.