RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 500 SHOWN OF 3,122
Largest by population, US counties · 1990
The most populous US counties as of the 1990 population estimates. Los Angeles County, California leads at 8,863,164. 3,122 counties qualify in total. California carries 7 of the top 25 entries.
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RANKPLACESTATETOTAL POPULATIONVS –
USUnited States248,709,873–
UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS
Frequently asked
Which county has the highest total population?
Los Angeles County, California ranks #1 with 8,863,164 (1990 Decennial Census).
What are the top 5 counties by total population?
Los Angeles County, California, Cook County, Illinois, Harris County, Texas, San Diego County, California, Orange County, California.
How many counties are in this ranking?
3,122 counties qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 Decennial Census data.
How is total population measured?
Total resident population. Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census.