Most population lost, US cities · 2000
US cities that lost the most residents from the 1990 census to 2000, by raw count of people rather than percentage. Baltimore, Maryland leads at -84,860. 6,036 cities qualify in total. Cities with fewer than 5,000 residents are excluded. Ohio carries 5 of the top 25 entries.
Flip the list · Most population gained, US cities →UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS
Frequently asked
Which city has the lowest population change?
Baltimore, Maryland ranks #1 with -84,860 (2000 Decennial Census).
What are the top 5 cities by population change?
Baltimore, Maryland, Detroit, Michigan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, St. Louis, Missouri, Buffalo, New York.
How many cities are in this ranking?
6,036 cities qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability (minimum 5,000 residents). The ranking covers 2000 Decennial Census data.
How is population change measured?
Change in the number of residents from the prior decennial census (raw count, not a percentage). Source: US Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census.