RANKING · 2025 ESTIMATES · 95 SHOWN OF 95

Most sparsely populated, Tennessee counties

Tennessee counties with the fewest residents per square mile (2025). This list covers the 95 counties in Tennessee that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 95 is 76. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Lake County, TN, up 11 places to #11.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Fastest shrinking Most population gained Most population lost Most densely populated

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Perry County, TNTN9,12622+20%

02Wayne County, TNTN16,41622−3%

03Van Buren County, TNTN6,87425+25%

04Stewart County, TNTN14,43931+17%

05Hancock County, TNTN7,07532+4%

06▲2Haywood County, TNTN17,04232−14%

07▼1Pickett County, TNTN5,21932+6%

08▼1Clay County, TNTN7,82133−2%

09Decatur County, TNTN11,82035+1%

10Humphreys County, TNTN19,64637+10%

11▲11Lake County, TNTN6,24938−21%

12▲3Hardeman County, TNTN25,27438−10%

13▼2Bledsoe County, TNTN15,92039+29%

14▼1Grundy County, TNTN14,11639−2%

15▼1Jackson County, TNTN12,46640+13%

16▼4Fentress County, TNTN20,32241+22%

17▼1Benton County, TNTN16,18341−2%

18▲3Houston County, TNTN8,47942+5%

19▼2Morgan County, TNTN22,16042+12%

20Scott County, TNTN22,67143+7%

21▼3Polk County, TNTN18,59243+16%

22▼3Hickman County, TNTN26,21943+18%

23▲1McNairy County, TNTN26,23647+6%

24▼1Lewis County, TNTN13,48748+19%

25Hardin County, TNTN27,98348+9%

26Carroll County, TNTN29,20049−1%

27Giles County, TNTN31,43351+7%

28▲3Lauderdale County, TNTN24,61752−9%

29▲1Crockett County, TNTN14,00653−4%

30▼2Moore County, TNTN6,92054+21%

31▲1Henderson County, TNTN28,51855+12%

32▼3Overton County, TNTN23,78755+18%

33▲1Obion County, TNTN30,06755−7%

34▲1Weakley County, TNTN33,26157−5%

35▼2Cannon County, TNTN15,29658+19%

36Henry County, TNTN32,89659+6%

37Marion County, TNTN29,80460+7%

38▲2Johnson County, TNTN18,71863+7%

39▲2Chester County, TNTN17,99463+16%

40▼1Fayette County, TNTN45,07164+56%

41▲1Lincoln County, TNTN36,85365+18%

42▲1Smith County, TNTN20,98167+18%

43▼5Sequatchie County, TNTN17,86167+57%

44▲3Dyer County, TNTN36,32071−3%

45DeKalb County, TNTN21,87372+26%

46▼2Meigs County, TNTN14,18673+28%

47▼1Lawrence County, TNTN46,91476+18%

48▲2Claiborne County, TNTN33,22976+11%

49Monroe County, TNTN49,73078+28%

50▼2White County, TNTN29,61279+28%

51Franklin County, TNTN45,57982+16%

52Campbell County, TNTN40,29084+1%

53▲2Gibson County, TNTN51,77986+8%

54Cocke County, TNTN37,88987+13%

55▼2Macon County, TNTN27,66390+36%

56Grainger County, TNTN25,73992+25%

57Union County, TNTN21,45096+20%

58▲3Unicoi County, TNTN17,85696+1%

59▼1Cumberland County, TNTN66,30097+42%

60Warren County, TNTN43,717101+14%

61▼2Marshall County, TNTN38,071101+42%

62Trousdale County, TNTN12,623110+74%

63Rhea County, TNTN34,844110+23%

64Bedford County, TNTN55,273117+47%

65▲1Greene County, TNTN73,831119+17%

66▼1Dickson County, TNTN58,662120+36%

67Hawkins County, TNTN59,559122+11%

68McMinn County, TNTN57,404133+17%

69Tipton County, TNTN62,287137+21%

70▲1Cheatham County, TNTN42,778141+19%

71▼1Coffee County, TNTN62,419146+30%

72Roane County, TNTN57,395159+11%

73▲2Carter County, TNTN57,361168+1%

74▼1Robertson County, TNTN80,175168+47%

75▲1Sevier County, TNTN101,342171+42%

76▲1Madison County, TNTN100,790181+10%

77▼3Maury County, TNTN118,131193+70%

78▲1Putnam County, TNTN86,612216+39%

79▼1Jefferson County, TNTN60,024218+36%

80Anderson County, TNTN82,066243+15%

81▲1Blount County, TNTN143,820257+36%

82▼1Loudon County, TNTN63,764278+63%

83Wilson County, TNTN175,033306+97%

84Bradley County, TNTN115,465351+31%

85▲1Sullivan County, TNTN163,759396+7%

86▼1Sumner County, TNTN215,538407+65%

87Hamblen County, TNTN68,843427+18%

88Washington County, TNTN141,199432+32%

89Montgomery County, TNTN249,935464+85%

90Williamson County, TNTN272,061467+115%

91Rutherford County, TNTN386,352624+112%

92Hamilton County, TNTN390,833721+27%

93Knox County, TNTN511,4531,006+34%

94Shelby County, TNTN910,2261,196+1%

95Davidson County, TNTN745,9041,482+31%

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION ESTIMATES