RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 500 SHOWN OF 3,122
Most sparsely populated, US counties · 1990
US counties with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska leads at 0. 3,122 counties qualify in total. Alaska carries 9 of the top 25 entries.
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RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000
UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES
Frequently asked
Which county has the lowest population density?
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska ranks #1 with 0 (1990 American Community Survey).
What are the top 5 counties by population density?
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, North Slope, Alaska, Lake and Peninsula, Alaska, Loving County, Texas, Northwest Arctic, Alaska.
How many counties are in this ranking?
3,122 counties qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 ACS 5-year data.
How is population density measured?
Residents per square mile of land area. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (1990).