RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 500 SHOWN OF 3,122

Most sparsely populated, US counties · 1990

US counties with the fewest residents per square mile (1990). Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska leads at 0. 3,122 counties qualify in total. Alaska carries 9 of the top 25 entries. The median across all 3,122 is 38.

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All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS –

USUnited States248,709,873221–

01Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AKAK5,0280–

02North Slope, AKAK10,5820–

03Lake and Peninsula, AKAK1,3570–

04Loving County, TXTX520–

05Northwest Arctic, AKAK7,0950–

06Dillingham Census Area, AKAK4,4830–

07Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AKAK7,2700–

08Petroleum County, MTMT5480–

09Kenedy County, TXTX3190–

10Bethel Census Area, AKAK18,3910–

11Garfield County, MTMT1,1480–

12Aleutians East, AKAK3,4790–

13Lincoln County, NVNV4,3200–

14Nome Census Area, AKAK9,8300–

15Catron County, NMNM3,8270–

16Eureka County, NVNV1,8670–

17Esmeralda County, NVNV7290–

18King County, TXTX1920–

19Hinsdale County, COCO7530–

20Clark County, IDID7830–

21Carter County, MTMT1,3830–

22Harding County, NMNM6170–

23Terrell County, TXTX7021–

24Harding County, SDSD1,3311–

25Powder River County, MTMT1,7811–

26McPherson County, NENE3691–

27Mineral County, COCO9101–

28Hudspeth County, TXTX3,4331–

29Arthur County, NENE3961–

30Camas County, IDID1,3161–

31Harney County, OROR7,3801–

32McMullen County, TXTX5441–

33Pershing County, NVNV6,4211–

34Slope County, NDND6281–

35Sioux County, NENE1,1881–

36Meagher County, MTMT2,1371–

37Garfield County, UTUT5,2561–

38Golden Valley County, MTMT8441–

39Prairie County, MTMT1,1121–

40Wheeler County, OROR1,4721–

41Custer County, IDID4,6361–

42Jeff Davis County, TXTX1,7111–

43McCone County, MTMT1,7201–

44Lake County, OROR8,1871–

45Wayne County, UTUT2,5871–

46Borden County, TXTX5671–

47Culberson County, TXTX2,2671–

48Treasure County, MTMT7281–

49Haines, AKAK2,0681–

50Blaine County, NENE4581–

51Niobrara County, WYWY2,3411–

52Kiowa County, COCO1,4121–

53Billings County, NDND1,0711–

54De Baca County, NMNM1,6471–

55Nye County, NVNV57,3361–

56Grant County, NENE5611–

57Daggett County, UTUT9341–

58Sublette County, WYWY8,9291–

59Jackson County, COCO1,2111–

60Phillips County, MTMT4,2031–

61White Pine County, NVNV8,6611–

62Cherry County, NENE5,5611–

63Edwards County, TXTX1,3701–

64Union County, NMNM3,8441–

65Owyhee County, IDID12,6611–

66Hooker County, NENE6861–

67Roberts County, TXTX8671–

68Kent County, TXTX6741–

69Ziebach County, SDSD2,3891–

70Lander County, NVNV5,8721–

71Banner County, NENE6861–

72Thomas County, NENE6391–

73Loup County, NENE5701–

74Judith Basin County, MTMT2,1621–

75Kane County, UTUT8,5971–

76Butte County, IDID2,7831–

77Keya Paha County, NENE7921–

78Humboldt County, NVNV17,2671–

79Wibaux County, MTMT8851–

80Cheyenne County, COCO1,7131–

81Jones County, SDSD9131–

82Perkins County, SDSD2,8531–

83Guadalupe County, NMNM4,3431–

84Chouteau County, MTMT5,8651–

85Brewster County, TXTX9,4581–

86Dolores County, COCO2,4661–

87Gilliam County, OROR1,9711–

88Garden County, NENE1,8041–

89Haakon County, SDSD1,8021–

90Crockett County, TXTX2,7691–

91Saguache County, COCO6,7321–

92Granite County, MTMT3,6581–

93Johnson County, WYWY8,9081–

94Alpine County, CACA1,0432–

95Jackson County, SDSD2,6662–

96Lemhi County, IDID8,4742–

97Oldham County, TXTX1,7832–

98Beaverhead County, MTMT10,0432–

99Logan County, NENE6692–

100Motley County, TXTX1,0432–

101Irion County, TXTX1,4632–

102Sterling County, TXTX1,3492–

103Sully County, SDSD1,4792–

104Wheatland County, MTMT2,1002–

105Daniels County, MTMT1,6122–

106Blaine County, MTMT6,8602–

107Liberty County, MTMT1,9572–

108Matanuska-Susitna, AKAK118,6662–

109Glasscock County, TXTX1,1282–

110San Juan County, UTUT14,5422–

111Idaho County, IDID17,8742–

112Mellette County, SDSD2,1372–

113Wheeler County, NENE7892–

114Valley County, IDID12,8312–

115Madison County, MTMT10,0262–

116Millard County, UTUT14,0572–

117Valley County, MTMT7,3852–

118Rich County, UTUT2,6872–

119Piute County, UTUT1,5092–

120Stanley County, SDSD3,0182–

121Corson County, SDSD3,7812–

122Sweet Grass County, MTMT3,7622–

123Hayes County, NENE8212–

124Juab County, UTUT13,5672–

125Presidio County, TXTX5,4332–

126Mineral County, NVNV4,4072–

127Hidalgo County, NMNM3,9292–

128Grant County, OROR7,0752–

129Lincoln County, COCO5,6452–

130Baca County, COCO3,3472–

131Inyo County, CACA18,1582–

132Cimarron County, OKOK2,0592–

133Grand County, UTUT9,7902–

134Beaver County, UTUT7,3012–

135Boise County, IDID8,5452–

136Rio Blanco County, COCO6,6832–

137Crook County, WYWY7,8522–

138Washington County, COCO4,7322–

139Fallon County, MTMT2,9592–

140San Juan County, COCO8132–

141Elko County, NVNV54,8152–

142Hyde County, SDSD1,1912–

143Kodiak Island, AKAK12,3872–

144Wallace County, KSKS1,4412–

145Dunn County, NDND4,0582–

146Rock County, NENE1,2592–

147Throckmorton County, TXTX1,5542–

148Rosebud County, MTMT8,2532–

149Golden Valley County, NDND1,8082–

150Carbon County, WYWY14,0132–

151Grant County, NDND2,2062–

152Aleutians West Census Area, AKAK5,2402–

153Briscoe County, TXTX1,4742–

154Wallowa County, OROR7,5952–

155Stonewall County, TXTX1,1862–

156Musselshell County, MTMT5,5822–

157Sheridan County, NDND1,2962–

158Mora County, NMNM4,0512–

159Lyman County, SDSD3,6942–

160Socorro County, NMNM15,8382–

161Armstrong County, TXTX1,8432–

162Big Horn County, MTMT12,7522–

163Greeley County, KSKS1,1822–

164Schleicher County, TXTX2,2452–

165Kinney County, TXTX3,1282–

166Divide County, NDND2,1102–

167McKenzie County, NDND15,1922–

168Emery County, UTUT10,1772–

169Sherman County, OROR2,0512–

170Sierra County, NMNM11,3952–

171Adams County, IDID5,0132–

172Moffat County, COCO13,1222–

173Hamilton County, KSKS2,5002–

174Dewey County, SDSD5,4192–

175Hot Springs County, WYWY4,6002–

176Modoc County, CACA8,4262–

177Kidder County, NDND2,3932–

178Clark County, KSKS1,9002–

179Hartley County, TXTX4,9042–

180Cottle County, TXTX1,2242–

181Menard County, TXTX1,9562–

182Lincoln County, NMNM19,8443–

183Hodgeman County, KSKS1,6193–

184Foard County, TXTX1,0443–

185Kenai Peninsula, AKAK61,9513–

186Costilla County, COCO3,6793–

187Custer County, COCO5,5903–

188Converse County, WYWY13,8243–

189Malheur County, OROR32,2613–

190Toole County, MTMT5,2113–

191Cook County, MNMN5,5223–

192Campbell County, SDSD1,3773–

193Bennett County, SDSD3,3073–

194Mineral County, MTMT5,1853–

195Weston County, WYWY6,8403–

196Burke County, NDND2,1323–

197Lincoln County, IDID5,6033–

198Teton County, MTMT6,4963–

199Sheridan County, NENE4,8093–

200Broadwater County, MTMT8,4933–

201Fergus County, MTMT11,8253–

202Faulk County, SDSD2,1783–

203Teton County, WYWY23,3333–

204Dundy County, NENE1,5683–

205Sheridan County, MTMT3,4363–

206San Miguel County, COCO7,7533–

207McPherson County, SDSD2,3473–

208Sutton County, TXTX3,2033–

209Powell County, MTMT7,1573–

210Ketchikan Gateway, AKAK13,5493–

211Dickens County, TXTX1,6923–

212Ferry County, WAWA7,5173–

213Logan County, NDND1,8593–

214Logan County, KSKS2,6613–

215Las Animas County, COCO14,3913–

216Oneida County, IDID5,0853–

217Bristol Bay, AKAK8473–

218Comanche County, KSKS1,6733–

219Hand County, SDSD3,1213–

220Sitka, AKAK8,3193–

221Brown County, NENE2,8263–

222Gove County, KSKS2,6313–

223Hettinger County, NDND2,4923–

224Hamilton County, NYNY5,0063–

225Torrance County, NMNM16,1003–

226La Paz County, AZAZ16,7113–

227Pecos County, TXTX14,5603–

228Custer County, MTMT12,0343–

229Concho County, TXTX3,6073–

230Bowman County, NDND2,7623–

231Sherman County, TXTX2,7813–

232Lincoln County, WYWY21,1803–

233Sanders County, MTMT14,0623–

234Lake of the Woods County, MNMN3,7703–

235Keweenaw County, MIMI2,1863–

236Garfield County, WAWA2,4163–

237Gunnison County, COCO17,4393–

238Cheyenne County, KSKS2,6043–

239Frontier County, NENE2,6553–

240Rawlins County, KSKS2,4313–

241Emmons County, NDND3,2153–

242Adams County, NDND2,2753–

243Mono County, CACA12,5053–

244Park County, COCO18,3143–

245Kimble County, TXTX4,4383–

246Oliver County, NDND1,8983–

247Kit Carson County, COCO7,0693–

248Lane County, KSKS1,5083–

249Beaver County, OKOK4,8823–

250Bent County, COCO5,7163–

251Park County, WYWY31,1713–

252Big Horn County, WYWY12,0243–

253Lipscomb County, TXTX2,9553–

254Sheridan County, KSKS2,4273–

255Steele County, NDND1,7973–

256Stanton County, KSKS1,9863–

257Sioux County, NDND3,6673–

258Colfax County, NMNM12,1843–

259Real County, TXTX2,7453–

260Clearwater County, IDID9,1183–

261Sierra County, CACA3,0983–

262McHenry County, NDND5,1303–

263Butte County, SDSD10,8564–

264La Salle County, TXTX6,5174–

265Towner County, NDND2,0404–

266Upton County, TXTX3,1314–

267Renville County, NDND2,3314–

268Churchill County, NVNV25,8514–

269Shackelford County, TXTX3,1974–

270Dallam County, TXTX7,5084–

271Roger Mills County, OKOK3,2594–

272Stillwater County, MTMT9,4454–

273Ellis County, OKOK3,6134–

274Fremont County, WYWY39,4644–

275Mason County, TXTX3,9904–

276Potter County, SDSD2,3774–

277Sweetwater County, WYWY41,2674–

278Buffalo County, SDSD1,8024–

279Washakie County, WYWY7,5974–

280Ness County, KSKS2,6174–

281Morrow County, OROR12,6024–

282Coke County, TXTX3,4124–

283Garfield County, NENE1,7104–

284Quay County, NMNM8,4544–

285Huerfano County, COCO7,0114–

286Tooele County, UTUT87,4614–

287Yuma County, COCO9,8964–

288Morrill County, NENE4,4044–

289Perkins County, NENE2,8494–

290Lincoln County, WAWA11,9824–

291Wichita County, KSKS2,0314–

292Reagan County, TXTX3,1664–

293Mountrail County, NDND9,3954–

294Edmunds County, SDSD4,0224–

295Collingsworth County, TXTX2,4874–

296Chase County, KSKS2,5724–

297Duchesne County, UTUT20,8564–

298Harper County, OKOK3,1724–

299Platte County, WYWY8,6344–

300Graham County, KSKS2,3714–

301Carbon County, MTMT11,4664–

302Caribou County, IDID7,2524–

303Archuleta County, COCO14,3064–

304Pondera County, MTMT6,0724–

305Custer County, SDSD9,4314–

306Donley County, TXTX3,2134–

307Dawson County, MTMT8,6924–

308Glacier County, MTMT13,4634–

309Cavalier County, NDND3,4974–

310Hemphill County, TXTX3,0834–

311Trinity County, CACA15,7204–

312McIntosh County, NDND2,4514–

313Trego County, KSKS2,7404–

314Gosper County, NENE1,8034–

315Fall River County, SDSD7,4674–

316Ouray County, COCO5,2654–

317Tripp County, SDSD5,7084–

318Grand County, COCO16,4964–

319Kimball County, NENE3,3914–

320Meade County, KSKS3,8524–

321Greenlee County, AZAZ9,3124–

322Hall County, TXTX2,7374–

323Aurora County, SDSD2,8014–

324Nelson County, NDND2,9634–

325Jim Hogg County, TXTX4,5554–

326Decatur County, KSKS2,7165–

327Clark County, SDSD4,0315–

328Jerauld County, SDSD1,6545–

329Wells County, NDND3,7295–

330Issaquena County, MSMS1,2635–

331Kearny County, KSKS3,8885–

332Columbia County, WAWA4,1415–

333Griggs County, NDND2,2395–

334Roosevelt County, MTMT10,2425–

335Jewell County, KSKS2,8305–

336Eddy County, NDND2,3295–

337LaMoure County, NDND4,1355–

338Piscataquis County, MEME17,4095–

339Crook County, OROR27,5645–

340San Saba County, TXTX5,7875–

341Custer County, NENE10,5005–

342Morton County, KSKS2,4705–

343Jefferson County, MTMT13,3295–

344Bottineau County, NDND6,2845–

345Lincoln County, MTMT22,3285–

346Chase County, NENE3,7185–

347Sedgwick County, COCO2,2475–

348Lake County, MNMN10,7465–

349Uintah County, UTUT38,2785–

350McLean County, NDND9,7405–

351Pierce County, NDND3,8385–

352Sanborn County, SDSD2,3885–

353Baker County, OROR16,6585–

354Skamania County, WAWA12,6695–

355Crowley County, COCO5,6775–

356Power County, IDID8,2465–

357Baylor County, TXTX3,4725–

358Kiowa County, KSKS2,4325–

359Lincoln County, KSKS2,8615–

360Deuel County, NENE1,8625–

361Blaine County, IDID25,5175–

362Richland County, MTMT11,3775–

363Elk County, KSKS2,4585–

364Barber County, KSKS4,0835–

365Benson County, NDND5,7595–

366Coconino County, AZAZ144,3685–

367Park County, MTMT18,2145–

368Elbert County, COCO30,5345–

369Holt County, NENE10,0675–

370Cibola County, NMNM26,8075–

371Kittson County, MNMN4,0315–

372Koochiching County, MNMN11,5875–

373Boyd County, NENE1,6745–

374Greeley County, NENE2,1545–

375Gregory County, SDSD4,0375–

376Shoshone County, IDID14,1305–

377Hitchcock County, NENE2,4675–

378Sargent County, NDND3,7115–

379Spink County, SDSD6,1555–

380Rush County, KSKS2,8455–

381Fisher County, TXTX3,6925–

382Dickey County, NDND4,8955–

383Martin County, TXTX5,2845–

384San Miguel County, NMNM26,2605–

385Osborne County, KSKS3,2855–

386Apache County, AZAZ64,4456–

387Echols County, GAGA3,6856–

388Dewey County, OKOK4,2076–

389Goshen County, WYWY12,6406–

390Cochran County, TXTX2,5466–

391Smith County, KSKS3,5666–

392Grant County, OKOK4,0676–

393Knox County, TXTX3,1926–

394Miner County, SDSD2,2816–

395Graham County, AZAZ40,1576–

396Garza County, TXTX4,5106–

397Marshall County, SDSD4,4266–

398Conejos County, COCO7,5296–

399Rio Arriba County, NMNM39,8326–

400Fremont County, IDID14,2086–

401Washington County, IDID11,5836–

402Crane County, TXTX4,5546–

403Routt County, COCO25,3296–

404Todd County, SDSD8,8636–

405Reeves County, TXTX12,1386–

406Mills County, TXTX4,5806–

407Lassen County, CACA28,1176–

408Hill County, MTMT16,1676–

409Phillips County, COCO4,4206–

410Edwards County, KSKS2,6406–

411Luna County, NMNM25,4076–

412Campbell County, WYWY48,1456–

413Marshall County, MNMN8,7986–

414Gray County, KSKS5,6526–

415Bear Lake County, IDID6,7276–

416Foster County, NDND3,2126–

417Meade County, SDSD30,7116–

418Iron County, UTUT67,1416–

419Box Elder County, UTUT65,3206–

420Okanogan County, WAWA45,2306–

421Highland County, VAVA2,3186–

422Hansford County, TXTX4,9446–

423Pend Oreille County, WAWA14,4576–

424Luce County, MIMI6,3396–

425Wheeler County, TXTX4,7736–

426Dawes County, NENE7,8586–

427Sherman County, KSKS5,7637–

428Boundary County, IDID13,9977–

429Sherman County, NENE2,9247–

430Liberty County, FLFL8,0357–

431Brule County, SDSD5,2787–

432Haskell County, KSKS3,5997–

433Ontonagon County, MIMI5,8237–

434Norton County, KSKS5,2887–

435Stafford County, KSKS4,0057–

436Rooks County, KSKS4,6467–

437Day County, SDSD5,4847–

438Aitkin County, MNMN16,2527–

439Roosevelt County, NMNM18,6157–

440Franklin County, NENE2,7957–

441Greenwood County, KSKS5,8267–

442Ransom County, NDND5,6177–

443Harlan County, NENE3,0007–

444Hanson County, SDSD3,4567–

445Elmore County, IDID29,4657–

446Chautauqua County, KSKS3,3217–

447Siskiyou County, CACA42,0137–

448Stevens County, KSKS4,9847–

449Grant County, NMNM27,2527–

450Mohave County, AZAZ228,1027–

451Goliad County, TXTX7,2087–

452Harmon County, OKOK2,3277–

453Adams County, WAWA21,4887–

454Woods County, OKOK8,4437–

455Schoolcraft County, MIMI8,1877–

456Kingsbury County, SDSD5,2847–

457Carson County, TXTX5,8057–

458Duval County, TXTX9,4027–

459Albany County, WYWY38,5587–

460Cameron Parish, LALA4,7187–

461Deuel County, SDSD4,4087–

462Lewis County, IDID3,7047–

463Scott County, KSKS4,8157–

464Alfalfa County, OKOK5,6497–

465Phillips County, KSKS4,7287–

466Webster County, NENE3,3367–

467Haskell County, TXTX5,4998–

468Clinch County, GAGA6,8478–

469Lynn County, TXTX6,0178–

470Shannon County, MOMO7,2858–

471Hardeman County, TXTX3,2928–

472Cassia County, IDID26,3978–

473Teton County, IDID13,2548–

474Jack County, TXTX9,5638–

475Jefferson County, OROR25,7408–

476Thomas County, KSKS7,7258–

477Coleman County, TXTX7,9158–

478Pawnee County, NENE2,5108–

479Furnas County, NENE4,5248–

480Plumas County, CACA18,5838–

481Traverse County, MNMN3,1308–

482Navajo County, AZAZ109,9468–

483Ottawa County, KSKS5,7448–

484Dimmit County, TXTX8,0248–

485Otero County, NMNM70,3688–

486Pushmataha County, OKOK10,8078–

487Washington County, KSKS5,5338–

488Cheyenne County, NENE9,5288–

489Texas County, OKOK20,3228–

490Sevier County, UTUT22,8278–

491Keith County, NENE8,1008–

492Crosby County, TXTX4,8528–

493Iron County, WIWI6,1278–

494Prowers County, COCO11,8848–

495Mercer County, MOMO3,4048–

496McCulloch County, TXTX7,4728–

497Reynolds County, MOMO5,9928–

498Pembina County, NDND6,5688–

499Woodson County, KSKS3,1188–

500Summit County, UTUT43,1418–

SHOWING 1–500 OF 3,122

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which county has the lowest population density?

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska ranks #1 with 0 (1990 Decennial Census).

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 Decennial Census data.

How is population density measured?

Residents per square mile of land area. Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census.