RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 500 SHOWN OF 3,125
Most sparsely populated, US counties · 2000
US counties with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska leads at 0. 3,125 counties qualify in total. Alaska carries 11 of the top 25 entries.
Flip the list · Most densely populated, US counties →All statesAll rankings
Filter by state
All USAlaskaAlabamaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoFloridaGeorgiaIowaIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiMontanaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNevadaNew YorkOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVirginiaVermontWashingtonWisconsinWest VirginiaWyoming
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 (2000 American Community Survey).
What are the top 5 counties by population density?
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, Lake and Peninsula, Alaska, North Slope, Alaska, Loving County, Texas, Yakutat, Alaska.
How many counties are in this ranking?
3,125 counties qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2000 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 (2000).