Minnesota Counties by Population (2025)
2025 Pop.
100K
200K
300K
400K
500K
600K
700K
800K
900K
1M
1.1M
1.2M
Top 5 Most Populous Counties
1,283,458
545,556
457,817
380,590
288,522
87 Counties
| County | 2025 Pop. ↓ | Area (mi²) | Density | Change (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hennepin County | 1,283,458 | 554 | 2,317 | 0.14% |
| Ramsey County | 545,556 | 152 | 3,589 | -1.12% |
| Dakota County | 457,817 | 563 | 813 | 3.95% |
| Anoka County | 380,590 | 422 | 902 | 4.41% |
| Washington County | 288,522 | 385 | 749 | 7.5% |
| St. Louis County | 200,970 | 6.2K | 32 | 0.44% |
| Olmsted County | 167,729 | 654 | 256 | 2.88% |
| Stearns County | 165,934 | 1.3K | 124 | 4.7% |
| Scott County | 158,426 | 356 | 445 | 4.67% |
| Wright County | 157,734 | 661 | 239 | 11.18% |
| Carver County | 114,076 | 354 | 322 | 6.31% |
| Sherburne County | 103,805 | 433 | 240 | 6.37% |
| Blue Earth County | 71,004 | 748 | 95 | 2.61% |
| Rice County | 69,630 | 496 | 140 | 3.77% |
| Crow Wing County | 68,998 | 1K | 69 | 4.09% |
| Clay County | 67,271 | 1K | 64 | 2.93% |
| Otter Tail County | 61,081 | 2K | 31 | 1.69% |
| Chisago County | 59,553 | 415 | 144 | 5% |
| Winona County | 50,100 | 626 | 80 | 0.86% |
| Goodhue County | 47,914 | 757 | 63 | 0.7% |
| Beltrami County | 46,889 | 2.5K | 19 | 1.39% |
| Itasca County | 45,366 | 2.7K | 17 | 0.72% |
| Kandiyohi County | 45,071 | 797 | 57 | 3.08% |
| Isanti County | 44,162 | 436 | 101 | 6.7% |
| Benton County | 42,145 | 408 | 103 | 1.9% |
| Mower County | 41,448 | 711 | 58 | 3.46% |
| Douglas County | 39,992 | 637 | 63 | 2.3% |
| Steele County | 37,392 | 430 | 87 | 0.03% |
| Carlton County | 36,773 | 861 | 43 | 1.62% |
| McLeod County | 36,710 | 492 | 75 | -0.11% |
| Becker County | 35,558 | 1.3K | 27 | 1% |
| Morrison County | 34,674 | 1.1K | 31 | 1.97% |
| Nicollet County | 34,666 | 449 | 77 | 0.49% |
| Cass County | 31,491 | 2K | 16 | 4.41% |
| Pine County | 30,514 | 1.4K | 22 | 5.62% |
| Polk County | 30,388 | 2K | 15 | -2.23% |
| Freeborn County | 30,195 | 707 | 43 | -2.25% |
| Le Sueur County | 29,582 | 449 | 66 | 3.26% |
| Mille Lacs County | 27,736 | 572 | 48 | 4.84% |
| Todd County | 26,137 | 945 | 28 | 3.35% |
| Brown County | 25,721 | 611 | 42 | -0.73% |
| Lyon County | 25,651 | 714 | 36 | 0.88% |
| Meeker County | 23,497 | 608 | 39 | 0.27% |
| Hubbard County | 22,055 | 926 | 24 | 3.11% |
| Nobles County | 22,017 | 715 | 31 | -0.86% |
| Fillmore County | 21,492 | 861 | 25 | 1.16% |
| Wabasha County | 21,463 | 523 | 41 | 0.3% |
| Dodge County | 21,371 | 439 | 49 | 2.31% |
| Martin County | 19,394 | 712 | 27 | -3% |
| Waseca County | 18,463 | 423 | 44 | -2.6% |
| Houston County | 18,127 | 552 | 33 | -3.7% |
| Kanabec County | 16,577 | 522 | 32 | 3.23% |
| Aitkin County | 16,531 | 1.8K | 9 | 5.2% |
| Sibley County | 15,257 | 589 | 26 | 3.08% |
| Roseau County | 15,237 | 1.7K | 9 | -0.48% |
| Redwood County | 15,188 | 879 | 17 | -1.52% |
| Wadena County | 14,581 | 536 | 27 | 3.26% |
| Renville County | 14,397 | 983 | 15 | -1.97% |
| Faribault County | 13,846 | 712 | 19 | -0.36% |
| Pennington County | 13,572 | 617 | 22 | -2.71% |
| Chippewa County | 12,333 | 581 | 21 | -2.2% |
| Pope County | 11,571 | 675 | 17 | 2.13% |
| Koochiching County | 11,438 | 3.1K | 4 | -4.94% |
| Cottonwood County | 11,259 | 640 | 18 | -2.27% |
| Watonwan County | 11,229 | 435 | 26 | -0.08% |
| Lake County | 10,535 | 2.1K | 5 | -3.45% |
| Jackson County | 9,818 | 703 | 14 | -1.72% |
| Stevens County | 9,804 | 564 | 17 | 1.45% |
| Swift County | 9,646 | 742 | 13 | -1.73% |
| Rock County | 9,449 | 482 | 20 | -2.46% |
| Yellow Medicine County | 9,275 | 759 | 12 | -2.27% |
| Pipestone County | 8,965 | 465 | 19 | -4.77% |
| Marshall County | 8,720 | 1.8K | 5 | -3.57% |
| Clearwater County | 8,580 | 1K | 9 | 0.16% |
| Murray County | 8,001 | 705 | 11 | -2.02% |
| Lac qui Parle County | 6,588 | 765 | 9 | -1.67% |
| Norman County | 6,250 | 873 | 7 | -2.89% |
| Wilkin County | 6,206 | 751 | 8 | -4.23% |
| Grant County | 6,063 | 548 | 11 | -0.44% |
| Lincoln County | 5,534 | 537 | 10 | -1.86% |
| Cook County | 5,499 | 1.5K | 4 | -1.79% |
| Mahnomen County | 5,260 | 558 | 9 | -2.43% |
| Big Stone County | 5,039 | 499 | 10 | -2.34% |
| Kittson County | 3,964 | 1.1K | 4 | -5.39% |
| Red Lake County | 3,851 | 432 | 9 | -2.31% |
| Lake of the Woods County | 3,790 | 1.3K | 3 | 0.53% |
| Traverse County | 3,093 | 574 | 5 | -7.95% |
Overview of Minnesota Counties
There are 87 counties in Minnesota.
Hennepin County is the largest county in the state, with a population of 1,283,458. The most recent census shows that its population has increased by 0.00% since the previous census.
A number of other Minnesota counties also boast relatively large populations for their state, though not able to match the density of Hennepin County:
- Ramsey County : 545,556
- Dakota County : 457,817
Minnesota Counties with the Fewest Residents
The smallest county in Minnesota is Traverse County , with a population of just 3,093. This total represents a decrease of 0.1% since the last census count was performed.
Other small counties include:
- Lake of the Woods County : 3,790
- Red Lake County : 3,851
- Kittson County : 3,964
Minnesota Counties with Rapid Growth
Wright County , with its sizeable population of 157,734, has shown the largest population growth, with an increase of 0.1% since the last census.
Hennepin County has also had relatively high population growth of 0.00% with 1,283,458 residents.
On the other hand, Traverse County has had the largest decrease in population, with its 3,093 current residents totalling 0.1% less than the previous census.
Sources
- US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
- US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
- American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
- Census QuickFacts
- Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)