Minnesota Counties by Population (2024)

There are 87 counties in Minnesota. In the state of Minnesota, Hennepin County is the most populous with a population of 1,259,428 as of 2019. Since the time of the 2010 census, the county has experienced a population increase of 9.12%. More than 1 out of every 5 people in Minnesota live in Hennepin County which is the county seat of Minneapolis. Following Hennepin County as the most populous county are Ramsey County (550,210), Dakota County (425,423), Anoka County (353,813), and Washington County (259,201). Respectively, these counties have seen population growth of 8.01%, 6.57%, 6.75%, and 8.48% since the 2010 census. Hennepin County experienced the most rapid growth.

Minnesota Counties With the Fewest Residents

The Minnesota county with the lowest population count is Traverse County. Traverse County has a population of 3,308 which, since the 2010 census, has shrunk by 6.40%. Behind Traverse County, other small Minnesota counties with a population below 5,000 residents are Lake of the Woods County (3,758), Red Lakes County (3,999), Kittson County (4,248), and Big Stone County (4,989). All of these counties have experienced negative population growth. Kittson County experienced the most significant population loss with a growth rate of -6.70%.

Minnesota Counties With Rapid Growth

The county with the most significant rate of growth in Minnesota is Carver County. With a population growth of 13.29% since the 2010 census, Carver County, as of 2019, has a population of 103,551. The next three counties with the most rapid growth in Minnesota are Scott County (12.93%), Hennepin County (9.12%), and Wright County (9.0%). The county with the most rapid decrease in population is Lac qui Perle County, which has seen a loss of 8.11% since 2010.