Nebraska Counties by Population (2026)
2026 Pop.
50K
100K
150K
200K
250K
300K
350K
400K
450K
500K
550K
600K
Top 5 Most Populous Counties
612,017
336,757
212,087
63,375
51,218
93 Counties
| County | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Area (mi²) | Density | Change (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 612,017 | 326 | 1,877 | 4.54% |
| Lancaster County | 336,757 | 838 | 402 | 4.2% |
| Sarpy County | 212,087 | 238 | 891 | 10.94% |
| Hall County | 63,375 | 547 | 116 | 0.97% |
| Buffalo County | 51,218 | 968 | 53 | 2.03% |
| Dodge County | 38,183 | 529 | 72 | 2.92% |
| Madison County | 36,419 | 573 | 64 | 2.49% |
| Platte County | 35,641 | 675 | 53 | 3.9% |
| Scotts Bluff County | 35,514 | 740 | 48 | -1.48% |
| Lincoln County | 33,321 | 2.6K | 13 | -3.51% |
| Adams County | 30,939 | 563 | 55 | -0.76% |
| Cass County | 27,813 | 557 | 50 | 4.52% |
| Dawson County | 24,377 | 1K | 24 | 1.22% |
| Saunders County | 23,960 | 749 | 32 | 7.13% |
| Dakota County | 21,880 | 264 | 83 | 1.56% |
| Gage County | 21,734 | 851 | 26 | 0.34% |
| Washington County | 21,317 | 390 | 55 | 1.84% |
| Seward County | 18,174 | 571 | 32 | 3.12% |
| Otoe County | 16,590 | 616 | 27 | 4.31% |
| Saline County | 15,012 | 574 | 26 | 2.01% |
| York County | 14,692 | 573 | 26 | 4.24% |
| Colfax County | 10,954 | 411 | 27 | 3.74% |
| Custer County | 10,483 | 2.6K | 4 | -0.12% |
| Box Butte County | 10,328 | 1.1K | 10 | -4.56% |
| Red Willow County | 10,209 | 717 | 14 | -4.43% |
| Wayne County | 10,140 | 443 | 23 | 4.48% |
| Holt County | 10,068 | 2.4K | 4 | -0.27% |
| Hamilton County | 9,723 | 542 | 18 | 3.37% |
| Cheyenne County | 9,518 | 1.2K | 8 | 0.32% |
| Phelps County | 8,958 | 540 | 17 | -0.22% |
| Cuming County | 8,735 | 570 | 15 | -3.06% |
| Butler County | 8,547 | 585 | 15 | 2.3% |
| Cedar County | 8,402 | 740 | 11 | 0.35% |
| Knox County | 8,296 | 1.1K | 7 | -0.97% |
| Keith County | 8,039 | 1.1K | 8 | -3.41% |
| Merrick County | 7,964 | 488 | 16 | 4.02% |
| Dawes County | 7,701 | 1.4K | 6 | -5.59% |
| Richardson County | 7,467 | 552 | 14 | -5.02% |
| Pierce County | 7,407 | 573 | 13 | 0.86% |
| Nemaha County | 7,100 | 407 | 17 | 0.2% |
| Jefferson County | 6,990 | 570 | 12 | -3.72% |
| Thurston County | 6,895 | 394 | 18 | 2.01% |
| Kearney County | 6,817 | 516 | 13 | 1.9% |
| Burt County | 6,630 | 492 | 13 | -1.35% |
| Howard County | 6,540 | 569 | 11 | 0.82% |
| Antelope County | 6,334 | 857 | 7 | 0.75% |
| Clay County | 6,226 | 572 | 11 | 2.05% |
| Stanton County | 5,705 | 428 | 13 | -2.03% |
| Dixon County | 5,623 | 476 | 12 | 0.75% |
| Cherry County | 5,548 | 6K | 1 | 1.67% |
| Fillmore County | 5,450 | 575 | 9 | -2.1% |
| Boone County | 5,320 | 687 | 8 | -0.76% |
| Polk County | 5,253 | 439 | 12 | 0.75% |
| Johnson County | 5,239 | 376 | 14 | -1% |
| Thayer County | 4,810 | 574 | 8 | -4.22% |
| Sheridan County | 4,718 | 2.4K | 2 | -7.53% |
| Furnas County | 4,577 | 719 | 6 | -1.02% |
| Morrill County | 4,361 | 1.4K | 3 | -4.24% |
| Valley County | 4,123 | 568 | 7 | 1.6% |
| Nuckolls County | 4,104 | 575 | 7 | 0.27% |
| Chase County | 3,720 | 894 | 4 | -4.39% |
| Kimball County | 3,484 | 952 | 4 | 2.2% |
| Webster County | 3,347 | 575 | 6 | -1.24% |
| Nance County | 3,294 | 442 | 7 | -2.89% |
| Harlan County | 2,986 | 553 | 5 | -2.35% |
| Sherman County | 2,895 | 566 | 5 | -2.2% |
| Perkins County | 2,891 | 883 | 3 | 1.12% |
| Brown County | 2,814 | 1.2K | 2 | -3.03% |
| Franklin County | 2,769 | 576 | 5 | -4.02% |
| Frontier County | 2,705 | 975 | 3 | 7.94% |
| Pawnee County | 2,503 | 431 | 6 | -1.3% |
| Hitchcock County | 2,449 | 710 | 3 | -6.63% |
| Greeley County | 2,125 | 570 | 4 | -2.66% |
| Deuel County | 1,861 | 440 | 4 | 1.53% |
| Garden County | 1,797 | 1.7K | 1 | -4.87% |
| Gosper County | 1,779 | 458 | 4 | -6.12% |
| Garfield County | 1,721 | 569 | 3 | -4.76% |
| Boyd County | 1,630 | 539 | 3 | -9.94% |
| Dundy County | 1,567 | 920 | 2 | -5.26% |
| Rock County | 1,256 | 1K | 1 | -0.95% |
| Sioux County | 1,171 | 2.1K | 1 | 2.18% |
| Hayes County | 804 | 713 | 1 | -5.19% |
| Wheeler County | 786 | 575 | 1 | 1.68% |
| Keya Paha County | 776 | 773 | 1 | 2.11% |
| Banner County | 702 | 746 | 1 | 3.39% |
| Hooker County | 674 | 721 | 1 | -4.53% |
| Logan County | 655 | 571 | 1 | -8.01% |
| Thomas County | 629 | 713 | 1 | -6.26% |
| Grant County | 559 | 777 | 1 | -8.66% |
| Loup County | 554 | 563 | 1 | -8.73% |
| Blaine County | 457 | 711 | 1 | 6.53% |
| Arthur County | 375 | 715 | 1 | -12.79% |
| McPherson County | 364 | 859 | 0.42 | -8.08% |
Overview of Nebraska Counties
There are 93 counties in Nebraska.
Douglas County is the largest county in the state, with a population of 612,017. The most recent census shows that its population has increased by 0.05% since the previous census.
A number of other Nebraska counties also boast relatively large populations for their state, though not able to match the density of Douglas County:
- Lancaster County : 336,757
- Sarpy County : 212,087
Nebraska Counties with the Fewest Residents
The smallest county in Nebraska is McPherson County , with a population of just 364. This total represents a decrease of 0.1% since the last census count was performed.
Other small counties include:
- Arthur County : 375
- Blaine County : 457
- Loup County : 554
Nebraska Counties with Rapid Growth
Sarpy County , with its sizeable population of 212,087, has shown the largest population growth, with an increase of 0.1% since the last census.
Douglas County has also had relatively high population growth of 0.05% with 612,017 residents.
On the other hand, Arthur County has had the largest decrease in population, with its 375 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)