North Dakota Counties by Population (2026)

2026 Pop.

20K

40K

60K

80K

100K

120K

140K

160K

180K

200K

Top 5 Most Populous Counties

53 Counties

County
2026 Pop. ↓
Area (mi²)
Density
Change (2020)
Cass County204,3171.8K11610.5%
Burleigh County104,0551.6K645.54%
Grand Forks County75,3691.4K523.04%
Ward County68,2802K34-2.35%
Williams County42,7792.1K213.86%
Morton County34,9411.9K184.85%
Stark County34,3321.3K261.48%
Stutsman County21,3832.2K10-0.75%
Richland County16,7741.4K121.43%
McKenzie County15,5862.8K65.47%
Rolette County11,71290313-3.88%
Ramsey County11,5341.2K10-0.35%
Barnes County10,4731.5K7-3.59%
Walsh County10,1561.3K8-3.57%
McLean County9,6772.1K5-0.88%
Mountrail County9,3151.8K5-5.03%
Mercer County8,5361K82.24%
Traill County7,8738629-1.39%
Pembina County6,5531.1K6-4.01%
Bottineau County6,2261.7K4-2.49%
Benson County5,7871.4K4-2.58%
Ransom County5,5988626-1.79%
McHenry County5,1071.9K3-4.29%
Dickey County4,8751.1K4-1.95%
LaMoure County4,2031.1K42.64%
Dunn County4,1432K21.22%
Pierce County3,7971K4-4.62%
Sargent County3,6988584-3.7%
Wells County3,6711.3K3-7.37%
Sioux County3,6171.1K3-6.68%
Cavalier County3,4481.5K2-6.74%
Emmons County3,2131.5K2-2.49%
Foster County3,1516345-6.89%
Nelson County2,9799823-0.47%
Bowman County2,6841.2K2-9.72%
Hettinger County2,5181.1K21.41%
McIntosh County2,4359752-3.14%
Kidder County2,3921.4K20.46%
Renville County2,35287733.8%
Adams County2,33098826.2%
Eddy County2,32863040.09%
Griggs County2,2527093-1.96%
Grant County2,1961.7K1-3.89%
Burke County2,1301.1K2-2.78%
Divide County2,0991.3K2-4.68%
Towner County2,0431K2-4.84%
Oliver County1,91272232.47%
Golden Valley County1,8421K26.78%
Logan County1,8349932-2.6%
Steele County1,80471230.33%
Sheridan County1,31897214.44%
Billings County1,0901.1K117.2%
Slope County6121.2K1-12.2%

Overview of North Dakota Counties

There are 53 counties in North Dakota.

Cass County is the largest county in the state, with a population of 204,317. The most recent census shows that its population has increased by 0.11% since the previous census.

A number of other North Dakota counties also boast relatively large populations for their state, though not able to match the density of Cass County:

North Dakota Counties with the Fewest Residents

The smallest county in North Dakota is Slope County , with a population of just 612. This total represents a decrease of 0.1% since the last census count was performed.

Other small counties include:

North Dakota Counties with Rapid Growth

Billings County , with its current population of 1,090, has shown the largest population growth, with an increase of 0.2% since the last census.

On the other hand, Slope County has had the largest decrease in population, with its 612 current residents totalling 0.1% less than the previous census.

Sources

  1. US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  2. US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  3. American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
  4. Census QuickFacts
  5. Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)

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