Missouri Counties by Population (2025)
Top 5 Most Populous Counties
115 Counties
| County | 2025 Pop. ↓ | Area (mi²) | Density | Change (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | 979,595 | 508 | 1,928 | -2.35% |
| Jackson County | 723,244 | 605 | 1,195 | 0.78% |
| St. Charles County | 422,381 | 561 | 753 | 3.93% |
| Greene County | 307,439 | 675 | 455 | 2.71% |
| St. Louis city | 272,876 | 62 | 4,401 | -9.19% |
| Clay County | 265,456 | 398 | 667 | 4.45% |
| Jefferson County | 235,250 | 656 | 359 | 3.66% |
| Boone County | 192,947 | 686 | 281 | 4.84% |
| Jasper County | 127,136 | 639 | 199 | 3.44% |
| Platte County | 114,680 | 420 | 273 | 6.98% |
| Cass County | 114,482 | 697 | 164 | 5.84% |
| Franklin County | 107,626 | 923 | 117 | 2.63% |
| Christian County | 97,022 | 563 | 172 | 8.67% |
| Cape Girardeau County | 83,090 | 579 | 144 | 1.55% |
| Buchanan County | 83,086 | 408 | 204 | -1.63% |
| Cole County | 77,922 | 392 | 199 | 1.7% |
| Lincoln County | 67,733 | 627 | 108 | 13.16% |
| St. Francois County | 67,362 | 452 | 149 | 1.38% |
| Newton County | 61,839 | 625 | 99 | 5.36% |
| Taney County | 56,827 | 632 | 90 | 1.36% |
| Johnson County | 55,988 | 829 | 68 | 3.62% |
| Pulaski County | 53,816 | 547 | 98 | -0.36% |
| Phelps County | 45,306 | 672 | 67 | 1.68% |
| Callaway County | 44,747 | 835 | 54 | 0.92% |
| Camden County | 44,612 | 656 | 68 | 4.22% |
| Pettis County | 43,796 | 682 | 64 | 1.84% |
| Webster County | 43,684 | 593 | 74 | 11.97% |
| Butler County | 41,512 | 695 | 60 | -1.33% |
| Howell County | 40,959 | 927 | 44 | 2.91% |
| Lawrence County | 39,238 | 612 | 64 | 3.26% |
| Warren County | 38,838 | 429 | 91 | 8.69% |
| Scott County | 37,931 | 420 | 90 | -0.23% |
| Laclede County | 37,350 | 765 | 49 | 3.63% |
| Barry County | 35,907 | 778 | 46 | 3.95% |
| Stone County | 33,706 | 464 | 73 | 7.99% |
| Lafayette County | 33,654 | 628 | 54 | 1.81% |
| Polk County | 33,022 | 636 | 52 | 4.44% |
| Stoddard County | 28,411 | 823 | 35 | -0.84% |
| Marion County | 28,030 | 437 | 64 | -1.6% |
| Dunklin County | 26,274 | 542 | 48 | -6.89% |
| Texas County | 26,249 | 1,177 | 22 | 7.91% |
| Miller County | 25,964 | 593 | 44 | 4.8% |
| Adair County | 25,064 | 567 | 44 | -0.81% |
| McDonald County | 24,523 | 539 | 45 | 5.34% |
| Audrain County | 24,218 | 692 | 35 | -2.29% |
| Washington County | 23,818 | 760 | 31 | 1.68% |
| Ray County | 23,304 | 569 | 41 | 0.74% |
| Saline County | 23,141 | 756 | 31 | -0.81% |
| Randolph County | 23,075 | 483 | 48 | -5.62% |
| Crawford County | 22,839 | 742 | 31 | -0.85% |
| Henry County | 22,613 | 697 | 32 | 2.9% |
| Morgan County | 22,338 | 598 | 37 | 6.4% |
| Clinton County | 22,038 | 419 | 53 | 3.91% |
| Benton County | 21,190 | 704 | 30 | 9.1% |
| Nodaway County | 20,655 | 877 | 24 | -1.63% |
| Vernon County | 19,932 | 826 | 24 | 1.33% |
| Wright County | 19,923 | 682 | 29 | 9.39% |
| Perry County | 19,094 | 474 | 40 | 0.65% |
| Ste. Genevieve County | 18,700 | 499 | 37 | 1.21% |
| Pike County | 18,517 | 670 | 28 | 6.42% |
| Andrew County | 18,349 | 433 | 42 | 1.36% |
| Dallas County | 18,130 | 541 | 34 | 5.85% |
| Cooper County | 17,315 | 565 | 31 | 4.02% |
| Bates County | 16,386 | 837 | 20 | 2.07% |
| Macon County | 15,331 | 801 | 19 | 0.89% |
| Moniteau County | 15,248 | 415 | 37 | 0.24% |
| Livingston County | 15,001 | 532 | 28 | 7.26% |
| Dent County | 14,965 | 753 | 20 | 4.02% |
| New Madrid County | 14,852 | 675 | 22 | -9.02% |
| Cedar County | 14,814 | 474 | 31 | 4.24% |
| Gasconade County | 14,571 | 519 | 28 | -1.3% |
| Pemiscot County | 14,109 | 493 | 29 | -9.49% |
| Osage County | 13,608 | 607 | 22 | 2.63% |
| Douglas County | 12,722 | 814 | 16 | 9.62% |
| Madison County | 12,580 | 494 | 25 | -0.36% |
| Mississippi County | 12,136 | 412 | 29 | 0.09% |
| Barton County | 11,803 | 592 | 20 | 1.55% |
| Linn County | 11,721 | 616 | 19 | -1.16% |
| Montgomery County | 11,419 | 535 | 21 | 1.22% |
| Ripley County | 10,990 | 630 | 17 | 3.01% |
| Wayne County | 10,799 | 759 | 14 | -1.25% |
| Ralls County | 10,647 | 470 | 23 | 2.79% |
| Bollinger County | 10,570 | 618 | 17 | 0.08% |
| St. Clair County | 10,066 | 675 | 15 | 7.69% |
| Howard County | 9,945 | 464 | 21 | -2.09% |
| Grundy County | 9,757 | 435 | 22 | 0.03% |
| Lewis County | 9,682 | 505 | 19 | -3.54% |
| Iron County | 9,494 | 550 | 17 | -0.18% |
| Hickory County | 9,004 | 399 | 23 | 8.49% |
| Ozark County | 9,002 | 745 | 12 | 5.69% |
| Caldwell County | 8,987 | 426 | 21 | 1.87% |
| Monroe County | 8,824 | 648 | 14 | 1.58% |
| Oregon County | 8,754 | 790 | 11 | 1.7% |
| Daviess County | 8,739 | 563 | 16 | 3.67% |
| Maries County | 8,426 | 527 | 16 | -0.3% |
| Carroll County | 8,333 | 695 | 12 | -1.57% |
| Harrison County | 8,226 | 723 | 11 | 0.77% |
| Dade County | 7,818 | 490 | 16 | 3.09% |
| Chariton County | 7,407 | 751 | 10 | 0.28% |
| Shannon County | 7,282 | 1,004 | 7 | 3.61% |
| DeKalb County | 7,077 | 421 | 17 | -38.99% |
| Clark County | 6,493 | 505 | 13 | -2.51% |
| Gentry County | 6,313 | 491 | 13 | 2.95% |
| Reynolds County | 5,858 | 808 | 7 | -3.67% |
| Shelby County | 5,801 | 501 | 12 | -4.7% |
| Sullivan County | 5,759 | 648 | 9 | -3.78% |
| Carter County | 5,401 | 507 | 11 | 3.83% |
| Atchison County | 4,999 | 547 | 9 | -5.79% |
| Scotland County | 4,734 | 437 | 11 | 0.57% |
| Putnam County | 4,590 | 517 | 9 | -2.11% |
| Holt County | 4,236 | 463 | 9 | 1.12% |
| Schuyler County | 4,159 | 307 | 14 | 3.82% |
| Knox County | 3,615 | 504 | 7 | -3.32% |
| Mercer County | 3,475 | 454 | 8 | -1.08% |
| Worth County | 1,841 | 267 | 7 | -6.21% |
Overview of Missouri Counties
There are 115 counties in Missouri.
St. Louis County is the largest county in the state, with a population of 979,595. The most recent census shows that its population has decreased by 0.02% since the previous census.
A number of other Missouri counties also boast relatively large populations for their state, though not able to match the density of St. Louis County:
- Jackson County : 723,244
- St. Charles County : 422,381
Missouri Counties with the Fewest Residents
The smallest county in Missouri is Worth County, with a population of just 1,841. This total represents a decrease of 0.1% since the last census count was performed.
Other small counties include:
- Mercer County : 3,475
- Knox County : 3,615
- Schuyler County : 4,159
Missouri Counties with Rapid Growth
Lincoln County, with its current population of 67,733, has shown the largest population growth, with an increase of 0.1% since the last census.
Jackson County has also had relatively high population growth of 0.01% with 723,244 residents.
On the other hand, DeKalb County has had the largest decrease in population, with its 7,077 current residents totalling 0.4% 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)