Missouri Counties by Population (2025)
Top 5 Most Populous Counties
979,595
723,244
422,381
307,439
272,876
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 Missouri Counties
There are 115 counties in Missouri.
The most populous county in Missouri is St. Louis County with a population of 996,945. This represents modest population decline of 0.19% since the 2010 census.
Other major counties in Missouri include:
- Jackson County (700,307)
- St. Charles County (399,182)
- St. Louis City (302,838)
These are the only counties with more than 300,000 residents, although there are eight other counties with at least 100,000 residents. Of these counties, St. Charles County experienced the most rapid growth at 10.33% since 2010.
Smallest Counties
The smallest Missouri county in terms of population is Worth County with just 2,040 residents. This represents a growth rate of -5.20% since 2010.
Missouri has six other counties under 5,000 residents including:
- Mercer County (3,641)
- Knox County (3,947)
- Holt County (4,404)
All of these counties lost residents since 2010 with the most dramatic decline in Holt County with a growth rate of -10.40%.
Fastest Growing Counties
The fastest-growing county in Missouri since the 2010 census is Platte County with a growth rate of 14.81%, bringing its total population to 102,985.
Other counties with rapid growth include:
- Clay County grew 10.63% to 246,365
- St. Charles County grew 10.33% to 399,182
- Boone County grew 10.30% to 180,005
The county with the most significant decline was Pemiscot County which lost 10.94% of its residents.
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)