Missouri Counties by Population (2026)
2026 Pop.
100K
200K
300K
400K
500K
600K
700K
800K
900K
Top 5 Most Populous Counties
997,037
741,520
435,262
313,566
273,541
115 Counties
| County | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Area (mi²) | Density | Change (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | 997,037 | 508 | 1,963 | -0.63% |
| Jackson County | 741,520 | 605 | 1,226 | 3.32% |
| St. Charles County | 435,262 | 561 | 776 | 7.1% |
| Greene County | 313,566 | 675 | 465 | 4.76% |
| St. Louis city | 273,541 | 62 | 4,412 | -8.92% |
| Clay County | 269,810 | 398 | 678 | 6.16% |
| Jefferson County | 233,354 | 656 | 356 | 2.82% |
| Boone County | 196,186 | 686 | 286 | 6.59% |
| Jasper County | 129,203 | 639 | 202 | 5.13% |
| Cass County | 118,229 | 697 | 170 | 9.31% |
| Platte County | 115,397 | 420 | 275 | 7.66% |
| Franklin County | 108,880 | 923 | 118 | 3.83% |
| Christian County | 99,197 | 563 | 176 | 11.09% |
| Cape Girardeau County | 84,754 | 579 | 146 | 3.58% |
| Buchanan County | 84,320 | 408 | 207 | -0.18% |
| Cole County | 78,239 | 392 | 200 | 2.11% |
| St. Francois County | 68,321 | 452 | 151 | 2.82% |
| Lincoln County | 68,250 | 627 | 109 | 14.02% |
| Newton County | 62,931 | 625 | 101 | 7.21% |
| Johnson County | 57,426 | 829 | 69 | 6.27% |
| Taney County | 56,652 | 632 | 90 | 1.05% |
| Pulaski County | 54,234 | 547 | 99 | 0.36% |
| Phelps County | 45,982 | 672 | 68 | 3.17% |
| Callaway County | 45,742 | 835 | 55 | 3.15% |
| Camden County | 44,207 | 656 | 67 | 3.27% |
| Pettis County | 44,191 | 682 | 65 | 2.76% |
| Webster County | 43,161 | 593 | 73 | 10.65% |
| Butler County | 41,622 | 695 | 60 | -1.05% |
| Howell County | 40,872 | 927 | 44 | 2.68% |
| Warren County | 39,804 | 429 | 93 | 11.37% |
| Lawrence County | 39,695 | 612 | 65 | 4.47% |
| Scott County | 38,025 | 420 | 91 | 0.01% |
| Laclede County | 36,866 | 765 | 48 | 2.27% |
| Barry County | 36,234 | 778 | 47 | 4.9% |
| Lafayette County | 34,045 | 628 | 54 | 3.01% |
| Polk County | 33,574 | 636 | 53 | 6.19% |
| Stone County | 32,530 | 464 | 70 | 4.25% |
| Marion County | 28,651 | 437 | 66 | 0.55% |
| Stoddard County | 28,570 | 823 | 35 | -0.28% |
| Dunklin County | 26,874 | 542 | 50 | -4.76% |
| Adair County | 26,518 | 567 | 47 | 4.93% |
| Texas County | 25,933 | 1.2K | 22 | 6.62% |
| Miller County | 25,872 | 593 | 44 | 4.42% |
| Audrain County | 24,228 | 692 | 35 | -2.23% |
| Randolph County | 24,021 | 483 | 50 | -1.78% |
| McDonald County | 23,928 | 539 | 44 | 2.79% |
| Washington County | 23,665 | 760 | 31 | 0.99% |
| Saline County | 23,551 | 756 | 31 | 0.91% |
| Morgan County | 23,271 | 598 | 39 | 10.81% |
| Ray County | 23,241 | 569 | 41 | 0.46% |
| Crawford County | 23,042 | 742 | 31 | 0.03% |
| Henry County | 22,811 | 697 | 33 | 3.77% |
| Clinton County | 22,025 | 419 | 53 | 3.8% |
| Benton County | 20,722 | 704 | 29 | 6.68% |
| Nodaway County | 20,123 | 877 | 23 | -4.17% |
| Vernon County | 19,825 | 826 | 24 | 0.76% |
| Wright County | 19,769 | 682 | 29 | 8.54% |
| Perry County | 19,400 | 474 | 41 | 2.26% |
| Ste. Genevieve County | 18,358 | 499 | 37 | -0.65% |
| Andrew County | 18,055 | 433 | 42 | -0.26% |
| Dallas County | 18,045 | 541 | 33 | 5.33% |
| Pike County | 18,029 | 670 | 27 | 3.54% |
| Cooper County | 17,514 | 565 | 31 | 5.21% |
| Bates County | 16,730 | 837 | 20 | 4.22% |
| Cedar County | 15,657 | 474 | 33 | 10.15% |
| Moniteau County | 15,392 | 415 | 37 | 1.16% |
| Macon County | 15,185 | 801 | 19 | -0.09% |
| New Madrid County | 14,860 | 675 | 22 | -9% |
| Dent County | 14,855 | 753 | 20 | 3.24% |
| Livingston County | 14,784 | 532 | 28 | 5.68% |
| Gasconade County | 14,503 | 519 | 28 | -1.76% |
| Pemiscot County | 13,883 | 493 | 28 | -10.94% |
| Osage County | 13,476 | 607 | 22 | 1.67% |
| Madison County | 13,078 | 494 | 26 | 3.59% |
| Douglas County | 12,422 | 814 | 15 | 7.09% |
| Linn County | 12,114 | 616 | 20 | 2.17% |
| Montgomery County | 11,673 | 535 | 22 | 3.43% |
| Barton County | 11,665 | 592 | 20 | 0.36% |
| Mississippi County | 11,546 | 412 | 28 | -4.74% |
| Wayne County | 10,810 | 759 | 14 | -1.14% |
| Bollinger County | 10,758 | 618 | 17 | 1.92% |
| Ripley County | 10,527 | 630 | 17 | -1.34% |
| Ralls County | 10,495 | 470 | 22 | 1.36% |
| Howard County | 10,218 | 464 | 22 | 0.6% |
| St. Clair County | 10,058 | 675 | 15 | 7.62% |
| Lewis County | 9,876 | 505 | 20 | -1.62% |
| DeKalb County | 9,854 | 421 | 23 | -15.02% |
| Grundy County | 9,684 | 435 | 22 | -0.75% |
| Iron County | 9,352 | 550 | 17 | -1.69% |
| Ozark County | 9,278 | 745 | 12 | 8.91% |
| Monroe County | 9,208 | 648 | 14 | 5.92% |
| Caldwell County | 9,048 | 426 | 21 | 2.57% |
| Hickory County | 8,868 | 399 | 22 | 6.87% |
| Oregon County | 8,659 | 790 | 11 | 0.56% |
| Maries County | 8,636 | 527 | 16 | 2.19% |
| Daviess County | 8,515 | 563 | 15 | 0.97% |
| Carroll County | 8,508 | 695 | 12 | 0.52% |
| Harrison County | 8,126 | 723 | 11 | -0.38% |
| Dade County | 7,428 | 490 | 15 | -2.08% |
| Chariton County | 7,385 | 751 | 10 | -0.07% |
| Shannon County | 7,317 | 1K | 7 | 4.01% |
| Clark County | 6,573 | 505 | 13 | -1.28% |
| Gentry County | 6,272 | 491 | 13 | 2.22% |
| Shelby County | 5,918 | 501 | 12 | -2.9% |
| Reynolds County | 5,851 | 808 | 7 | -3.75% |
| Sullivan County | 5,568 | 648 | 9 | -6.83% |
| Carter County | 5,419 | 507 | 11 | 4.11% |
| Atchison County | 5,185 | 547 | 9 | -2.26% |
| Scotland County | 4,698 | 437 | 11 | -0.15% |
| Putnam County | 4,339 | 517 | 8 | -7.39% |
| Holt County | 4,191 | 463 | 9 | 0% |
| Schuyler County | 4,061 | 307 | 13 | 1.27% |
| Knox County | 3,748 | 504 | 7 | 0.24% |
| Mercer County | 3,358 | 454 | 7 | -4.38% |
| Worth County | 1,810 | 267 | 7 | -8.03% |
Overview of Missouri Counties
There are 115 counties in Missouri.
St. Louis County is the largest county in the state, with a population of 997,037. The most recent census shows that its population has decreased by 0.01% 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 : 741,520
- St. Charles County : 435,262
Missouri Counties with the Fewest Residents
The smallest county in Missouri is Worth County , with a population of just 1,810. This total represents a decrease of 0.1% since the last census count was performed.
Other small counties include:
- Mercer County : 3,358
- Knox County : 3,748
- Schuyler County : 4,061
Missouri Counties with Rapid Growth
Lincoln County , with its current population of 68,250, 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 0.03% with 741,520 residents.
On the other hand, DeKalb County has had the largest decrease in population, with its 9,854 current residents totalling 0.2% 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)