Nebraska Counties by Population (2026)
2026 Pop.
50K
100K
150K
200K
250K
300K
350K
400K
450K
500K
550K
600K
Top 5 Most Populous Counties
616,184
340,983
213,530
63,291
52,076
93 Counties
| County | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Area (mi²) | Density | Change (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 616,184 | 326 | 1,890 | 5.25% |
| Lancaster County | 340,983 | 838 | 407 | 5.51% |
| Sarpy County | 213,530 | 238 | 897 | 11.69% |
| Hall County | 63,291 | 547 | 116 | 0.82% |
| Buffalo County | 52,076 | 968 | 54 | 3.73% |
| Dodge County | 38,698 | 529 | 73 | 4.25% |
| Platte County | 36,429 | 675 | 54 | 6.23% |
| Scotts Bluff County | 35,760 | 740 | 48 | -0.81% |
| Madison County | 35,283 | 573 | 62 | -0.7% |
| Lincoln County | 33,043 | 2.6K | 13 | -4.32% |
| Adams County | 31,804 | 563 | 56 | 2.01% |
| Cass County | 27,560 | 557 | 49 | 3.58% |
| Dawson County | 24,876 | 1K | 25 | 3.3% |
| Saunders County | 23,276 | 749 | 31 | 4.05% |
| Gage County | 21,787 | 851 | 26 | 0.62% |
| Washington County | 21,398 | 390 | 55 | 2.26% |
| Dakota County | 21,325 | 264 | 81 | -1.07% |
| Seward County | 18,015 | 571 | 32 | 2.3% |
| Otoe County | 16,877 | 616 | 27 | 6.12% |
| Saline County | 14,918 | 574 | 26 | 1.38% |
| York County | 14,353 | 573 | 25 | 1.76% |
| Colfax County | 11,086 | 411 | 27 | 5.02% |
| Box Butte County | 10,699 | 1.1K | 10.0 | -1.11% |
| Custer County | 10,237 | 2.6K | 4.0 | -2.43% |
| Red Willow County | 10,203 | 717 | 14 | -4.5% |
| Holt County | 10,056 | 2.4K | 4.2 | -0.48% |
| Wayne County | 9,846 | 443 | 22 | 1.48% |
| Cheyenne County | 9,708 | 1.2K | 8.1 | 2.34% |
| Hamilton County | 9,636 | 542 | 18 | 2.49% |
| Cuming County | 8,954 | 570 | 16 | -0.63% |
| Phelps County | 8,928 | 540 | 17 | -0.55% |
| Butler County | 8,433 | 585 | 14 | 0.92% |
| Cedar County | 8,298 | 740 | 11 | -0.9% |
| Knox County | 8,236 | 1.1K | 7.4 | -1.86% |
| Keith County | 8,134 | 1.1K | 7.7 | -2.31% |
| Merrick County | 8,019 | 488 | 16 | 4.69% |
| Dawes County | 7,719 | 1.4K | 5.5 | -5.35% |
| Richardson County | 7,582 | 552 | 14 | -3.54% |
| Pierce County | 7,394 | 573 | 13 | 0.68% |
| Jefferson County | 7,214 | 570 | 13 | -0.63% |
| Nemaha County | 7,010 | 407 | 17 | -1.06% |
| Kearney County | 6,793 | 516 | 13 | 1.51% |
| Thurston County | 6,787 | 394 | 17 | 0.41% |
| Burt County | 6,721 | 492 | 14 | -0.04% |
| Howard County | 6,588 | 569 | 12 | 1.57% |
| Antelope County | 6,492 | 857 | 7.6 | 3.39% |
| Clay County | 6,021 | 572 | 11 | -1.46% |
| Cherry County | 5,620 | 6K | 0.94 | 2.99% |
| Stanton County | 5,618 | 428 | 13 | -3.5% |
| Dixon County | 5,518 | 476 | 12 | -1.2% |
| Fillmore County | 5,458 | 575 | 9.5 | -1.99% |
| Boone County | 5,422 | 687 | 7.9 | 1.21% |
| Polk County | 5,383 | 439 | 12 | 3.16% |
| Johnson County | 5,227 | 376 | 14 | -1.28% |
| Sheridan County | 4,917 | 2.4K | 2.0 | -3.66% |
| Thayer County | 4,900 | 574 | 8.5 | -2.47% |
| Morrill County | 4,393 | 1.4K | 3.1 | -3.62% |
| Furnas County | 4,294 | 719 | 6.0 | -7.3% |
| Nuckolls County | 4,076 | 575 | 7.1 | -0.37% |
| Valley County | 4,038 | 568 | 7.1 | -0.49% |
| Chase County | 3,770 | 894 | 4.2 | -3.06% |
| Webster County | 3,290 | 575 | 5.7 | -3.01% |
| Kimball County | 3,283 | 952 | 3.4 | -3.67% |
| Nance County | 3,264 | 442 | 7.4 | -3.83% |
| Harlan County | 2,962 | 553 | 5.4 | -3.01% |
| Sherman County | 2,907 | 566 | 5.1 | -1.56% |
| Brown County | 2,877 | 1.2K | 2.4 | -0.9% |
| Franklin County | 2,827 | 576 | 4.9 | -2.18% |
| Perkins County | 2,733 | 883 | 3.1 | -4.47% |
| Pawnee County | 2,541 | 431 | 5.9 | 0% |
| Frontier County | 2,412 | 975 | 2.5 | -3.64% |
| Hitchcock County | 2,280 | 710 | 3.2 | -13.01% |
| Greeley County | 2,155 | 570 | 3.8 | -1.1% |
| Deuel County | 1,918 | 440 | 4.4 | 4.64% |
| Garden County | 1,804 | 1.7K | 1.1 | -4.5% |
| Gosper County | 1,750 | 458 | 3.8 | -7.65% |
| Boyd County | 1,622 | 539 | 3.0 | -10.04% |
| Dundy County | 1,613 | 920 | 1.8 | -2.3% |
| Garfield County | 1,605 | 569 | 2.8 | -11.08% |
| Rock County | 1,205 | 1K | 1.2 | -4.74% |
| Sioux County | 995 | 2.1K | 0.48 | -12.8% |
| Hayes County | 858 | 713 | 1.2 | 1.06% |
| Wheeler County | 850 | 575 | 1.5 | 9.68% |
| Keya Paha County | 849 | 773 | 1.1 | 11.71% |
| Logan County | 760 | 571 | 1.3 | 5.85% |
| Hooker County | 740 | 721 | 1.0 | 4.67% |
| Banner County | 653 | 746 | 0.88 | -3.69% |
| Grant County | 585 | 777 | 0.75 | -5.03% |
| Loup County | 572 | 563 | 1.0 | -5.45% |
| Thomas County | 552 | 713 | 0.77 | -18.1% |
| Blaine County | 500 | 711 | 0.70 | 16.82% |
| Arthur County | 437 | 715 | 0.61 | 1.16% |
| McPherson County | 374 | 859 | 0.44 | -5.56% |
Overview of Nebraska Counties
There are 93 counties in Nebraska.
Douglas County is the largest county in the state, with a population of 616,184. 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 : 340,983
- Sarpy County : 213,530
Nebraska Counties with the Fewest Residents
The smallest county in Nebraska is McPherson County, with a population of just 374. This total represents a decrease of 0.1% since the last census count was performed.
Other small counties include:
- Arthur County : 437
- Blaine County : 500
- Thomas County : 552
Nebraska Counties with Rapid Growth
Blaine County, with its current population of 500, has shown the largest population growth, with an increase of 0.2% since the last census.
Douglas County has also had relatively high population growth of 0.05% with 616,184 residents.
On the other hand, Thomas County has had the largest decrease in population, with its 552 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)