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 County206,5211.8K11711.7%
Burleigh County106,3531.6K657.88%
Grand Forks County74,9171.4K522.44%
Ward County68,4432K34-2.12%
Williams County43,6812.1K216.05%
Stark County35,0671.3K263.64%
Morton County34,4881.9K183.5%
Stutsman County21,5942.2K100.19%
Richland County16,7661.4K121.42%
McKenzie County15,7822.8K66.81%
Rolette County11,54490313-5.38%
Ramsey County11,4961.2K10-0.76%
Barnes County10,8601.5K70.17%
Walsh County10,0561.3K8-4.45%
McLean County9,8632.1K51.02%
Mountrail County9,5681.8K5-2.4%
Mercer County8,4001K80.62%
Traill County8,05386290.93%
Bottineau County6,5031.7K42.01%
Pembina County6,3841.1K6-6.48%
Benson County5,7121.4K4-3.84%
Ransom County5,5588626-2.37%
McHenry County5,1011.9K3-4.04%
Dickey County4,9101.1K4-1.01%
LaMoure County4,0171.1K4-1.93%
Dunn County3,9912K2-2.61%
Sioux County3,8211.1K3-1.55%
Pierce County3,7391K4-5.94%
Wells County3,6771.3K3-7.31%
Sargent County3,5428584-7.83%
Cavalier County3,4911.5K2-5.65%
Foster County3,3016345-2.57%
Emmons County3,1451.5K2-4.44%
Nelson County3,00198230.07%
Bowman County2,9181.2K3-2.11%
Renville County2,47887738.59%
Hettinger County2,4211.1K2-1.9%
McIntosh County2,4079752-4.33%
Kidder County2,3931.4K20.04%
Eddy County2,37163042.15%
Grant County2,2431.7K1-2.1%
Griggs County2,1817093-5.22%
Burke County2,1681.1K2-1.09%
Adams County2,1379882-2.02%
Towner County2,0811K2-2.71%
Divide County2,0761.3K2-5.85%
Oliver County1,90072231.71%
Logan County1,8689932-0.64%
Golden Valley County1,8651K28.49%
Steele County1,7697122-1.17%
Sheridan County1,2509721-0.95%
Billings County1,1171.1K119.59%
Slope County6221.2K1-11.4%

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 206,521. The most recent census shows that its population has increased by 0.12% 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 622. 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 1,117, 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 622 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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