| County | Rank | Change (2020) ↓ | 2026 Pop. | 2020 Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 1 | 3.28% | 681,684 | 660,014 |
| Kent County | 2 | 2.52% | 174,712 | 170,419 |
| Washington County | 3 | -0.11% | 129,632 | 129,775 |
| Bristol County | 4 | -1.83% | 49,854 | 50,781 |
| Newport County | 5 | -3.22% | 82,745 | 85,498 |
Rhode Island's counties show varied growth patterns from 2020 to 2026. Providence County leads with 0.54% annualized growth, followed by Kent County (0.42%) and Washington County (-0.02%). The largest counties are Providence County (681,684), Kent County (174,712), and Washington County (129,632). Of the 5 counties in Rhode Island, 2 are growing while 3 have experienced population decline. Overall, counties averaged 0.02% annualized growth, with total population growing by 0.33% annually.
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