Tennessee Counties by Population (2026)
2026 Pop.
100K
200K
300K
400K
500K
600K
700K
800K
900K
Top 5 Most Populous Counties
903,772
750,331
517,092
396,224
391,690
95 Counties
| County | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Area (mi²) | Density | Change (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | 903,772 | 761 | 1,188 | -2.8% |
| Davidson County | 750,331 | 503 | 1,492 | 4.78% |
| Knox County | 517,092 | 508 | 1,018 | 7.61% |
| Hamilton County | 396,224 | 542 | 731 | 7.7% |
| Rutherford County | 391,690 | 619 | 633 | 14.09% |
| Williamson County | 276,784 | 583 | 475 | 10.88% |
| Montgomery County | 257,279 | 539 | 477 | 16.25% |
| Sumner County | 218,317 | 529 | 413 | 10.59% |
| Wilson County | 181,140 | 571 | 317 | 21.86% |
| Sullivan County | 164,001 | 414 | 396 | 3.64% |
| Blount County | 143,865 | 559 | 257 | 6.05% |
| Washington County | 141,670 | 327 | 433 | 6.34% |
| Maury County | 118,765 | 613 | 194 | 16.62% |
| Bradley County | 117,082 | 329 | 356 | 7.58% |
| Madison County | 102,447 | 557 | 184 | 3.66% |
| Sevier County | 100,104 | 593 | 169 | 1.25% |
| Putnam County | 86,778 | 401 | 216 | 8.37% |
| Anderson County | 83,661 | 337 | 248 | 8.19% |
| Robertson County | 81,737 | 476 | 172 | 12.03% |
| Greene County | 75,102 | 622 | 121 | 6.76% |
| Hamblen County | 70,213 | 161 | 436 | 8.79% |
| Cumberland County | 67,158 | 681 | 99 | 9.43% |
| Loudon County | 65,225 | 229 | 285 | 18.3% |
| Coffee County | 62,911 | 429 | 147 | 8.2% |
| Tipton County | 62,791 | 456 | 138 | 2.86% |
| Jefferson County | 61,857 | 275 | 225 | 12.64% |
| Hawkins County | 60,897 | 487 | 125 | 7.36% |
| Dickson County | 59,253 | 490 | 121 | 8.81% |
| McMinn County | 58,822 | 430 | 137 | 10.27% |
| Carter County | 58,078 | 341 | 170 | 3% |
| Roane County | 57,780 | 361 | 160 | 7.67% |
| Bedford County | 56,136 | 474 | 118 | 11.39% |
| Gibson County | 51,962 | 603 | 86 | 3% |
| Monroe County | 50,306 | 636 | 79 | 8.42% |
| Lawrence County | 47,335 | 617 | 77 | 7.14% |
| Franklin County | 46,047 | 554 | 83 | 7.56% |
| Warren County | 45,547 | 433 | 105 | 10.93% |
| Fayette County | 45,264 | 704 | 64 | 8.12% |
| Cheatham County | 43,318 | 302 | 143 | 5.42% |
| Campbell County | 40,264 | 480 | 84 | 2.44% |
| Marshall County | 39,525 | 375 | 105 | 14.66% |
| Cocke County | 38,244 | 436 | 88 | 6.11% |
| Lincoln County | 37,867 | 570 | 66 | 7.16% |
| Dyer County | 36,345 | 512 | 71 | -0.99% |
| Rhea County | 35,639 | 315 | 113 | 7.07% |
| Henry County | 33,741 | 562 | 60 | 4.96% |
| Claiborne County | 33,734 | 435 | 78 | 5.2% |
| Weakley County | 33,266 | 580 | 57 | 1.12% |
| Giles County | 31,283 | 611 | 51 | 3.09% |
| Marion County | 30,562 | 498 | 61 | 5.73% |
| Obion County | 29,977 | 545 | 55 | -2.59% |
| White County | 29,930 | 377 | 79 | 9.05% |
| Carroll County | 29,421 | 598 | 49 | 3.49% |
| Henderson County | 28,419 | 520 | 55 | 2.11% |
| Hardin County | 27,953 | 577 | 48 | 3.69% |
| Macon County | 27,893 | 307 | 91 | 10.38% |
| McNairy County | 26,179 | 563 | 46 | 1.24% |
| Hickman County | 26,001 | 612 | 42 | 4.13% |
| Grainger County | 25,825 | 281 | 92 | 9.57% |
| Hardeman County | 25,256 | 668 | 38 | -0.72% |
| Lauderdale County | 24,782 | 472 | 53 | -1.37% |
| Overton County | 23,937 | 433 | 55 | 5.98% |
| Scott County | 23,061 | 532 | 43 | 5.42% |
| Morgan County | 22,856 | 522 | 44 | 8.58% |
| DeKalb County | 22,567 | 304 | 74 | 11.77% |
| Union County | 21,698 | 224 | 97 | 9.34% |
| Smith County | 21,259 | 314 | 68 | 6.48% |
| Fentress County | 20,971 | 499 | 42 | 13.15% |
| Humphreys County | 20,076 | 531 | 38 | 5.69% |
| Polk County | 18,882 | 435 | 43 | 7.49% |
| Johnson County | 18,766 | 298 | 63 | 4.29% |
| Sequatchie County | 18,482 | 266 | 69 | 16.63% |
| Chester County | 18,184 | 286 | 64 | 4.6% |
| Unicoi County | 17,992 | 186 | 97 | 0.67% |
| Bledsoe County | 16,757 | 407 | 41 | 12.05% |
| Haywood County | 16,667 | 533 | 31 | -6.5% |
| Benton County | 16,185 | 394 | 41 | 2.09% |
| Wayne County | 15,828 | 734 | 22 | -2.45% |
| Cannon County | 15,324 | 266 | 58 | 5.24% |
| Stewart County | 14,603 | 460 | 32 | 6.52% |
| Grundy County | 14,460 | 360 | 40 | 6.73% |
| Meigs County | 14,447 | 195 | 74 | 12.79% |
| Lewis County | 13,962 | 282 | 50 | 10.75% |
| Crockett County | 13,937 | 266 | 52 | 0.23% |
| Jackson County | 12,440 | 309 | 40 | 6.96% |
| Decatur County | 11,982 | 334 | 36 | 4.8% |
| Trousdale County | 11,875 | 114 | 104 | 2.07% |
| Perry County | 9,139 | 415 | 22 | 8.98% |
| Houston County | 8,818 | 200 | 44 | 6.18% |
| Clay County | 8,227 | 237 | 35 | 8.34% |
| Hancock County | 7,188 | 222 | 32 | 8.48% |
| Van Buren County | 6,906 | 273 | 25 | 11.84% |
| Moore County | 6,771 | 129 | 52 | 4.72% |
| Lake County | 6,452 | 166 | 39 | -7.63% |
| Pickett County | 5,096 | 163 | 31 | 1.94% |
Overview of Tennessee Counties
There are 95 counties in Tennessee.
Shelby County is the largest county in the state, with a population of 903,772. The most recent census shows that its population has decreased by 0.03% since the previous census.
A number of other Tennessee counties also boast relatively large populations for their state, though not able to match the density of Shelby County:
- Davidson County : 750,331
- Knox County : 517,092
Tennessee Counties with the Fewest Residents
The smallest county in Tennessee is Pickett County , with a population of just 5,096. This total represents a increase of 0.0% since the last census count was performed.
Other small counties include:
- Lake County : 6,452
- Moore County : 6,771
- Van Buren County : 6,906
Tennessee Counties with Rapid Growth
Wilson County , with its sizeable population of 181,140, has shown the largest population growth, with an increase of 0.2% since the last census.
Knox County has also had relatively high population growth of 0.08% with 517,092 residents.
On the other hand, Lake County has had the largest decrease in population, with its 6,452 current residents totalling 0.1% 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)