West Virginia Counties by Population (2025)

Top 5 Most Populous Counties

West Virginia flag Kanawha County

172,687

West Virginia flag Berkeley County

138,562

West Virginia flag Monongalia County

109,198

West Virginia flag Cabell County

91,276

West Virginia flag Wood County

82,380

55 counties

County
2025 Pop. ↓
Area (mi²)
Density
Change (2020)
Kanawha County172,687902191-4.19%
Berkeley County138,56232143212.93%
Monongalia County109,1983603033.1%
Cabell County91,276281325-3.15%
Wood County82,380367224-2.09%
Raleigh County71,466605118-3.94%
Harrison County64,413416155-2.16%
Jefferson County61,3592092946.18%
Mercer County56,947419136-4.32%
Putnam County56,760346164-1.19%
Marion County55,853309181-0.69%
Ohio County40,656106384-3.98%
Fayette County38,44066258-4.92%
Wayne County37,09850673-4.57%
Preston County33,85364952-0.98%
Greenbrier County31,6971,02031-3.63%
Logan County30,06945366-7.52%
Marshall County28,88130595-5.29%
Hancock County27,92783336-3.83%
Jackson County27,44546459-1%
Randolph County26,9461,04026-3.39%
Mineral County26,79732882-0.34%
Mason County24,47343157-3.66%
Hampshire County24,033640384.03%
Nicholas County23,88964737-2.72%
Upshur County23,17735565-2.67%
Mingo County21,17942350-9.83%
Brooke County20,73189233-7.76%
Boone County19,91450240-8.42%
Wyoming County19,68749939-7.67%
Lincoln County19,40143744-4.72%
Morgan County18,077229795.79%
McDowell County16,70553331-11.78%
Taylor County16,34417394-2.08%
Lewis County16,15238742-5.1%
Barbour County15,35234145-0.74%
Hardy County14,417582251.25%
Wetzel County13,68235838-5.02%
Roane County13,56348428-3.03%
Monroe County12,502473260.95%
Braxton County12,14651124-2.03%
Summers County11,33936131-5.03%
Grant County10,88747723-0.94%
Ritchie County8,04145218-4.54%
Webster County7,85355314-6.02%
Pocahontas County7,7019408-2.02%
Clay County7,66934222-4.2%
Doddridge County7,61632024-2.18%
Tyler County7,57725630-8.61%
Pleasants County7,14413055-6.61%
Gilmer County7,10233921-3.98%
Tucker County6,57241916-2.59%
Pendleton County5,9536969-2.92%
Calhoun County5,73927921-7.42%
Wirt County4,81623321-7.17%

Overview of West Virginia Counties

There are 55 counties in West Virginia.

West Virginia’s most populous county is Kanawha County, home of the city of Charleston, which has a population of 180,454. Since the last census was taken in 2010, Kanawha County has seen a loss in its total population with a negative -6.46% growth rate. Behind Kanawha County in terms of population are:

West Virginia Counties with the Fewest Residents

The county in West Virginia that holds the lowest number of residents is Wirt County. Wirt County has a population of 5,830 which represents a growth rate of 1.82% since the 2010 census. Other small counties include:

West Virginia has twelve counties under 10,000 residents and another 33 counties between 10,000 and 50,000 residents. Most of these small counties have lost residents since the census. Among counties under 10,000 people, Webster County (population 8,285) experienced the most dramatic decline with a -9.48% growth rate.

West Virginia Counties with Rapid Growth

The most rapid growth found in West Virginia comes from Berkeley County which, since 2010’s census, has seen an 11.97% increase in its population to 117,123 people. Other counties with rapid growth in West Virginia include:

The county with the most dramatic decline is McDowell County which lost 17.54% of its residents since 2010 and now has a population of 18,223.

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)