Of Minnesota’s 87 counties, 52 have gained population and 35 have lost population since 2020.

Population growth matters to a variety of quality-of-life outcomes: economic stability, social ties, political representation, service availability, infrastructure maintenance, and sense of community. Read on to learn about what’s happening in your county, why population growth matters, and ways you can support your community.

52 counties have gained population since the start of the decade

Counties experiencing the greatest net gains in population form a ring around the central cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and push up along the I-94 corridor.

35 counties have lost population since the start of the decade

Counties experiencing net losses are largely in the Northwest and Southwest regions of the state, in addition to counties that fall along state borders. Most of these counties lost fewer than 1,000 residents, but Ramsey County stands out with a net loss of more than 10,000 residents since 2020, by far the greatest net loss of any county in the state.

Two factors contribute to

population growth and losses.

Natural change: This is the difference between the number of live births and deaths in a community. Counties that net more births than deaths are in “natural increase,” while counties that net more deaths than births are in “natural decrease” or “natural decline.”
Migration: Populations also shift with the movement of residents into and out of communities. Counties that net more residents moving in than moving out experience “in-migration,” while counties that net more residents moving out than moving in experience “out-migration.”

In counties that have gained population, migration plays a key role.

Of the 52 counties that have gained population since 2020, 43 can attribute population gain to net in-migration alone (22 counties) or in combination with natural increase (21 counties). Only nine counties have experienced population growth from natural increase alone.

In counties that have lost population, natural decrease and out-migration are often both at work.

Of the 35 counties that have lost population since 2020, 20 can attribute population decline to a combination of natural decrease and net out-migration. The remaining counties are evenly split between those experiencing population loss due to one or the other.

Why does it matter if my community is growing or shrinking?

For many communities, a stable or growing population can help ensure ongoing prosperity and well-being. Steady and growing populations contribute to high quality of life by:

Expanding economic opportunity: maintaining employment, contributing to the tax base, and putting money back into the community through purchasing and consumption
Maintaining local infrastructure: enrolling in local schools, relying on local clinics and hospitals, enjoying local parks, libraries, and other amenities
Securing ongoing community investment: building welcoming communities through volunteerism and civic engagement, electing leaders who represent local interests, securing federal and state funding that relies on population-based funding formulas

Admittedly, there are times when population growth outpaces the infrastructure needed to support new residents. In these communities, we sometimes see challenges associated with housing availability and affordability; childcare availability and affordability; school, healthcare, and social service capacity and staffing; language barriers; and/or differences between longstanding and emerging community character and culture. These acute challenges often take time and shared investment across residents, leaders, and sectors to weather and welcome the changes associated with growth.

What can I do to support my community?

1. Consider this a mid-decade wake-up call about 2030 Census

The decennial count determines how federal funding flows to local communities, the number of seats representing Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives, and how voting districts are drawn. Understanding how your community is growing and changing over the next decade also depends on the accuracy of this core count. The last census feels like a long time ago and the next one feels far off in the future, but you can commit now to completing your 2030 Census form accurately, completely, and promptly when it arrives in four years. Before then, there will also be opportunities to get involved and spread the word about the importance of a full count in Minnesota.

2. Be a connector in your community

If your community is growing, migration is already fueling population growth. If your community is shrinking, in-migration will need to be a key strategy to reverse population decline. The leading reasons that people move into a community are:

Economics: jobs, cost of living, housing affordability, tax burden
Quality of life: healthcare, recreation, natural amenities, weather, and retirement considerations
Social connections: family, friends, opportunities to connect with others, and welcoming communities that build a sense of belonging

Whether personally or professionally, there is a role for all community members to play in recruiting, welcoming, or connecting new residents to the best your community has to offer.

3. Learn more

In recent years, colleagues across the state have taken a deeper look at migration patterns within Minnesota, and between Minnesota and other U.S. states. Their reports offer insights into who is moving, reasons for migration, and policies that could or have shown promise for sustaining and growing Minnesota's population.