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States That Lost Population Since 2020

West Virginia: population drop of 1.4%, 2020–2025. 7 states qualify in this comparison.

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What the data shows

  • In 2020–2025, West Virginia ranks #1 with 1.4%, ahead of Hawaii (1.3%) and Louisiana (0.7%).

About this chart

West Virginia has the largest percentage decline in this comparison: 1.4% between 2020 and 2025. Its population moved from 1,791,670 to 1,766,147 people. Hawaii follows with a 1.3% decline, from 1,451,130 to 1,432,820 people. There are 7 qualifying states; the table shows all of them. The comparison covers the 50 US states and excludes the District of Columbia.

The ranking uses percentage change from 2020 to 2025, calculated from population estimates at the two endpoints. It does not measure every move into or out of a place, and it cannot by itself explain the causes of decline. A smaller population can suffer a larger percentage loss while a bigger population loses more people in absolute terms.

The data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 (vintages 1999, 2000–2010 intercensal, 2020 and 2025). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Population loss = (1 - population in 2025 / population in 2020) × 100. Historical population estimates.

States That Lost Population Since 2020, population loss, 2020–2025 (%), 2020–2025
DateWest VirginiaHawaiiLouisianaIllinoisNew YorkCaliforniaMississippi
2020–20251.4%1.3%0.7%0.6%0.6%0.4%0.1%

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Frequently asked questions

Which state has the biggest population decline from 2020 to 2025?

West Virginia leads this comparison with a 1.4% decline, from 1,791,670 in 2020 to 1,766,147 in 2025. The comparison covers the 50 US states and excludes the District of Columbia.

How is the percentage change calculated?

The calculation divides the 2025 population by the 2020 population, subtracts that ratio from one, and multiplies by 100. A larger positive loss means a greater proportional decline.

Does population loss measure migration alone?

No. Total population change combines births, deaths and migration, and can also reflect revisions to estimates. The chart shows the net result, not a migration measure.

Where does this data come from?

U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 (vintages 1999, 2000–2010 intercensal, 2020 and 2025). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Population loss = (1 - population in 2025 / population in 2020) × 100. Historical population estimates. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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