Here’s how many people left

A new study from the U.S. Census Bureau found Shelby County lost more residents than any other city in the country.

The study examined population records across counties with at least 20,000 people living between July 2023 and July 2024. It found that more people moved to metro areas in the United States, with the number of people living in a U.S. metro area increasing by nearly 3.2 million.

On the other hand, Shelby County saw a significant population loss despite its large metro area.

Here’s how much Shelby County’s population fell.

Counties with the largest population loss by number in 2024

Shelby County, home to Memphis, saw the largest population loss last year. Between July 2023 and July 2024, the population declined from 913,909 to 910,530. This is also nearly 20,000 fewer people than the county had in 2020, when its population was 930,015. Shelby County’s population also fell by over 300 more than the next closest county, St. Louis County in Missouri.

1. Shelby County, Tennessee: -3,379

2. St. Louis County, Missouri: -3,077

3. Hinds County, Mississippi: -2,542

4. Orleans Parish, Louisiana: -2,466

5. Clayton County, Georgia: -1,677

6. Humboldt County, California: -1,629

7. Yazoo County, Mississippi: -1,579

8. Caddo Parish, Louisiana: -1,567

9. Pinellas County, Florida: -1,431

10. Santa Cruz County, California: -1,293

Counties with the largest population loss by percent in 2024

Yazoo County, located north of Jackson, Mississippi, experienced the largest percent population loss between July 2023 and July 2024. The county’s population went from 24,603 in 2023 to 23,024 in 2024, which reflects a 6.4% loss.

1. Yazoo County, Mississippi: -6.4%

2. Sunflower County, Mississippi: -3.8%

3. Mitchell County, Georgia: -2.2%

4. Curry County, Oregon: -2.1%

5. Dallas County, Alabama: -2.1%

6. Lassen County, California: -1.7%

7. Washington County, Mississippi: -1.7%

8. Leflore County, Mississippi: -1.6%

9. Bolivar County, Mississippi: -1.6%

10. Fulton County, Mississippi: -1.6%

Counties with the largest population growth by number in 2024

Harris County, home to Houston, Texas, had the largest numerical population in 2024. Here, the population went from 4,903,450 in 2023 to 5,009,302 in 2024.

1. Harris County, Texas: 105,852

2. Miami-Dade County, Florida: 64,211

3. Maricopa County, Arizona: 57,471

4. Collin County, Texas: 46,694

5. Clark County, Nevada: 44,586

6. King County, Washington: 43,398

7. Cook County, Illinois: 40,095

8. Broward County, Florida: 34,686

9. Montgomery County, Texas: 34,268

10. Tarrant County, Texas: 32,793

Counties with the largest population growth by percent in 2024

Dawson County, Georgia, located north of Atlanta, grew by the largest percent last year. The county’s population increased from 31,720 in 2023 to 33,748 in 2024.

1. Dawson County, Georgia: 6.4%

2. Kaufman County, Texas: 6.0%

3. Jasper County, South Carolina: 5.9%

4. Jackson County, Georgia: 5.8%

5. Pinal County, Arizona: 5.6%

6. Liberty County, Texas: 5.4%

7. Montgomery County, Texas: 4.8%

8. Osceola County, Florida: 4.7%

9. Caldwell County, Texas: 4.6%

10. Hendry County, Florida: 4.6%

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How many people left Memphis in 2024? Shelby County loss leads nation