Declining USA Cities by Population
26 of the 100 largest USA cities lost population between April 2020 and July 1, 2025. St. Louis, Missouri fell the most, down 7.7%.
| # | City | State | Change since 2020 | People lost since 2020 | Population (July 2025) | Population (April 2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis | Missouri | -7.7% | -23,205 | 278,144 | 301,349 |
| 2 | San Francisco | California | -6.0% | -52,471 | 826,079 | 878,550 |
| 3 | New Orleans | Louisiana | -5.7% | -21,975 | 362,154 | 384,129 |
| 4 | Long Beach | California | -3.5% | -16,299 | 450,469 | 466,768 |
| 5 | Memphis | Tennessee | -3.0% | -18,863 | 609,647 | 628,510 |
| 6 | Toledo | Ohio | -2.8% | -7,458 | 263,423 | 270,881 |
| 7 | Baltimore | Maryland | -2.7% | -15,732 | 569,997 | 585,729 |
| 8 | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | -2.7% | -15,487 | 562,407 | 577,894 |
| 9 | Portland | Oregon | -2.7% | -17,357 | 635,109 | 652,466 |
| 10 | Honolulu | Hawaii | -2.6% | -9,125 | 341,868 | 350,993 |
| 11 | New York | New York | -2.5% | -220,965 | 8,584,629 | 8,805,594 |
| 12 | Cleveland | Ohio | -2.4% | -9,027 | 363,608 | 372,635 |
| 13 | San Jose | California | -2.3% | -23,507 | 989,814 | 1,013,321 |
| 14 | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | -1.8% | -29,519 | 1,574,281 | 1,603,800 |
| 15 | Anaheim | California | -1.7% | -5,791 | 341,008 | 346,799 |
| 16 | St. Paul | Minnesota | -1.5% | -4,819 | 306,684 | 311,503 |
| 17 | Anchorage | Alaska | -1.4% | -4,087 | 287,155 | 291,242 |
| 18 | Albuquerque | New Mexico | -1.4% | -7,840 | 556,588 | 564,428 |
| 19 | Buffalo | New York | -1.3% | -3,688 | 274,613 | 278,301 |
| 20 | Virginia Beach | Virginia | -1.2% | -5,680 | 453,737 | 459,417 |
| 21 | Boston | Massachusetts | -0.8% | -5,644 | 672,973 | 678,617 |
| 22 | Los Angeles | California | -0.8% | -30,253 | 3,869,089 | 3,899,342 |
| 23 | Omaha | Nebraska | -0.6% | -3,070 | 488,797 | 491,867 |
| 24 | Chicago | Illinois | -0.6% | -16,748 | 2,731,585 | 2,748,333 |
| 25 | Corpus Christi | Texas | -0.3% | -843 | 317,247 | 318,090 |
| 26 | Oakland | California | -0.0% | -4 | 440,838 | 440,842 |
| # | City | State | People lost since 2020 | Change since 2020 | Population (July 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | New York | -220,965 | -2.5% | 8,584,629 |
| 2 | San Francisco | California | -52,471 | -6.0% | 826,079 |
| 3 | Los Angeles | California | -30,253 | -0.8% | 3,869,089 |
| 4 | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | -29,519 | -1.8% | 1,574,281 |
| 5 | San Jose | California | -23,507 | -2.3% | 989,814 |
| 6 | St. Louis | Missouri | -23,205 | -7.7% | 278,144 |
| 7 | New Orleans | Louisiana | -21,975 | -5.7% | 362,154 |
| 8 | Memphis | Tennessee | -18,863 | -3.0% | 609,647 |
| 9 | Portland | Oregon | -17,357 | -2.7% | 635,109 |
| 10 | Chicago | Illinois | -16,748 | -0.6% | 2,731,585 |
| 11 | Long Beach | California | -16,299 | -3.5% | 450,469 |
| 12 | Baltimore | Maryland | -15,732 | -2.7% | 569,997 |
| 13 | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | -15,487 | -2.7% | 562,407 |
| 14 | Honolulu | Hawaii | -9,125 | -2.6% | 341,868 |
| 15 | Cleveland | Ohio | -9,027 | -2.4% | 363,608 |
| 16 | Albuquerque | New Mexico | -7,840 | -1.4% | 556,588 |
| 17 | Toledo | Ohio | -7,458 | -2.8% | 263,423 |
| 18 | Anaheim | California | -5,791 | -1.7% | 341,008 |
| 19 | Virginia Beach | Virginia | -5,680 | -1.2% | 453,737 |
| 20 | Boston | Massachusetts | -5,644 | -0.8% | 672,973 |
| 21 | St. Paul | Minnesota | -4,819 | -1.5% | 306,684 |
| 22 | Anchorage | Alaska | -4,087 | -1.4% | 287,155 |
| 23 | Buffalo | New York | -3,688 | -1.3% | 274,613 |
| 24 | Omaha | Nebraska | -3,070 | -0.6% | 488,797 |
| 25 | Corpus Christi | Texas | -843 | -0.3% | 317,247 |
| 26 | Oakland | California | -4 | -0.0% | 440,838 |
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Data sources: US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates (July 1, 2025; released May 14, 2026), compared with the April 1, 2020 census base. census.gov
Charts
Download any chart as an image or its data as CSV. Source: census.gov.
Large USA cities with the biggest population decline (% change, 2020–2025)
USA cities that lost the most people since 2020
States with the most shrinking large cities
Declining USA Cities: Key Facts
Which large USA city is shrinking fastest?
St. Louis, Missouri, down 7.7% from 301,349 in April 2020 to 278,144 on July 1, 2025. San Francisco (-6.0%) and New Orleans (-5.7%) follow.
Which USA city lost the most people since 2020?
New York, New York, which lost 220,965 residents between April 2020 and July 1, 2025.
How many large USA cities are losing population?
26 of the 100 largest USA cities had fewer residents on July 1, 2025 than in April 2020.
Which state has the most shrinking large cities?
California, with 6 of the 26 shrinking large cities.
Is New York City losing population?
Yes. New York went from 8,805,594 in April 2020 to 8,584,629 on July 1, 2025, a change of -2.5%.
Among the 100 most populous USA cities. Population as of July 1, 2025, compared with the April 1, 2020 census base.
How we compiled this ranking
We take the 100 most populous incorporated cities in the 50 states and Washington, DC, using the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimates, and keep those whose population is lower than their April 2020 census base.
Cities are ranked by percentage decline or by the number of residents lost. Smaller towns are left out because a few hundred people moving away can produce very large percentages.
How often this page is updated
City population estimates are released once a year, usually in May. We rebuild this ranking when they come out and check the page monthly in between.