County facts · Population growth · October 24, 2026
Fastest Growing Counties in Mississippi, 2020 to 2025
Mississippi's fastest growing counties by percent and by people added, April 2020 to July 2025 Census estimates, with each official parcel map.
Looking for the fastest growing counties in Mississippi? From the Census Bureau's April 1, 2020 estimates base to its July 1, 2025 estimate, Mississippi went from about 2,961,264 to 2,954,160 residents, a change of −7,104 (−0.2%). The fastest growing county by percentage was George County (+8.1%), while DeSoto County added the most people (+12,605, +6.8%).
Each table links the county's Platbookmapper page and its official parcel viewer, so you can go from the growth numbers straight to the property lines.
Mississippi growth at a glance
- Counties: 82
- Statewide, April 2020 to July 2025: −7,104 residents (−0.2%); July 2024 to July 2025 alone: +3,988 (+0.1%)
- Grew: 29 of 82 · Lost residents: 53
- Fastest growing by percent: George County (+8.1%); most people added: DeSoto County (+12,605)
- Counties with more deaths than births over the period: 68 of 82
The 10 fastest growing Mississippi counties by percent
| # | County | Apr 2020 | Jul 2025 | Change | % change | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George County | 24,347 | 26,331 | +1,984 | +8.1% | MARIS Mississippi Statewide Parcels map viewer |
| 2 | Stone County | 18,336 | 19,654 | +1,318 | +7.2% | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
| 3 | DeSoto County | 185,313 | 197,918 | +12,605 | +6.8% | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 4 | Lafayette County | 55,814 | 59,597 | +3,783 | +6.8% | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 5 | Madison County | 109,123 | 116,298 | +7,175 | +6.6% | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
| 6 | Pearl River County | 56,148 | 59,363 | +3,215 | +5.7% | MARIS Mississippi Statewide Parcels map viewer |
| 7 | Lamar County | 64,218 | 67,403 | +3,185 | +5.0% | county web map |
| 8 | Harrison County | 208,624 | 217,136 | +8,512 | +4.1% | county web map |
| 9 | Rankin County | 157,022 | 162,181 | +5,159 | +3.3% | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
| 10 | Jackson County | 143,245 | 147,666 | +4,421 | +3.1% | MARIS Mississippi Statewide Parcels map viewer |
These 10 added about 51,357 people combined. The median county changed by −1.8%.
The 10 counties that added the most people
| # | County | People added | % change | Jul 2025 | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DeSoto County | +12,605 | +6.8% | 197,918 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 2 | Harrison County | +8,512 | +4.1% | 217,136 | county web map |
| 3 | Madison County | +7,175 | +6.6% | 116,298 | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
| 4 | Rankin County | +5,159 | +3.3% | 162,181 | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
| 5 | Jackson County | +4,421 | +3.1% | 147,666 | MARIS Mississippi Statewide Parcels map viewer |
| 6 | Lafayette County | +3,783 | +6.8% | 59,597 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 7 | Pearl River County | +3,215 | +5.7% | 59,363 | MARIS Mississippi Statewide Parcels map viewer |
| 8 | Lamar County | +3,185 | +5.0% | 67,403 | county web map |
| 9 | George County | +1,984 | +8.1% | 26,331 | MARIS Mississippi Statewide Parcels map viewer |
| 10 | Stone County | +1,318 | +7.2% | 19,654 | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
The top 10 account for about 87% of all the gains in the counties that grew.
Where the new residents came from
The Census Bureau splits each change into natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration (moves from other parts of the US) and net international migration. Totals for April 2020 to July 2025 in the five fastest growing counties:
| County | Births minus deaths | Net domestic moves | Net international moves | Total change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George County | −66 | +1,872 | +164 | +1,984 |
| Stone County | −294 | +1,557 | +67 | +1,318 |
| DeSoto County | +1,128 | +10,011 | +1,498 | +12,605 |
| Lafayette County | +441 | +2,315 | +1,102 | +3,783 |
| Madison County | +1,050 | +3,010 | +3,052 | +7,175 |
In 4 of these 5, moves from elsewhere in the US were the biggest source of growth. The three parts do not add up exactly to the total because the Census Bureau also carries a small residual.
The last year alone: July 2024 to July 2025
- George County: +1.9% (+485)
- Webster County: +1.2% (+122)
- Madison County: +1.2% (+1,383)
- Harrison County: +1.2% (+2,542)
- Perry County: +1.1% (+129)
3 of these 5 are also in the 2020–2025 top 10, so the growth is not a one-year blip.
Counties losing residents
53 of Mississippi's 82 counties had fewer residents in July 2025 than in April 2020. The steepest declines:
- Sharkey County: −18.5% (−705, now about 3,097)
- Tallahatchie County: −14.5% (−1,839, now about 10,877)
- Yazoo County: −14.2% (−3,801, now about 22,947)
- Quitman County: −13.1% (−812, now about 5,364)
- Claiborne County: −11.8% (−1,076, now about 8,058)
What fast growth means on a parcel map
- New lots show up as plats first. When land is subdivided, the plat is recorded with the county and the parcel layer catches up on its own schedule, so a brand-new lot may not appear on the map for a while. Check the recorder's recent plats if a parcel looks missing.
- Parcel numbers change after splits. A tract that was one parcel last year can be several today. Search by owner name or address as well as by an old parcel number.
- City limits move. Growing cities annex land, which changes who handles zoning and permits even though the county still keeps the deed and the tax map.
- Percent is not the same as people. A small county can post a big percentage on a modest number of new residents, so read the people-added column too.
Related guides
- Largest counties in Mississippi
- Mississippi county GIS websites by viewer
- Mississippi landowner maps for hunting
- Fastest growing counties in the US
- US counties losing population
More: All Mississippi counties on Platbookmapper
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2025 (April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2020–2025 estimates, with components of change). Percent change is from the April 1, 2020 estimates base to the July 1, 2025 estimate.
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 24, 2026) for each official parcel viewer.