Arizona is a strange place to be, the fifth largest city in the United States.After all, the condition is fulfilled Arid and semi-arid climates Summers are incredibly hot and winters are cold. But the state's universities, booming economy, access to nature, and warm climate are drawing more people to the region. However, not all regions of the state are growing.
Discover the fastest declining counties in Arizona and see how much their population has declined in recent years.
Which are the four counties in Arizona that are experiencing the fastest population decline?

Arizona has an arid and semi-arid climate, with incredibly hot summers and cold winters.
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The four counties in Arizona with the fastest population decline are Apache, Coconino, La Paz, and Greenlee. Each of these regions has experienced a decline in total population. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Population changes in these counties As direct numbers and percentage changes from 2020 to 2022.
Please note that the 2022 population is only an estimate provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. These may not reflect actual population changes across the state during this period.
4. La Paz County

La Paz County's population decreased by only 0.3% in 2022.
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La Paz County is located in western Arizona. The region includes the Quartzsite and Ehrenberg areas, and Interstate 10 crosses the Colorado River into California. This county is not large in size or population. In 2020, only 16,555 people lived in the county, but that number decreased slightly to 16,506 in 2022. In percentage terms, this is only a 0.3% decrease.
3. Coconino County

Coconino County includes cities such as Flagstaff and Sedona.
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Coconino County is located in the north-central part of the state and includes cities such as Flagstaff and Sedona. Flagstaff is a very warm place in the summer, but in the winter it gets more snow than anywhere else in the country.
The county's population in 2020 was 145,100. In 2022 estimates, that number has decreased to 144,060 from 142,780 in 2021.
The population difference between 2020 and 2022 is approximately 1,040 people. The percentage change was -0.72%. Although this population decline is not significant, it is one of only four counties in the entire state to have seen a decline in population over the past two years.
2. Apache County

Apache County includes Petrified Forest National Park.
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Apache County is a large county in northeastern Arizona. It stretches from the northeastern corner of the state to the Apache National Forest. The county is connected to Interstate 40 into New Mexico and is also home to Petrified Forest National Park.
The county's total population in 2020 was 66,024. However, the population in 2022 decreased to 65,431 people. This is a change of 593 people, or a total decrease of 0.9% of the county's population. Again, this is not a huge number, but he is one of the regions with the fastest decreasing population.
1. Greenlee County

Greenlee County includes the southern portion of the Apache National Forest.
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Greenlee County is located in the southeastern part of the state and is one of Arizona's smaller counties. The county includes the southern portion of the Apache National Forest and is located along the border with New Mexico.
The population of Greenlee County in 2020 was 9,561. This number decreased to 9,302 people in 2022, a decrease of 259 people. This corresponds to a total loss of 2.71% of the region's population. Again, this is not a huge drop in population, but these counties are not very populous compared to other counties in the state.
These are the four fastest-declining counties in Arizona, based on information from the U.S. Census Bureau. However, none of these counties experienced significant population declines. As a result, it can be difficult to track why people leave these areas.
One simple cause of population change may be that people are moving to more desirable parts of the state. This concept could carry some weight given the growing population of Arizona as a whole, especially in Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located.
Arizona's population change shows growth in all but the fastest-declining counties

Phoenix is a city experiencing significant growth.
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According to information from the U.S. Census Bureau, Arizona's population increased from 2020 to 2022. Arizona's total population has increased From 7,151,507 to 7,359,197.
One of the areas with the highest population growth was Maricopa County. The population of this region increased from 4,420,574 in 2020 to 4,551,524 in 2022. This is a difference of 130,950 people, representing a total increase of 2.96%.
The City of Phoenix is located in Maricopa County, which is the driving force behind the region's population growth. Phoenix is a city experiencing significant growth as people flock to the area for its many attractions. People enjoy the city's low population density, affordable housing, jobs, entertainment, and the ability to travel to other nearby cities.
Overall, there appears to be nothing stopping population growth in this part of Arizona.
Overview of Arizona's fastest shrinking counties
rank | county | Rate of change |
---|---|---|
1 | greenlee | -2.71% |
2 | apache | -0.9% |
3 | Coconino | -.72% |
Four | la paz | -.3% |
The photo at the top of this post is © Alexander Lukatskiy/Shutterstock.com