This page ranks Virginia counties by population, together with the 38 independent cities, using the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates. It also shows where the Commonwealth gained and lost residents between 2020 and 2025.
Quick answer: Ranked by population, Virginia counties and cities are led by Fairfax County (1,167,873 in 2025), Prince William County (502,966) and Virginia Beach (453,737). The state’s 133 county-level areas grew from 8,637,303 to 8,880,107 residents between 2020 and 2025, an increase of about 2.8 percent.
Contents
- Statewide Totals
- The 10 Largest Jurisdictions
- Fastest Growth, 2020-2025
- Jurisdictions Losing Population
- Frequently asked questions
Statewide Totals
The 95 counties and 38 independent cities of Virginia had an estimated 8,880,107 residents in 2025, compared with 8,637,303 in 2020.[1] That is a gain of 242,804 people, or about 2.8 percent.
Growth was not even. Of the 133 jurisdictions, 90 gained residents between 2020 and 2025 and 43 lost residents.[1]
The 10 Largest Jurisdictions
| Rank | County or city | Population, 2025 | Change since 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfax County | 1,167,873 | +1.7% |
| 2 | Prince William County | 502,966 | +4.2% |
| 3 | Virginia Beach (city) | 453,737 | -1.3% |
| 4 | Loudoun County | 449,749 | +6.4% |
| 5 | Chesterfield County | 397,148 | +8.7% |
| 6 | Henrico County | 342,775 | +2.3% |
| 7 | Chesapeake (city) | 255,332 | +2.3% |
| 8 | Arlington County | 243,931 | +2.1% |
| 9 | Richmond (city) | 237,257 | +4.6% |
| 10 | Norfolk (city) | 231,013 | -2.9% |
Fairfax County alone holds about 13 percent of the state’s population.[1]
Fastest Growth, 2020-2025
Measured in percent, these five jurisdictions grew fastest.[1]
| County or city | Population, 2025 | Change since 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| New Kent County | 28,022 | +21.2% |
| Goochland County | 29,187 | +17.4% |
| Louisa County | 42,924 | +13.6% |
| Caroline County | 34,413 | +11.3% |
| Fairfax (city) | 26,772 | +10.7% |
Measured in number of people, Chesterfield County gained the most (31,818), followed by Loudoun County (27,056) and Prince William County (20,128).[1]
Jurisdictions Losing Population
These five jurisdictions had the largest percentage losses.[1]
| County or city | Population, 2025 | Change since 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Buchanan County | 18,492 | -8.7% |
| Dickenson County | 13,236 | -6.0% |
| Norton (city) | 3,477 | -5.5% |
| Bristol (city) | 16,418 | -5.2% |
| Charlottesville (city) | 44,388 | -4.4% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most populated county in Virginia? Fairfax County, with an estimated 1,167,873 residents in 2025.
What is the fastest growing county in Virginia? In percent, New Kent County grew fastest between 2020 and 2025, by about 21.2 percent.
What is the population of Virginia in 2025? The Census Bureau estimate for the 133 counties and cities totals 8,880,107.
Which Virginia county is losing the most population? In percent, Buchanan County, down about 8.7 percent since 2020.
References
- [1] U.S. Census Bureau, County Population Totals: 2020-2025 (Vintage 2025) – last checked 11/08/2026
Every county and city can be colored by population or by change since 2020 on the map of Virginia counties.