Energy
Growth and Decline: Visualizing U.S. Population Change by County
View a bigger sized version of this same map.
Visualizing U.S. Population Change by County (2010-2018)
The American Heartland continues to feed the growth of urban centers โ not only with its agricultural products and natural resources, but with its people as well.
Across the nation, coastal urban centers are adding new citizens, while rural counties are seeing their populations decline. Outside of this general trend, fracking has created some rare pockets of growth in rural areas, while coal mine closures have had the opposite effect.
Todayโs map comes to us from Reddit user jinkinson, and it maps U.S. population change by county from 2010 to 2018, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Uneven Growth
From 2010 to 2018, the total United States population increased by 6% from 308,745,538 to 327,167,434. However, it’s clear that not all counties participated in this uptrend.
There are 3,142 counties counted as part of this map (Puerto Rico and U.S. territories excluded). Of these, 1,489 experienced positive growth, while 1,653 saw a decline.
Which Counties are Growing the Fastest?
Americaโs economy has grown for over a decade, but that growth increasingly concentrates in 1% of the nation’s counties.
In fact, just 31 counties were responsible for 32.3% of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Although economic concentration tells part of the story, a view of changing population patterns can help us see where physical growth is happening across the country.
Top 20 Counties for U.S. Population Growth
Rank | State | County Name | 2010 Population | 2018 Population | % Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | North Dakota | McKenzie County | 6,360 | 13,632 | 114% |
#2 | Texas | Loving County | 82 | 152 | 85% |
#3 | North Dakota | Williams County | 22,398 | 35,350 | 58% |
#4 | Texas | Hays County | 157,107 | 222,631 | 42% |
#5 | Utah | Wasatch County | 23,530 | 33,240 | 41% |
#6 | Tennessee | Trousdale County | 7,870 | 11,012 | 40% |
#7 | Texas | Hudspeth County | 3,476 | 4,795 | 38% |
#8 | Florida | Sumter County | 93,420 | 128,754 | 38% |
#9 | Florida | Osceola County | 268,685 | 367,990 | 37% |
#10 | Texas | Comal County | 108,472 | 148,373 | 37% |
#11 | Texas | Kendall County | 33,410 | 45,641 | 37% |
#12 | Iowa | Dallas County | 66,135 | 90,180 | 36% |
#13 | Georgia | Forsyth County | 175,511 | 236,612 | 35% |
#14 | Texas | Fort Bend County | 585,375 | 787,858 | 34% |
#15 | Texas | Williamson County | 422,679 | 566,719 | 34% |
#16 | Florida | St. Johns County | 190,039 | 254,261 | 34% |
#17 | North Dakota | Mountrail County | 7,673 | 10,218 | 33% |
#18 | Georgia | Long County | 14,464 | 18,998 | 31% |
#19 | South Dakota | Lincoln County | 44,828 | 58,807 | 31% |
#2 | Virginia | Loudoun County | 312,311 | 406,850 | 30% |
At the top of the list is McKenzie County, North Dakota, which experienced a growth of 114% in its population from 2010 to 2018. This is due to the shale gas industry that flourished in the area. Interestingly, all of North Dakota’s active oil and gas rigs are in just four counties: McKenzie, Dunn, Williams, and Mountrail, three of which make the top 20 list above.
The fracking boom also fueled growth in Texas, where six counties made the list.
However, immediate economic success built on fracking sands and sensitive commodity prices may not be sustainable over the longer term. In fact, counties from a previous energy era are already seeing what happens when demand dries up.
Which Counties are Declining the Fastest?
If you look at a map of coal operations in the U.S. and compare it to the list of declining counties below, a stark pattern appears.
Half of country’s coal miners work in just 25 counties, and as mines close there are fewer economic opportunities available in those areas.
Top 20 Counties for U.S. Population Decline
Rank | State | County Name | 2010 Population | 2018 Population | % Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Illinois | Alexander County | 8,238 | 6,060 | -26% |
#2 | Oklahoma | Blaine County | 11,943 | 9,485 | -21% |
#3 | West Virginia | McDowell County | 22,113 | 18,223 | -18% |
#4 | Kansas | Morton County | 3,233 | 2,667 | -18% |
#5 | Arkansas | Phillips County | 21,757 | 18,029 | -17% |
#6 | Texas | Terrell County | 984 | 823 | -16% |
#7 | Texas | Schleicher County | 3,461 | 2,895 | -16% |
#8 | Alaska | Petersburg Borough | 3,815 | 3,221 | -16% |
#9 | Arkansas | Monroe County | 8,149 | 6,900 | -15% |
#10 | Louisiana | Tensas Parish | 5,252 | 4,462 | -15% |
#11 | South Carolina | Allendale County | 10,419 | 8,903 | -15% |
#12 | Michigan | Ontonagon County | 6,780, | 5,795 | -15% |
#13 | Mississippi | Quitman County | 8,223 | 7,051 | -14% |
#14 | Alabama | Macon County | 21,452 | 18,439 | -14% |
#15 | Arkansas | Lee County | 10,424 | 8,985 | -14% |
#16 | Alabama | Perry County | 10,591 | 9,140 | -14% |
#17 | Virginia | Emporia city | 5,927 | 5,121 | -14% |
#18 | Mississippi | Coahoma County | 26,151 | 22,628 | -13% |
#19 | Colorado | Kit Carson County | 8,270 | 7,163 | -13% |
#20 | Texas | Mitchell County | 9,403 | 8,145 | -13% |
While coal counties have grim figures due to the changing domestic energy story, it’s Alexander County in Illinois that tops the list with a 26% decline in population over the time period.
In fact, the harsh reality is that 93% of Illinois’ counties have seen a decrease in population between 2010-2018.
State by State: Winners and Losers
The number of declining counties within a state reveals a larger picture. Visual Capitalist aggregated county level data to reveal the patterns of U.S. states.
State | # Counties with Negative Growth | # Counties with Positive Growth | % of Counties with Negative Growth |
---|---|---|---|
Illinois | 93 | 9 | 91% |
Connecticut | 7 | 1 | 88% |
Kansas | 90 | 15 | 86% |
West Virginia | 46 | 9 | 84% |
Mississippi | 62 | 20 | 76% |
New York | 46 | 16 | 74% |
Nebraska | 66 | 27 | 71% |
Pennsylvania | 47 | 20 | 70% |
New Mexico | 23 | 10 | 70% |
Missouri | 79 | 36 | 69% |
Iowa | 68 | 31 | 69% |
Ohio | 58 | 30 | 66% |
Alabama | 43 | 24 | 64% |
Indiana | 59 | 33 | 64% |
Arkansas | 48 | 27 | 64% |
Michigan | 53 | 30 | 64% |
Louisiana | 39 | 25 | 61% |
Oklahoma | 44 | 33 | 57% |
Vermont | 8 | 6 | 57% |
Maine | 7 | 6 | 54% |
Kentucky | 63 | 57 | 53% |
Wyoming | 12 | 11 | 52% |
North Dakota | 27 | 26 | 51% |
Minnesota | 44 | 43 | 51% |
Rhode Island | 4 | 4 | 50% |
New Jersey | 10 | 11 | 48% |
Wisconsin | 34 | 38 | 47% |
Georgia | 73 | 86 | 46% |
South Carolina | 21 | 25 | 46% |
Virginia | 60 | 73 | 45% |
North Carolina | 43 | 57 | 43% |
South Dakota | 26 | 40 | 39% |
Alaska | 11 | 18 | 38% |
Texas | 96 | 158 | 38% |
Nevada | 6 | 11 | 35% |
Tennessee | 32 | 63 | 34% |
Montana | 18 | 38 | 32% |
New Hampshire | 3 | 7 | 30% |
Maryland | 7 | 17 | 29% |
California | 15 | 43 | 26% |
Colorado | 16 | 48 | 25% |
Utah | 7 | 22 | 24% |
Florida | 15 | 52 | 22% |
Massachusetts | 3 | 11 | 21% |
Idaho | 9 | 35 | 20% |
Hawaii | 1 | 4 | 20% |
Oregon | 7 | 29 | 19% |
Arizona | 2 | 13 | 13% |
Washington | 2 | 37 | 5% |
Delaware | 0 | 3 | 0% |
District of Columbia | 0 | 1 | 0% |
Illinois tops the list with the most people leaving its counties, while areas such as the District of Columbia and Delaware experienced no declines.
What happens to a state where the majority of its counties are losing residents?
The Big Picture
Americans are seeking out opportunity where it resides: in the cities. The pursuit of fracking oil and gas created opportunities in regions beyond the coast or traditional urban centers.
However, the long term trend of concentration of people on coasts and in major urban centers will continue to impact infrastructure spending, labor mobility, and economic activity. America no longer derives the majority of its economic success from rural counties and industries.
It is unclear how rural counties will fare as their denizens continue to dwindle. What is clear is that the few that rely on natural resources for success will continue to experience the ups and downs of volatile commodity markets.
Energy
Visualizing the Scale of Global Fossil Fuel Production
How much oil, coal, and natural gas do we extract each year? See the scale of annual fossil fuel production in perspective.

The Scale of Global Fossil Fuel Production
This was originally posted on Elements. Sign up to the free mailing list to get beautiful visualizations on natural resource megatrends in your email every week.
Fossil fuels have been our predominant source of energy for over a century, and the world still extracts and consumes a colossal amount of coal, oil, and gas every year.
This infographic visualizes the volume of global fossil fuel production in 2021 using data from BPโs Statistical Review of World Energy.
The Facts on Fossil Fuels
In 2021, the world produced around 8 billion tonnes of coal, 4 billion tonnes of oil, and over 4 trillion cubic meters of natural gas.
Most of the coal is used to generate electricity for our homes and offices and has a key role in steel production. Similarly, natural gas is a large source of electricity and heat for industries and buildings. Oil is primarily used by the transportation sector, in addition to petrochemical manufacturing, heating, and other end uses.
Hereโs a full breakdown of coal, oil, and gas production by country in 2021.
Coal Production
If all the coal produced in 2021 were arranged in a cube, it would measure 2,141 meters (2.1km) on each sideโmore than 2.5 times the height of the worldโs tallest building.
China produced 50% or more than four billion tonnes of the worldโs coal in 2021. Itโs also the largest consumer of coal, accounting for 54% of coal consumption in 2021.
Rank | Country | 2021 Coal Production (million tonnes) | % of Total |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | ๐จ๐ณ China | 4,126.0 | 50% |
#2 | ๐ฎ๐ณ India | 811.3 | 10% |
#3 | ๐ฎ๐ฉ Indonesia | 614.0 | 8% |
#4 | ๐บ๐ธ U.S. | 524.4 | 6% |
#5 | ๐ฆ๐บ Australia | 478.6 | 6% |
#6 | ๐ท๐บ Russia | 433.7 | 5% |
#7 | ๐ฟ๐ฆ South Africa | 234.5 | 3% |
#8 | ๐ฉ๐ช Germany | 126.0 | 2% |
#9 | ๐ฐ๐ฟ Kazakhstan | 115.7 | 1% |
#10 | ๐ต๐ฑ Poland | 107.6 | 1% |
๐ Other | 600.9 | 7% | |
Total | 8,172.6 | 100% |
India is both the second largest producer and consumer of coal. Meanwhile, Indonesia is the worldโs largest coal exporter, followed by Australia.
In the West, U.S. coal production was down 47% as compared to 2011 levels, and the descent is likely to continue with the clean energy transition.
Oil Production
In 2021, the United States, Russia, and Saudi Arabia were the three largest crude oil producers, respectively.
Rank | Country | 2021 Oil Production (million tonnes) | % of Total |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | ๐บ๐ธ U.S. | 711.1 | 17% |
#2 | ๐ท๐บ Russia | 536.4 | 13% |
#3 | ๐ธ๐ฆ Saudi Arabia | 515.0 | 12% |
#4 | ๐จ๐ฆ Canada | 267.1 | 6% |
#5 | ๐ฎ๐ถ Iraq | 200.8 | 5% |
#6 | ๐จ๐ณ China | 198.9 | 5% |
#7 | ๐ฎ๐ท Iran | 167.7 | 4% |
#8 | ๐ฆ๐ช UAE | 164.4 | 4% |
#9 | ๐ง๐ท Brazil | 156.8 | 4% |
#10 | ๐ฐ๐ผ Kuwait | 131.1 | 3% |
๐ Other | 1172.0 | 28% | |
Total | 4221.4 | 100% |
OPEC countries, including Saudi Arabia, made up the largest share of production at 35% or 1.5 billion tonnes of oil.
U.S. oil production has seen significant growth since 2010. In 2021, the U.S. extracted 711 million tonnes of oil, more than double the 333 million tonnes produced in 2010.
Natural Gas Production
The world produced 4,036 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2021. The above graphic converts that into an equivalent of seven billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to visualize it on the same scale as oil and gas.
Here are the top 10 producers of natural gas in 2021:
Rank | Country | 2021 Natural Gas Production (billion m3) | % of Total |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | ๐บ๐ธ U.S. | 934.2 | 23% |
#2 | ๐ท๐บ Russia | 701.7 | 17% |
#3 | ๐ฎ๐ท Iran | 256.7 | 6% |
#4 | ๐จ๐ณ China | 209.2 | 5% |
#5 | ๐ถ๐ฆ Qatar | 177.0 | 4% |
#6 | ๐จ๐ฆ Canada | 172.3 | 4% |
#7 | ๐ฆ๐บ Australia | 147.2 | 4% |
#8 | ๐ธ๐ฆ Saudi Arabia | 117.3 | 3% |
#9 | ๐ณ๐ด Norway | 114.3 | 3% |
#10 | ๐ฉ๐ฟ Algeria | 100.8 | 2% |
๐ Other | 1106.3 | 27% | |
Total | 4,036.9 | 100% |
The U.S. was the largest producer, with Texas and Pennsylvania accounting for 47% of its gas production. The U.S. electric power and industrial sectors account for around one-third of domestic natural gas consumption.
Russia, the next-largest producer, was the biggest exporter of gas in 2021. It exported an estimated 210 billion cubic meters of natural gas via pipelines to Europe and China. Around 80% of Russian natural gas comes from operations in the Arctic region.
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