North Dakota State Population

One of the least populated U.S. states.

North Dakota consistently ranks among the least populous states in the U.S., a status shaped by significant historical fluctuations and ongoing trends. Its population saw substantial growth during the homesteading era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, peaking in the 1930s before experiencing a decades-long decline fueled by agricultural mechanization and a rural exodus that continued for much of the 20th century. However, the discovery and exploitation of the Bakken oil formation in the 2000s ushered in a dramatic turnaround, leading to unprecedented population growth and an influx of workers, particularly in the western part of the state. While the peak growth rates of the oil boom have since moderated with fluctuating energy prices, the state continues to experience modest, though often volatile, population increases, with current trends showing a concentration of growth in its larger cities like Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks, even as many rural areas still grapple with an aging demographic and out-migration.

Data Source: US Census Bureau