Past, current or projected population for Tennessee – we have you covered.
The current population of cities and counties in Tennessee is updated annually by the U.S. Census Bureau. Tennessee’s population projection through 2070, is updated every two years and is available for free download.
Tennessee Population Projections
We provide single-year population projections for each county in Tennessee by race, age and sex for each year from 2021 to 2070. The projections are produced by the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee and disseminated by the Tennessee State Data Center.
Current population of Tennessee Cities and Counties
Each year, the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program utilizes current data on births, deaths and migration to calculate population change since the most recent decennial census. Data are available for the state, counties and all Tennessee municipalities.
Population Data in the News
Davidson Holds as Tennessee’s Fastest-Growing County in 2025 March 30, 2026 Davidson County and the Nashville area remained Tennessee’s fastest-growing in 2025, but we’re also watching the state’s No. 11 fastest-gaining county quietly near a breakthrough in another dynamic year of population change.
2025 Estimates Show Another Top-10 Year for Tennessee Population Gains February 2, 2026 At the midpoint of the decade, new population estimates put Tennessee’s growth near the top of the class again this year. Our analysis looks at what drove the change in 2025 and emerging trends that will influence growth in the southeast U.S. for the remainder of the decade.
Nov. 10 Webinar Recap: Preparing for Tennessee’s New Population Estimates Program October 22, 2025 Tennessee is changing how it distributes state-shared revenues. This webinar will bring local governments up to speed on the changes and explain how to verify that accurate data about your community is being in the new process.
Other Recent Population Updates
Tennessee Enacts Population Estimates Program July 30, 2025 A new Tennessee law requires the use of annual population estimates for distributing state-shared revenues to counties and municipalities. Get up to speed on the new legislation, the Boyd Center’s role and plans for the first estimate release next July. 
Davidson County Tops 2024 List of Tennessee’s Fastest Growing Counties May 16, 2025 Census Bureau estimates show that Davidson County (Nashville) added the most population in Tennessee in 2024. International migration adjustments were a big factor as it outpaced Rutherford County for the first time since 2015.
Shelby County’s 2024 Population Decrease is the Nation’s Largest April 10, 2025 When a Tennessee county leads the nation in population loss, it grabs headlines. We analyzed the numbers behind this decline, compared them to past leaders and to other areas of the country. While these losses may continue, they likely won’t top the national charts in the future.