Though the number of people living in Alabama increased slightly last year, just under half of counties in the state saw population decline.

Among those counties with dwindling populations, some were hit harder than others between 2022 and 2023.

The starkest declines by far were in the Black Belt counties. In fact, Alabama’s 10 fastest-shrinking counties are in the Black Belt region, which has been stuck in persistent poverty for decades.

In contrast, Hale County, located in the Black Belt just south of Tuscaloosa, was among the fastest-growing last year.

Even Jefferson County, the state’s largest county and home to Birmingham, dipped again this year. The county lost nearly 2,200 residents, a slight 0.3% slide that contrasts with last year’s growth in the surrounding suburban counties.

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These are the 10 fastest-shrinking counties in Alabama:

1. Bullock County (-2.4%)

Bullock County, already one of the state’s smallest counties, lost 246 people between 2022 and 2023. Its population dipped 2.4%, bringing it to 9,897 people.

2. Perry County (-2.1%)

Perry County, the second-smallest county in the state, lost 166 residents. Its population, now at 7,738 people, dipped by 2.1% in 2023.

3. Wilcox County (-1.9%)

Wilcox County, where Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey grew up, lost 1.9% of its population in 2023. Now home to 9,944, the county slid below the 10,000-mark last year after losing nearly 200 people.

4. Dallas County (-1.5%)

Dallas County, one of the larger Black Belt counties and home to Selma, saw a decline of 1.5%. The county now has 36,165 residents, after losing roughly 560 people in 2023.

5. Butler County (-1.5%)

Butler County lost 1.5% of its population in 2023, with a decline of nearly 290 people. The county is now home to an estimated 18,382 people.

6. Greene County (-1.5%)

Greene County lost nearly 1.5% of its population in 2023. After losing 111 people, the west Alabama county’s population is now 7,341.

7. Choctaw County (-1.4%)

Now home to 12,252 people, Choctaw County lost 179 people in 2023. That marks a roughly 1.4% slide for the county bordering Mississippi.

8. Sumter County (-1.4%)

Sumter County, home to Livingston, lost nearly 1.4% of its population in 2023. The west Alabama county, which is just north of Choctaw County, lost 162 people, and its population is now 11,727.

9. Clarke County (-1.1%)

Clarke County, in south Alabama and home to Jackson, lost about 1.1% of its population in 2023. Now home to 22,337 people, the county lost 237 people last year.

10. Monroe County (-0.9%)

Monroe County lost about 0.9% of its population in 2023, which is now an estimated 19,229. The county lost 183 people during that time.