MONTANA
POPULATION DENSITY
People per square mile, 2010: 6.8
People per square mile, 2020: 7.4
HISTORIC & PROJECTED GROWTH 1790 TO 2040
Year |
Population |
1790 |
0 |
1800 |
0 |
1810 |
0 |
1820 |
0 |
1830 |
0 |
1840 |
0 |
1850 |
0 |
1860 |
0 |
1870 |
20,595 |
1880 |
39,159 |
1890 |
142,924 |
1900 |
243,329 |
1910 |
376,053 |
1920 |
548,889 |
1930 |
537,606 |
1940 |
559,456 |
1950 |
591,024 |
1960 |
674,767 |
1970 |
694,409 |
1980 |
786,690 |
1990 |
799,065 |
2000 |
902,195 |
2010 |
989,415 |
2020 |
1,084,225 |
2030 |
1,163,353 |
2040 |
1,236,304 |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census & Weldon Cooper Center, Demographics Research Group
(The Census Bureau and Weldon Cooper Center have not yet provided updated State projections to reflect 2020 census numbers.)
Population by County
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census
Montana Population News Articles
What does climate change in Montana look like? This winter, climatologist says – April 23, 2026
Helena commission lacks consensus for immigration next steps – April 23, 2026
Groups say Public Service Commission is stalling on climate petition – April 21, 2026
Montana Builds Out Air Quality Monitoring System Across the State – April 17, 2026
Malfunctioning equipment in Billings meth burn violated state clean air laws, investigation finds – Nov 25, 2025
Montana partners with Trump administration to verify voter citizenship – Nov 21, 2025
Montanans ask PSC to rein in data-center energy agreements – Nov 19, 2025
Montana Is Investing the 5th Least in Public Infrastructure – Nov 14, 2025
Group sues the state over law used to bring water to rural subdivisions – Nov 12, 2025
'Massive impact': FWP looks at beavers as way to fight Montana drought, restore watersheds – Nov 6, 2025
Biggest sources of immigrants to Montana – July 29, 2025
Montana Enacts SB 390, Expanding Clean Indoor Air Act to Include E-cigarettes – July 24, 2025
Montana still has more cows than people, but the cows’ lead is narrowing – July 18, 2025
Normalizing Climate in Greater Yellowstone – July 16, 2025
Montana leads coalition of states pushing to join federal climate change lawsuit – July 16, 2025
Rivers drop, algae spreads as drought deepens – July 3, 2025
Climate advocacy rally held at Montana Capitol – Jan 24, 2025
Montana Supreme Court orders further review of Laurel power plant – Jan 14, 2025
Climate change’s hidden cost: Mental health crisis among Montana’s farmers and ranchers – Jan 8, 2025
Montana sees decline in population growth, expert explains reasons – Dec 31, 2024
Policy impacts of landmark climate ruling remain unclear – Dec 30, 2024
Wildfires could devastate Butte’s water supply – Oct 1, 2024
Groups challenge Montana DEQ’s decision to allow more coal mining for Bull Mountain Mine – Sept 30, 2024
Pesticides linked to local wildlife population decline – Sept 24, 2024
In Montana, 911 calls reveal impact of heat waves on rural seniors – Sept 21, 2024
Big Sky aims to limit the impacts of growth with upgraded wastewater system – June 27, 2024
Montana petitions Supreme Court to block EPA’s new pollution standards – July 24, 2024
Montana secures $50 million grant for forestry- and agriculture-related climate initiatives – July 23, 2024
34.8% of Montana Rivers Are Too Polluted for Swimming – July 19, 2024
Montana urges state top court to overturn landmark climate ruling – July 10, 2024
Picturesque mountain town becomes hotspot for America's migrant boom – July 5, 2024
Climate change impacts pocketbooks too, study claims – January 3, 2024
Montana’s Population Growth Slows Again in 2023 – December 20, 2023
Groups Sue Montana Over Unlawful Factory Farm Water Pollution Permit – December 18, 2023
No End in Sight for Montana’s Developing ‘Snow Drought’ – December 13, 2023
Montana’s Growth Could Outpace Electrical Supply – Aug 7, 2023
5 Things To Help Prevent Breathing Dirty Wildfire Air In Montana – Aug 4, 2023
Flathead Population Growth Continues to Outpace Housing Supply – July 29, 2023
FWP: Northwest Montana rivers, streams running historically low – July 24, 2023
Tar balls are being found 100 miles downstream from Yellowstone River train derailment – July 21, 2023
Montana ranks in top 15 for domestic migration – Feb 5, 2023
Legislators at odds with Missoula over housing as wealthy move in – Feb 1, 2023
A tough road to hoe: New report highlights challenges for Montana roadways – Jan 19, 2023
BLM eyes solar development in Montana – Jan 19, 2023
City of Billings considering tree diversity amidst climate change – Jan 7, 2023
Montana's skies clearer this fire season, but experts worry about smoky air – Aug 16, 2022
Montana on track for record hot August as fire season kicks into gear – Aug 15, 2022
Montana DEQ warns of algal blooms in lakes – July 29, 2022
Conservation groups sue over coal mines in Colorado, Montana – Jul 28, 2022
Population booms are overwhelming schools in Montana – May 13, 2022
Poll finds three-quarters of Montanans worried about housing affordability – May 3, 2022
Crews clearing trash under Reserve St. bridge – May 13, 2022
Montana has most car registrations per capita in US – April 25, 2022
Severe wildfires continue to impact Montana’s air quality – April 25, 2022
Climate change is helping invasive species take over trout habitats in Montana – January 9, 2022
2021 Year in Review: weather across north-central Montana – December 31, 2021
Census: Montana sees major population growth while majority of US does not – December 23, 2021
Change in snowpack statistics ignores climate change effects – December 20, 2021
Nutrients/Water Quality Standards: Federal Appellate Court Addresses Challenge to Montana Variance – October 14, 2021
Montana requests regional air quality exceptions due to wildfire – October 12, 2021
Sustainable Missoula: Climate change and our children’s health – October 1, 2021
The Beaverhead River is at a trickle, and biologist says what it means for trout – September 30, 2021
Montana clinic to open ASC amid population growth – September 29, 2021
Drought likely to shape Montana's hunting seasons – August 2, 2021
Fire season and air quality impacting Montana wildlife – July 29, 2021
Wildfires cause evacuations near Wise River, widespread smoke over Butte – July 16, 2021
Experts warn of historically low trout numbers – July 8, 2021
Gianforte Withdraws Montana From Multi-State Climate Coalition – July 8, 2021
Growth in Montana County Puts Pressure on Volunteer Fire Departments – April 18, 2021
Montana County Sees 10% Population Increase in the Last 6 Months Alone - April 14, 2021
A new day at DEQ and DNRC – January 11, 2021