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List of Counties in Rhode Island

A county is an administrative subdivision of a US state or territory. As of 2022, Rhode Island is divided into 5 counties. Rhode Island is tied with Hawaii for having the second-fewest counties of any U.S. state (only Delaware has fewer, with three counties).

The average population of Rhode Island counties is 219,122; Providence County is the most populous (658,221) and Bristol County is the least (50,818). The average land area is 206 sq mi. The largest county is Providence County (409 sq mi) and the smallest is Bristol County (24 sq mi). The most densely populated county is Bristol with a density of 2,117 people per sq. mile.

read about the Population of Rhode Island

Rhode Island Counties by Population

#CountyPopulation 2021Area (sq. mi.)Density (people/sq. mi.)
1Providence County658,2214091,609.34
2Kent County170,7151681,016.16
3Washington County130,592329396.94
4Newport County85,264102835.92
5Bristol County50,818242,117.42

Source: US Census report 2021

read about the race and ethnicity in Rhode Island

Top cities in Rhode Island by population

Although Rhode Island is divided into 5 counties, it does not have any local government at the county level. Instead, local governance is provided by the eight cities and thirty-one towns. The largest city in Rhode Island is Providence with a population of 190,934 residents. 

Let’s have a look at the Top Cities in Rhode Island by population

#CityCountyPopulation 2020Area (sq. mi.)
1ProvidenceProvidence190,93418.4
2CranstonProvidence82,93428.34
3WarwickKent82,82335.04
4PawtucketProvidence75,6048.68
5East ProvidenceProvidence47,13913.24
6WoonsocketProvidence43,2407.74
7CumberlandProvidence36,40526.45
8CoventryKent35,68859.05
9North ProvidenceProvidence34,1145.62
10South KingstownWashington31,93156.45
11West WarwickKent31,0127.79
12JohnstonProvidence29,56823.43
13North KingstownWashington27,73243.14
14NewportNewport25,1637.67
15WesterlyWashington23,35929.52
16Central FallsProvidence22,5831.2
17LincolnProvidence22,52918.12
18BristolBristol22,4939.82
19SmithfieldProvidence22,11826.31
20PortsmouthNewport17,87122.98
21BarringtonBristol17,1538.22
22MiddletownNewport17,07512.72
23TivertonNewport16,35929.05
24BurrillvilleProvidence16,15855.03
25NarragansettWashington14,53213.89
26East GreenwichKent14,31216.39
27North SmithfieldProvidence12,58823.8
28WarrenBristol11,1476.12
29ScituateProvidence10,38448.16
30GlocesterProvidence9,97454.18
31HopkintonWashington8,39842.95
32RichmondWashington8,02040.29
33CharlestownWashington7,99736.45
34West GreenwichKent6,52850.26
35ExeterWashington6,46057.47
36JamestownNewport5,5599.45
37FosterProvidence4,46950.8
38Little ComptonNewport3,61620.52
39New ShorehamWashington1,4109.08

Source: US Census 2020

List of Counties in Rhode Island 2024 | Top Cities in Rhode Island