Which counties in Michigan are losing population?
26 of the 83 counties in Michigan had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Huron County lost the largest share, down 2.7% (−848 people). Wayne County lost the most residents (−20,596).
Of the 26 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 23 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 3 (Census Bureau components of population change).
Data as of 2025 · updated
All 26 Michigan counties that lost residents
| Rank | County | Change 2020–25 | Residents lost 2020–25 | Residents 2025 | Largest factor 2020–25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huron County | −2.7% | −848 | 30,530 | Natural change (−1,140) |
| 2 | Alger County | −2.3% | −204 | 8,641 | Natural change (−259) |
| 3 | Menominee County | −2.2% | −513 | 22,941 | Natural change (−678) |
| 4 | Chippewa County | −1.9% | −712 | 36,081 | Natural change (−809) |
| 5 | Lenawee County | −1.6% | −1,569 | 97,779 | Natural change (−1,608) |
| 6 | Bay County | −1.6% | −1,616 | 102,123 | Natural change (−2,693) |
| 7 | Berrien County | −1.3% | −1,951 | 152,444 | Natural change (−2,166) |
| 8 | Tuscola County | −1.2% | −644 | 52,680 | Natural change (−1,048) |
| 9 | Wayne County | −1.2% | −20,596 | 1,769,038 | Domestic migration (−67,930) |
| 10 | Genesee County | −1.1% | −4,653 | 401,093 | Natural change (−5,887) |
| 11 | Saginaw County | −1.1% | −2,165 | 187,688 | Natural change (−2,610) |
| 12 | Luce County | −1.1% | −72 | 6,339 | Natural change (−194) |
| 13 | Gratiot County | −1.1% | −467 | 41,190 | Natural change (−636) |
| 14 | Sanilac County | −1.0% | −416 | 40,083 | Natural change (−991) |
| 15 | Emmet County | −1.0% | −337 | 33,775 | Natural change (−862) |
| 16 | Delta County | −0.8% | −295 | 36,582 | Natural change (−1,130) |
| 17 | Calhoun County | −0.6% | −790 | 133,408 | Natural change (−1,817) |
| 18 | Ionia County | −0.5% | −314 | 66,557 | Domestic migration (−536) |
| 19 | Shiawassee County | −0.5% | −309 | 67,681 | Natural change (−1,038) |
| 20 | Gogebic County | −0.4% | −64 | 14,285 | Natural change (−569) |
| 21 | Washtenaw County | −0.4% | −1,600 | 370,214 | Domestic migration (−17,828) |
| 22 | Jackson County | −0.4% | −663 | 159,552 | Natural change (−1,865) |
| 23 | Dickinson County | −0.3% | −69 | 25,827 | Natural change (−676) |
| 24 | Alpena County | −0.1% | −38 | 28,853 | Natural change (−948) |
| 25 | Charlevoix County | −0.0% | −6 | 26,036 | Natural change (−734) |
| 26 | Hillsdale County | −0.0% | −2 | 45,738 | Natural change (−482) |
How this is ranked
Counties whose Census Bureau resident population estimate for July 1, 2025 is lower than for July 1, 2020, steepest percentage decline first. The largest factor is the most negative of natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration and net international migration over the same years (Census Bureau components of population change). Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are left out, as on every ranking.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
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Questions
Which county in Michigan is losing population fastest?
Huron County: down 2.7% between 2020 and 2025, to 30,530 residents (−848 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Alger County (−2.3%) and Menominee County (−2.2%).
How many counties in Michigan are losing population?
26 of the 83 counties in Michigan had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 57 grew or held steady.
Why are counties in Michigan losing population?
Of the 26 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 23 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 3 (Census Bureau components of population change).
More county rankings for Michigan
Counties losing population in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming