Michigan Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

Michigan's 10,051,595 residents make it the 10th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +260.8% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 178 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, Michigan is:

74.8% White (alone)
13.4% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.7% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the Michigan state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Michigan is $71,149, with per-capita income at $39,538. 8.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 3.6%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in Michigan: 40.1 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

Largest Cities in Michigan

Detroit city — population 636,644
Grand Rapids city — population 197,768
Warren city — population 138,128
Sterling Heights city — population 133,473
Ann Arbor city — population 121,179

Largest Counties in Michigan

Wayne County — population 1,773,767
Oakland County — population 1,272,294
Macomb County — population 877,624
Kent County — population 658,844
Genesee County — population 404,087

How Michigan Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 10th of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete Michigan state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Michigan has a population of 10,051,595 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 10th among the 50 states. Population density is 178 people per square mile.

Michigan is gaining population, with a +260.8% change since 1910 (2,810,173 → 10,051,595). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

74.8% of Michigan's population identifies as White, 13.4% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.7% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in Michigan is $71,149 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $39,538. 8.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Michigan is 40.1 years. The population is 49.6% male and 50.4% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Michigan state page.

The largest cities in Michigan by population: Detroit city (636,644), Grand Rapids city (197,768), Warren city (138,128), Sterling Heights city (133,473), Ann Arbor city (121,179).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Michigan ranks 10th. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Michigan's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.