RANKING · 2025 ESTIMATES · 83 SHOWN OF 83

Most sparsely populated, Michigan counties

Michigan counties with the fewest residents per square mile (2025). This list covers the 83 counties in Michigan that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 83 is 62.

Flip the list · Most densely populated, US counties →

MichiganAll states All rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Keweenaw County, MIMI2,1864−5%

02Ontonagon County, MIMI5,8234−26%

03▲1Schoolcraft County, MIMI8,1877−8%

04▼1Luce County, MIMI6,3397−10%

05Baraga County, MIMI8,1699−7%

06Alger County, MIMI8,6419−12%

07Iron County, MIMI11,75710−11%

08Mackinac County, MIMI11,23611−6%

09Gogebic County, MIMI14,28513−18%

10Oscoda County, MIMI8,72315−7%

11Alcona County, MIMI10,55616−10%

12Montmorency County, MIMI9,84218−5%

13Presque Isle County, MIMI13,12820−9%

14▲1Menominee County, MIMI22,94122−9%

15▲2Chippewa County, MIMI36,08123−6%

16▼2Lake County, MIMI13,18223+16%

17▼1Crawford County, MIMI13,72225−4%

18Missaukee County, MIMI15,27427+5%

19Delta County, MIMI36,58231−5%

20Kalkaska County, MIMI18,69333+13%

21Dickinson County, MIMI25,82734−6%

22Cheboygan County, MIMI25,79336−2%

23▲3Huron County, MIMI30,53037−15%

24Ogemaw County, MIMI21,12137−2%

25Houghton County, MIMI37,84238+5%

26▼3Marquette County, MIMI68,06438+5%

27▲1Arenac County, MIMI15,06841−13%

28▼1Osceola County, MIMI23,51642+1%

29Sanilac County, MIMI40,08342−10%

30▲1Iosco County, MIMI25,26646−8%

31▼1Roscommon County, MIMI23,91446−6%

32Manistee County, MIMI25,65647+5%

33▲3Alpena County, MIMI28,85350−8%

34▲1Oceana County, MIMI27,17751+1%

35▼2Otsego County, MIMI26,08051+12%

36▼2Antrim County, MIMI24,69852+7%

37Gladwin County, MIMI26,077520%

38Clare County, MIMI31,54356+1%

39Benzie County, MIMI18,56858+16%

40Mason County, MIMI29,04059+3%

41▲1Wexford County, MIMI34,44561+13%

42▼1Newaygo County, MIMI51,62262+8%

43Charlevoix County, MIMI26,036630%

44▲1Tuscola County, MIMI52,68065−10%

45▼1Leelanau County, MIMI22,98266+9%

46▲1Emmet County, MIMI33,77572+7%

47▲1Gratiot County, MIMI41,19072−3%

48▼2Mecosta County, MIMI42,32076+4%

49Hillsdale County, MIMI45,73876−2%

50Branch County, MIMI45,993910%

51Montcalm County, MIMI69,40698+13%

52Cass County, MIMI51,677105+1%

53Isabella County, MIMI64,691113+2%

54Barry County, MIMI63,991116+13%

55Ionia County, MIMI66,557116+8%

56St. Joseph County, MIMI60,968122−2%

57Van Buren County, MIMI76,0711250%

58Shiawassee County, MIMI67,681127−6%

59Lenawee County, MIMI97,779130−1%

60Lapeer County, MIMI89,516138+2%

61Clinton County, MIMI80,432142+24%

62Allegan County, MIMI123,188149+17%

63Midland County, MIMI83,754162+1%

64▲1Calhoun County, MIMI133,408189−3%

65▼1Eaton County, MIMI109,581191+6%

66Grand Traverse County, MIMI96,729208+25%

67St. Clair County, MIMI160,486222−2%

68Jackson County, MIMI159,552227+1%

69Bay County, MIMI102,123231−7%

70Saginaw County, MIMI187,688234−11%

71Berrien County, MIMI152,444268−6%

72Monroe County, MIMI156,004284+7%

73Livingston County, MIMI197,315349+26%

74Muskegon County, MIMI177,901353+5%

75Kalamazoo County, MIMI263,795469+11%

76Ingham County, MIMI289,709521+4%

77▲1Washtenaw County, MIMI370,214524+15%

78▼1Ottawa County, MIMI308,459547+29%

79Genesee County, MIMI401,093630−8%

80Kent County, MIMI675,232795+18%

81Oakland County, MIMI1,288,3371,485+8%

82Macomb County, MIMI886,2211,849+12%

83Wayne County, MIMI1,769,0382,891−14%

SHOWING 1–83 OF 83

Download CSV (full list, 83 rows)

UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION ESTIMATES