RANKING · 2025 ACS · 83 SHOWN OF 83

Most sparsely populated, Michigan counties

Michigan counties with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 83 counties in Michigan that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Fastest shrinking Most densely populated Best broadband access Worst broadband access

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Keweenaw County, MIMI2,1864−5%

02Ontonagon County, MIMI5,8234−26%

03Schoolcraft County, MIMI8,1877−8%

04Luce 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%

14Menominee County, MIMI22,94122−9%

15Chippewa County, MIMI36,08123−6%

16Lake County, MIMI13,18223+16%

17Crawford 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%

23Huron County, MIMI30,53037−15%

24Ogemaw County, MIMI21,12137−2%

25Houghton County, MIMI37,84238+5%

26Marquette County, MIMI68,06438+5%

27Arenac County, MIMI15,06841−13%

28Osceola County, MIMI23,51642+1%

29Sanilac County, MIMI40,08342−10%

30Iosco County, MIMI25,26646−8%

31Roscommon County, MIMI23,91446−6%

32Manistee County, MIMI25,65647+5%

33Alpena County, MIMI28,85350−8%

34Oceana County, MIMI27,17751+1%

35Otsego County, MIMI26,08051+12%

36Antrim County, MIMI24,69852+7%

37Gladwin County, MIMI26,07752+0%

38Clare County, MIMI31,54356+1%

39Benzie County, MIMI18,56858+16%

40Mason County, MIMI29,04059+3%

41Wexford County, MIMI34,44561+13%

42Newaygo County, MIMI51,62262+8%

43Charlevoix County, MIMI26,03663−0%

44Tuscola County, MIMI52,68065−10%

45Leelanau County, MIMI22,98266+9%

46Emmet County, MIMI33,77572+7%

47Gratiot County, MIMI41,19072−3%

48Mecosta County, MIMI42,32076+4%

49Hillsdale County, MIMI45,73876−2%

50Branch County, MIMI45,99391+0%

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, MIMI76,071125−0%

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%

64Calhoun County, MIMI133,408189−3%

65Eaton 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%

77Washtenaw County, MIMI370,214524+15%

78Ottawa 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

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES