RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 83 SHOWN OF 83

Most sparsely populated, Michigan counties · 2020

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.

Flip the list · Most densely populated, US counties →

MichiganAll states All rankings

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, MIMI2,1864−11%

02Ontonagon County, MIMI5,8234−26%

03Luce County, MIMI6,3396−24%

04Schoolcraft County, MIMI8,1877−10%

05Baraga County, MIMI8,1699−7%

06Alger County, MIMI8,64110−10%

07Iron County, MIMI11,75710−11%

08Mackinac County, MIMI11,23611−9%

09Gogebic County, MIMI14,28513−17%

10Oscoda County, MIMI8,72315−13%

11Alcona County, MIMI10,55615−13%

12Montmorency County, MIMI9,84217−11%

13Presque Isle County, MIMI13,12820−10%

14Lake County, MIMI13,18221+7%

15Menominee County, MIMI22,94123−7%

16Crawford County, MIMI13,72223−9%

17Chippewa County, MIMI36,08124−5%

18Missaukee County, MIMI15,27427+4%

19Delta County, MIMI36,58232−4%

20Kalkaska County, MIMI18,69332+8%

21Dickinson County, MIMI25,82734−6%

22Cheboygan County, MIMI25,79336−3%

23Marquette County, MIMI68,06436+2%

24Ogemaw County, MIMI21,12137−4%

25Houghton County, MIMI37,84237+4%

26Huron County, MIMI30,53038−13%

27Osceola County, MIMI23,51640−1%

28Arenac County, MIMI15,06841−13%

29Sanilac County, MIMI40,08342−9%

30Roscommon County, MIMI23,91445−8%

31Iosco County, MIMI25,26646−8%

32Manistee County, MIMI25,65646+2%

33Otsego County, MIMI26,08049+8%

34Antrim County, MIMI24,69849+1%

35Oceana County, MIMI27,17750−1%

36Alpena County, MIMI28,85351−8%

37Gladwin County, MIMI26,07751−2%

38Clare County, MIMI31,54355−1%

39Benzie County, MIMI18,56856+12%

40Mason County, MIMI29,04059+3%

41Newaygo County, MIMI51,62260+4%

42Wexford County, MIMI34,44560+10%

43Charlevoix County, MIMI26,03663−0%

44Leelanau County, MIMI22,98264+6%

45Tuscola County, MIMI52,68066−8%

46Mecosta County, MIMI42,32072−2%

47Emmet County, MIMI33,77573+9%

48Gratiot County, MIMI41,19073−1%

49Hillsdale County, MIMI45,73876−2%

50Branch County, MIMI45,99389−2%

51Montcalm County, MIMI69,40694+9%

52Cass County, MIMI51,677105+1%

53Isabella County, MIMI64,691112+2%

54Barry County, MIMI63,991113+10%

55Ionia County, MIMI66,557117+9%

56St. Joseph County, MIMI60,968122−2%

57Van Buren County, MIMI76,071124−1%

58Shiawassee County, MIMI67,681128−5%

59Lenawee County, MIMI97,779133+1%

60Lapeer County, MIMI89,516137+1%

61Clinton County, MIMI80,432139+22%

62Allegan County, MIMI123,188146+14%

63Midland County, MIMI83,754161+1%

64Eaton County, MIMI109,581190+5%

65Calhoun County, MIMI133,408190−3%

66Grand Traverse County, MIMI96,729205+23%

67St. Clair County, MIMI160,486222−2%

68Jackson County, MIMI159,552228+1%

69Bay County, MIMI102,123235−6%

70Saginaw County, MIMI187,688237−9%

71Berrien County, MIMI152,444272−5%

72Monroe County, MIMI156,004282+6%

73Livingston County, MIMI197,315343+24%

74Muskegon County, MIMI177,901349+3%

75Kalamazoo County, MIMI263,795466+10%

76Ingham County, MIMI289,709512+2%

77Ottawa County, MIMI308,459526+24%

78Washtenaw County, MIMI370,214527+15%

79Genesee County, MIMI401,093638−7%

80Kent County, MIMI675,232775+15%

81Oakland County, MIMI1,288,3371,469+7%

82Macomb County, MIMI886,2211,838+12%

83Wayne County, MIMI1,769,0382,931−13%

SHOWING 1–83 OF 83

Download CSV (full list, 83 rows)

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