LANSING, Mich. (MIRS News) – The population of Michigan dropped by another 3,000 people between 2021 and 2022, according to a population report released today by the Department of Technology, Management and Budget.

Across Michigan, 53 of the 83 counties saw an increase in population growth, with west and north Michigan getting the largest increases. Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties have the largest decrease in population as people move out of cities across the U.S., according to the report.

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Ingham, Ottawa and Washtenaw counties were the only counties that saw populations increase by more than 1,000 people. The largest gain occurred in Ingham County with a net increase of 12,000 residents.

Wayne County saw the largest population decline with some 16,000 people leaving. Branch County saw the largest percentage decline, losing 1.5% of the county’s population.

The percentage of natural population change, which is the number of births subtracted from the number of deaths, showed all but seven counties in decline. Branch, Ingham, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ottawa and Washtenaw all saw an increase.

Migration population rates showed the number of people moving in and out of the state. Between 2021 and 2022, there were more people moving into 72 counties than leaving.

Ingham County saw the highest net migration with 11,000 people moving in. The northern lower peninsula and Upper Peninsula had the highest migration rate, with Montmorency, Lake and Keweenaw counties at the top. Branch County had the highest rate of people leaving.