Michigan ranked 34th for population growth over four years

Michigan ranked 34th for population growth among the 50 states from April 2020 to January 2024, according to the United States Census Bureau.

The state’s population grew by 57,103, a 0.6% increase. Hawaii, Arkansas and Missouri were among the 16 states that experienced lower growth than Michigan. The Great Lakes State came in 35th place among the states in 2022, as reported by Michigan Capitol Confidential.

Michigan lost 7,656 people in net domestic migration. There were 2,855 more deaths in the state than births. But the state gained 67,608 residents from net international migration from 2023-24.

The Census Bureau's time frame overlaps COVID-19-era lockdowns, which were more stringent in Michigan than in many other states. The 2023-24 legislative term also imposed new economic regulations on Michigan businesses and consumers.

“Gov. Whitmer made it a goal to attract people to Michigan, and she’s failing to accomplish this task,” James Hohman, fiscal policy director at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, told CapCon in an email. Hohman noted that Michigan lost more people to other states than it attracted in domestic migration.

Florida gained more population than all other states in 2022 and stayed in first place for growth in 2024. It was also the top destination for Michigan residents who migrated, according to the Census Bureau.

The two states follow sharply different economic policies. Florida is a right-to-work state, while Michigan repealed its right-to-work law in 2023.

CapCon reported in 2023 that 2.1 million people over a two-year period migrated from closed-shop states to states with right-to-work laws.

Michigan’s economy continues to perform poorly relative to the rest of the nation, Michael J. Hicks, the George and Frances Ball distinguished professor at the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University, told CapCon in an email.

“This is mostly because of a deficit in human capital — educated workers,” said Hicks. “Many in the state continue to worship the past rather than preparing the state for the current and future economy that is built on education, skills and ingenuity.”

Michigan’s saving grace is international migration, Hicks said.

“This fuels both natural population decline (births-deaths) and a shortfall in domestic in-migration,” Hicks said.