The graph below ranks each Michigan County by total residents according to the 2012 census estimates.
Michigan total population by county
| County | Total Population |
| Wayne |  1,792,496 |
| Oakland | 1,220,643 |
| Macomb | 847,710 |
| Kent | 614,079 |
| Genesee | 417,791 |
| Washtenaw | 351,146 |
| Ingham | 281,869 |
| Ottawa | 269,329 |
| Kalamazoo | 254,850 |
| Saginaw | 198,154 |
| Livingston | 183,095 |
| Muskegon | 170,112 |
| St. Clair | 160,657 |
| Jackson | 160,251 |
| Berrien | 155,946 |
| Monroe | 150,923 |
| Calhoun | 134,949 |
| Allegan | 111,895 |
| Eaton | 108,022 |
| Bay | 106,890 |
| Lenawee | 99,086 |
| Grand Traverse | 88,967 |
| Lapeer | 88,231 |
| Midland | 83,945 |
| Clinton | 76,141 |
| Van Buren | 75,327 |
| Isabella | 70,604 |
| Shiawassee | 69,314 |
| Marquette | 67,758 |
| Ionia | 63,903 |
| Montcalm | 63,081 |
| St. Joseph | 60,883 |
| Barry | 59,004 |
| Tuscola | 54,668 |
| Cass | 52,117 |
| Newaygo | 47,954 |
| Hillsdale | 46,284 |
| Branch | 43,852 |
| Mecosta | 43,229 |
| Sanilac | 42,288 |
| Gratiot | 41,981 |
| Chippewa | 38,777 |
| Delta | 36,876 |
| Houghton | 36,460 |
| Emmet | 32,926 |
| Wexford | 32,677 |
| Huron | 32,457 |
| Clare | 30,751 |
| Alpena | 29,244 |
| Mason | 28,625 |
| Oceana | 26,297 |
| Dickinson | 26,275 |
| Charlevoix | 26,032 |
| Cheboygan | 25,838 |
| Gladwin | 25,521 |
| Iosco | 25,379 |
| Manistee | 24,618 |
| Roscommon | 24,141 |
| Otsego | 24,037 |
| Menominee | 23,769 |
| Antrim | 23,418 |
| Osceola | 23,280 |
| Leelanau | 21,620 |
| Ogemaw | 21,430 |
| Benzie | 17,415 |
| Kalkaska | 17,049 |
| Gogebic | 16,064 |
| Arenac | 15,522 |
| Missaukee | 14,999 |
| Crawford | 13,974 |
| Presque Isle | 13,117 |
| Iron | 11,571 |
| Lake | 11,459 |
| Mackinac | 11,121 |
| Alcona | 10,594 |
| Alger | 9,512 |
| Montmorency | 9,477 |
| Baraga | 8,704 |
| Oscoda | 8,588 |
| Schoolcraft | 8,344 |
| Luce | 6,511 |
| Ontonagon | 6,415 |
| Keweenaw | 2,211 |