The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program produces annual estimates of population for counties, using current data on births, deaths, and migration. This chart breaks down population change into the four major components - births, deaths, international migration, and domestic migration. The estimates from previous years are revised with each new release, with domestic migration also including re-estimation residuals. It is important to understand changes to the population components, as changes to birth and death rates, along with domestic and international migration, impact the labor pool and the demand for public and educational services. Given our region's 30-year forecast is predicting more deaths than births, attracting new residents through domestic and international migration is critical.
Southeast Michigan's population declined in 2023, but less so than in years 2021 or 2022. The improvements are attributed to three factors: 1) For the first time since 2020, births outnumbered deaths; 2) domestic migration, while still negative, was less so in 2023 than in 2022; and 3) international migration increased over its year 2022 figure. Births outnumbered deaths by almost 1,800 people. Domestic migration improved from -27,314 in 2022 to -25,522 in 2023, a difference of almost another 1,800 people. International migration increased from 11,660 in 2021 to 15,893 in 2022, a gain of more than 4,000 people.