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Michigan population by Race and Ethnicity

Michigan the tenth-largest U.S. state by population has a racially and ethnically diverse population. As of 2020, White (Non-Hispanic)  are the largest group in Michigan followed  by African Americans. 

also read about the population in Michigan

Ethnic and Racial Composition

In 2020, the White alone (non-Hispanic) population was the largest racial or ethnic group in Michigan, comprising 72.40% of the total population. It was followed by the African American population whose share was 13.48%.

Hispanic or Latino was the third largest group at 5.60%.  Two or more races are at 4.36% & the Asians are at 3.30%.

The ethnic composition of Michigan is as follows

Race and OriginActual PopulationPercentage
White alone (Non Hispanic)7,295,65172.40%
Black or African American alone1,358,45813.48%
Hispanic or Latino564,4225.60%
Two or more races439,3204.36%
Asians alone332,2883.30%
American Indians and Alaska Native alone47,4060.47%
Some Other Race alone37,1830.37%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders alone2,6030.03%

Source: US Census 2020

also read about Religion in Michigan

*US Census recognized five racial categories (White, Black or African American, Asian American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) as well as people of two or more races. It also classified respondents as "Hispanic or Latino" or "Not Hispanic or Latino", identifying Hispanic and Latino as an ethnicity (not a race), which comprises the largest minority group in the nation.

Ancestry in Michigan

As per Census Studies and estimate German, Irish, English, Polish & American have made the five largest ancestry groups in Michigan. 

In 2020, 5.1% of the population considered themselves to be of only American ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity). Many of these were of English, Scotch-Irish, or European descent.

The Largest Ancestry in Michigan is as follows

ANCESTRYEstimatePercentage
German1,797,35218.0%
Irish996,43910.0%
English853,8918.6%
Polish800,4678.0%
American510,4565.1%
Italian419,6464.2%
Dutch410,5684.1%
French (except Basque)356,8943.6%
Arab221,6312.2%
Scottish205,6342.1%
French Canadian156,0971.6%
Swedish121,7071.2%
Hungarian85,1780.9%
Subsaharan African80,4610.8%
Norwegian76,9540.8%
Scotch-Irish73,1280.7%
Russian64,6060.6%
Welsh50,1950.5%
Greek44,5200.4%
Ukrainian39,1430.4%
Czech38,4310.4%
Danish35,3600.4%
Lithuanian30,0370.3%
Swiss23,8250.2%
Slovak22,5930.2%
West Indian (excluding Hispanic origin groups)19,1270.2%
Portuguese7,9370.1%

Source: US Census Bureau population estimate 2020

 European Ancestry in Michigan

Non-Hispanic Whites account for nearly 72.4% of Michigan’s population. German, Irish, and English Americans have made up the three largest European ancestry groups in Michigan. As per the Census report, German Americans made up 18% of the population and numbered over 1.8 million members. Irish Americans made up 10% of the population and number close to 1 million. 

English Americans made up 8.6% of the population and number Close to 0.85 million followed by Polish ancestry at 8% of the population and numbered close to 0.8 million.

Other Europeans who make good numbers are  Italian (4.2%), Dutch (4.1%), French (3.6%), Scottish (2.1%), Swedish (1.2%), Hungarian (0.9%), Norwegian (0.8%), Scotch-Irish (0.7%) and Russian (0.6%)

As of 2007, about 300,000 people in Southeastern Michigan trace their descent from the Middle East. Dearborn has a sizeable Arab community, with many Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac, and Lebanese who immigrated for jobs in the auto industry in the 1920s along with more recent Yemenis and Iraqis.

African Americans in Michigan

As of 2020, those of African ancestry accounted for 13.5% of Michigan’s population and are the second largest group after Non-Hispanic whites. African-Americans, who came to Detroit and other northern cities in the Great Migration of the early 20th century.

A substantial proportion of Michigan’s African American population resides in the Detroit metropolitan area, where they make up around 79% of the city’s population. Other urban areas, such as Flint, Saginaw, and Grand Rapids, also host significant Black populations. Additionally, there are numerous Black residents living in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas across the state.

Hispanics and Latinos in Michigan

Hispanics and Latinos are the third-largest groups in Michigan. Around 5.6% of Michigan’s Population claims Hispanic or Latin American ethnicity.  Significant Hispanic population concentrations are in major urban counties along the Grand Rapids and Detroit corridor.

Among the various nationalities that together comprise the Latino population, Mexicans are the dominant group with about 69% of the Hispanic population in Michigan, while Puerto Ricans, the second largest group, comprised just under 10%, with the remainder accounted for by Cubans with nearly 3% and a mix of “Other Hispanics” accounted for nearly 20%.

Asian Americans in Michigan

Asian Americans are a sizable minority group in Michigan. Americans of Asian descent formed 3.30% of the population. Its ethnic Asian population has grown rapidly since the late 1990s; the majority are Indians, Japanese, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and ethnic Chinese.

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group in Detroit’s Tri-County area: Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

also read about the List of counties in Michigan

Race and Ethnicity in Michigan 2024 | Ancestry in Michigan