Michiganders failed to reach 100,000 live births in 2023 for the first time in more than 80 years.
The state reported 97,696 live births, which was down about 4.3% from 2022 and continued a downward trend dating back to the 1990s, according to the latest provisional data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
Resident deaths (101,985) outweighed new babies born for the fourth consecutive year, leaving the state with a population loss of more than 4,200 people, before accounting for migration.
RELATED: Michigan counties with the best and worst infant survival rates
Michigan had more people born than died annually from 1900 to 2019. Deaths surged past births during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Even after COVID deaths flattened out, total deaths still outpaced live births.
Branch County in southwest Michigan led all other counties with 13 births per 1,000 residents. Its 611 live births ranked 20th in the state.
Other counties with high birth rates per 1,000 residents included Osceola (12.9), Oscoda (12.3), Kent (12), Wayne (11.2), St. Joseph (10.9), and Hillsdale (10.9).
The lowest birth rates were largely in Northern Michigan.
Below is a map of Michigan's birth rates by county. Hover over a county to see birth, death and population data for 2023.
RELATED: Infant death rate dips to new low in Michigan
Meanwhile, Emmet County had the highest rate of deaths per 1,000 residents (15.6), followed by Ogemaw (15.5), Grand Traverse (14.5), Montmorency (14), and Alpena (13.3).
The lowest death rates were Ionia (5 per 1,000 people), Clinton (5.3), Ottawa (5.5), Van Buren (5.5), and Eaton (5.8) counties.
Below is a map of county death data for 2023, illustrated as deaths per 1,000 residents.
The same data is available in the database below. Search a county or click the column heads to rearrange the data.
Heart disease and cancer were the two leading causes of death again in 2023, accounting for 25% and 20%, respectively. Accidents or unintentional injuries typically account for the third-most deaths annually in the U.S.
Other leading killers in 2023 included stroke (5.6%), and chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD), which includes lung disease, emphysema and asthma (5%).
According to the nonprofit Pew Charitable Trusts, 43 states recorded their lowest general fertility rate, which represents births per 1,000 women age 15 to 44, in at least 30 years in 2020.
Among factors contributing to lower birth rates include economic and work instability, lack of affordable housing and child care, access to health care, and global conflict. Women are marrying and having children later in life, and more adults report being unlikely to have children.
Despite the reductions in live births, Michigan's population increased by an estimated 57,103 people from July 2023 to 2024. That pushed the state's population estimate her than 10.14 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Michigan's birth and death data for 2024 likely won't be available publicly until early 2026.