Detroit's population shows increase for third year in a row, Census data shows
The City of Detroit saw a population increase in 2025, marking the third year in a row, according to U.S. Census estimates released on Thursday.
Detroit's population grew by 0.8% in 2025, adding 5,060 residents. The city is just one of three Wayne County communities to have seen a population growth since 2020, joining Canton Township and Sumpter Township. Detroit is second behind Grand Rapids in growth, which added 1,700 new residents since last May.
As a whole, Michigan's population grew by .28% in 2025.
"I met a young woman the other day who just recently moved to Detroit from Memphis and before that had lived in Atlanta," said Detroit Mayor Sheffield. "Historically, those have been cities that longtime Detroiters have left for, not the other way around. She told me she chose Detroit because she had been hearing such good things about it and saw it as a great place for opportunity, and she's thrilled with the choice she made."
The official year-to-year population estimates for the City of Detroit, which the Census Bureau says is the 26th largest city in the United States, are as follows:
- 2020: 638,419.
- 2021: 635,046. Decrease from the previous year.
- 2022: 634,219. Decrease from the previous year.
- 2023: 637,452. Increase from the previous year.
- 2024: 644,035. Increase from the previous year.
- 2025: 649,095. Increase from the previous year.
The U.S. Census is conducted every 10 years and tasked with providing population numbers to assign Congressional representation through a complete count of everyone living in the United States.
Beyond that Constitutional requirement, Census numbers and their off-year demographic studies are used for a wide range of research and economic reports.
City officials noted that Detroit had been losing population every year since 1957. But during a time when Detroit officials had verifiable data on formerly vacant homes and buildings being redeveloped into housing, they were frustrated that Census population estimates did not align with local data.
City officials, such as former Mayor Mike Duggan, made the argument that private investments were picking up, bringing residential properties back into use. The Census Bureau followed up with visits to the community to see for themselves.