Michiganders are giving others the gift of life as the number of registered organ donors continues to rise.

In 2011, more than 398,000 Michigan residents registered to donate. About 319,000 people registered in 2010.

“All told, there was an overall 25 percent increase in signups for the Michigan Organ Donor Registry in 2011 — which means more family members saved, more lives enhanced,” said Secretary of State Ruth Johnson.

“2011 had been our best year by far,” said Tim Makinen, director of corporate communications for Gift of Life Michigan, an organ donation advocacy group in Ann Arbor.

Gift of Lift has been teaming up with the Secretary of State to improve the number of donors in Michigan.

Fewer than 27 percent of Michigan adults were registered donors in 2010, according to the Secretary of State. The goal is to reach the national average of 42 percent.

Over 32 percent of adults were registered as of 2011 and that figure is expected to grow, Makinen said.