Health in Wisconsin

Life expectancy, healthcare access, hospitals and insurance.

Age-adjusted death rate, all causes
722
2017 · CDC National Center for Health Statistics
Residents without health insurance
5.3%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Hospital jobs
119,075
2025 · BLS Current Employment Statistics
Adults with any health care coverage
92.4%
2020 · CDC BRFSS
Adults with obesity
36.6%
2025 · CDC BRFSS via Chronic Disease Indicators
Adults who currently smoke
10.8%
2025 · CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Life Expectancy

Expected years of life at birth.

Age-adjusted death rate, all causes
722
2017 · CDC National Center for Health Statistics
Total deaths, all causes
52,681
2017 · CDC National Center for Health Statistics
Life expectancy
78.2 years
Rank
22nd in the U.S.
Female / Male
80.6 / 75.8 years

Age-adjusted death rate, all causes

1999–2017
722▼ 13%

CDC National Center for Health Statistics, leading causes of death (1999–2017), all causes, age-adjusted.

Total deaths, all causes

1999–2017
52,681▲ 13%

CDC National Center for Health Statistics, leading causes of death (1999–2017).

IndicatorWisconsinU.S.
Life expectancy (years)78.278.4
  • •Life expectancy in Wisconsin is near the national average, but varies by more than ten years between Milwaukee ZIP codes.

Healthcare Access

Availability of care.

Residents without health insurance
5.3%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Physicians per 100k
274

Residents without health insurance

2009–2024
5.3%

Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, civilian noninstitutionalized population, B27010 (2020 not released).

IndicatorWisconsinU.S.
Physicians per 100,000274280
  • •Rural northern Wisconsin has some of the largest primary-care shortages in the Midwest.

Hospitals

Hospital capacity.

Hospital jobs
119,075
2025 · BLS Current Employment Statistics
Health care jobs (ambulatory, hospitals and nursing)
433,950
2025 · BLS Current Employment Statistics
Beds per 1,000
2.1

Hospital jobs

1990–2025
119,075▲ 57%

BLS Current Employment Statistics, NAICS 622, annual average (FRED SMU55000006562200001).

Health care jobs (ambulatory, hospitals and nursing)

1990–2025
433,950▲ 107%

BLS Current Employment Statistics, NAICS 621–623, annual average (FRED SMU55000006562000001).

IndicatorWisconsinU.S.
Hospital beds per 1,0002.12.4
  • •Regional systems such as Aurora, Froedtert and Marshfield Clinic dominate hospital care in Wisconsin.

Insurance Coverage

Health insurance.

Adults with any health care coverage
92.4%
2020 · CDC BRFSS
Uninsured rate
5.0%
Employer coverage
57%

Adults with any health care coverage

2011–2020
92.4%

CDC BRFSS, adults 18+ (question discontinued after 2020).

IndicatorWisconsinU.S.
Uninsured rate (%)5.08.0
  • •Wisconsin has one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country despite never expanding Medicaid under the ACA.

Obesity

Adult obesity prevalence.

Adults with obesity
36.6%
2025 · CDC BRFSS via Chronic Disease Indicators
Adult obesity rate
34.5%
Overweight or obese
68%
Adult diabetes
10.0%

Adults with obesity

2011–2025
36.6%

CDC BRFSS via Chronic Disease Indicators, adults 18+.

IndicatorWisconsinU.S.
Adult obesity rate (%)34.533.5
  • •Wisconsin's adult obesity rate has roughly doubled since the mid-1990s.

Public Health Indicators

Other health measures.

Adults who currently smoke
10.8%
2025 · CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Adult smoking rate
14.0%
Binge drinking
24.5%
Physical inactivity
21%

Adults who currently smoke

2011–2025
10.8%

CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, adults 18+.

IndicatorWisconsinU.S.
Adult smoking rate (%)14.011.5
  • •Wisconsin consistently reports the highest binge-drinking rate of any U.S. state.