Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates and 2024 Gazetteer. Rankings among the 50 states.
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
1850–2024U.S. Census (decennial), 1850–2020 + estimates.
Population pyramid
Wisconsin's civilian population by sex and five-year age group. Choose a year to see how the age structure has changed.
Tap an age group in the pyramid to see its detail.
Under 15
1,005,826 (16.9%)
15 to 64
3,785,250 (63.5%)
65 and older
1,168,733 (19.6%)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, SC-EST2020 and SC-EST2024 age and sex estimates (civilian population, July 1).
Age, sex and longevity
The main indicators describing Wisconsin's age structure, sex distribution and life expectancy.
| Median age | 40.1 years | |
| Female | 50.1% | |
| Male | 49.9% | |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | |
| 65 and older | 18.6% | |
| Life expectancy | 78.1 years |
Population, households and density
How many people and households live in Wisconsin, how concentrated they are and how the population is changing.
| Total population | 5.96 M | 20th in the U.S. |
| Density | 42 /km² | 25th in the U.S. |
| Households | 2.5 M | |
| Urban population | 70.2% | |
| Largest metro | Milwaukee–Waukesha (≈ 1.57 M) | |
| Growth | +0.2%/yr | 2020–2024 |
Race, ethnicity and origin
Wisconsin remains one of the most heavily German- and Scandinavian-descended states, with a large Black population concentrated in Milwaukee, a growing Hispanic community in the southeast and eleven federally recognized tribal nations.
| White (non-Hispanic) | 78.6% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8.1% | ≈ 485,000 |
| Black or African American | 6.3% | |
| Asian | 3.2% | Largest Hmong community per capita |
| Two or more races | 2.9% | |
| Native American | 0.9% | 11 federally recognized tribes |
| Pacific Islander | 0.1% | |
| German ancestry | ≈ 37% | Highest share in the U.S. |
| Polish & Norwegian ancestry | ≈ 15% | |
| Mexican origin | ≈ 6.1% | Largest Hispanic subgroup |