From 2020 to 2024, international migration was the primary driver of population growth in Wisconsin.
The Census Bureau tracks multiple components of population change. The outlined bar represents the sum of international migration, domestic migration, natural change, and census residuals.
As natural change declined post-pandemic, international migration picked up the slack.
The "Census Adjustment" bar accounts for statistical corrections made after the 2020 decennial count.
Wisconsin population change by component, 2011-2025
International
Domestic
Natural
Census Adjustment
Net Change
International migration was the strongest driver of growth or offset for population loss in 29 of Wisconsin's 72 counties in 2024. That number fell to just 14 last year.