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Which counties in Wisconsin are losing population?

18 of the 72 counties in Wisconsin had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Milwaukee County lost the largest share, down 1.5% (−14,390 people).

Of the 18 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 15 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 3 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 18 Wisconsin counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in Wisconsin
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Milwaukee County−1.5%−14,390924,216Domestic migration (−44,731)
2Richland County−1.4%−24517,036Natural change (−282)
3Menominee County−1.4%−594,199Natural change (−97)
4Crawford County−1.1%−17215,910Natural change (−301)
5Douglas County−0.8%−36143,990Natural change (−726)
6Columbia County−0.7%−40258,132Domestic migration (−423)
7Waupaca County−0.7%−33851,461Natural change (−1,197)
8Barron County−0.5%−23546,484Natural change (−795)
9Juneau County−0.5%−13026,649Natural change (−714)
10Jackson County−0.5%−9720,999Natural change (−121)
11Kenosha County−0.4%−738168,448Domestic migration (−2,205)
12Price County−0.3%−4413,988Natural change (−518)
13Iron County−0.3%−176,127Natural change (−307)
14Dodge County−0.3%−24689,097Natural change (−1,623)
15Rusk County−0.2%−2314,146Natural change (−398)
16Wood County−0.2%−12074,060Natural change (−1,068)
17Buffalo County−0.1%−1513,318Natural change (−140)
18Lincoln County−0.1%−2028,403Natural change (−869)

How this is ranked

Counties whose Census Bureau resident population estimate for July 1, 2025 is lower than for July 1, 2020, steepest percentage decline first. The largest factor is the most negative of natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration and net international migration over the same years (Census Bureau components of population change). Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are left out, as on every ranking.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

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Questions

Which county in Wisconsin is losing population fastest?

Milwaukee County: down 1.5% between 2020 and 2025, to 924,216 residents (−14,390 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Richland County (−1.4%) and Menominee County (−1.4%).

How many counties in Wisconsin are losing population?

18 of the 72 counties in Wisconsin had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 54 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in Wisconsin losing population?

Of the 18 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 15 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 3 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for Wisconsin

Counties losing population in other states

Across the U.S.