Report: Wisconsin saw net migration increase as population drop expected

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin saw an increase of 22,146 residents from international migration between July 2023 and the end of June 2024, combined with 6,332 from domestic migration.

That amounted to a total net migration of 28,478 residents, according to a new report from Wisconsin Policy Forum. Those sources accounted for 93.2% of the state’s population growth during that time, with births exceeding deaths by 2,000 as well.

The state’s net migration over the past three years have been at the highest point since 2004. Net migration was at least 25,000 over those years, more than twice the previous annual record during the last two decades.

The Wisconsin increase is part of a national trend that resulted in a population increase of 2.8 million for the 12-month period that ended June 30, 2024.

Comparatively, Wisconsin ranked second among the 12 Midwest states and was ahead of its neighboring states in net migration per capita in recent years.

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The state is expected to see a population decline from 5.96 million to 5.71 million by 2050, according to recent projections.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_2397b9d2-cde5-11ef-bb1e-879dafffcff1.html

Those projections are due to an aging population and fertility rates that are lower than the projected death rates as Wisconsin’s population ages.

“With two of the state’s three sources of population growth – natural change and international migration – showing signs of vulnerability, Wisconsin and other states in similar positions may wish to double down on efforts to attract residents from other states and to retain those already here,” the report said.