The divorce rate in Wisconsin was 2.1 divorces per 1,000 residents in 2023, the most recent year published by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. That is lower than the 2023 national rate of 2.4 per 1,000, which covers the states and the District of Columbia that report divorce counts.
The CDC measures the divorce rate in Wisconsin as the number of divorces per 1,000 total residents, based on provisional counts by the state where each divorce was granted.
Wisconsin’s rate has fallen over the long term and has held steady in recent years.
A rate per 1,000 residents is not the share of marriages that end in divorce. It divides divorces by the entire population, including children and unmarried adults, so it does not measure the odds that any one marriage will end. The national figure also excludes states that do not report divorce counts. For the reasons couples give, see the leading causes of divorce.
If you are considering divorce, the legal requirements matter more than the statewide rate. At least one spouse must meet Wisconsin’s residency requirements before filing, and a mandatory waiting period applies before the final hearing. Our guides explain how to file for divorce in Wisconsin and how long a Wisconsin divorce takes.
Renier Hotopp Law Offices represents spouses in the divorce cases behind the divorce rate in Wisconsin, in both agreed and contested cases. See our Wisconsin divorce attorney services or learn more about the firm.
