COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Pierce County, Wisconsin
Road fatality data for Pierce County (WI). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 45
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 3
- Latest Year Deaths
- 11.6
- Per 100k Residents
- Decreasing
- Trend
The verdict
Pierce County's fatality rate of 11.6 per 100,000 residents places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure.
- 67%
- of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
- 12.3/100k
- Wisconsin county average
- Decreasing
- fatality trend
What the Data Shows
Pierce County, Wisconsin recorded 45 total road fatalities across 43 reported crashes during the 2016-2023 reporting window, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The most recent year covered by the data logged 3 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 5.0 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 11.6 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Pierce County in the current FARS release, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the Wisconsin state page, which aggregates county-level case files into statewide totals. Either way, the underlying records are drawn from a census of fatal crashes, not a statistical sample, so the counts are actual deaths rather than estimates.
The directional trend for Pierce County is decreasing, which suggests that road-design improvements, enforcement, or emergency-response changes are reducing the death toll. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether Pierce County's 45-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.
Total Fatalities
45
Latest Year
3
Avg Annual
5.0
Rate per 100K
11.6
Trend
↓ Decreasing
How does Pierce County compare?
Average annual road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Pierce County is About the same as the comparison
Average annual road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents.
Among the 15 rated counties in Wisconsin, Pierce County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 12.3 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure. The gap between Pierce County's rate and the state average is 0.7 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Lafayette County, at 17.1 per 100,000 (a difference of 5.5). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Burnett County (25.7), Juneau County (21.8), Rusk County (21.2), Polk County (20.5), Sawyer County (19.4), Waushara County (19.3), Adams County (19.1), Jackson County (18.7), Clark County (18.4), Oconto County (18.4), Columbia County (17.6), Lincoln County (17.3), Bayfield County (17.3), Lafayette County (17.1).
Pierce County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
12 Among the safer counties a lower per-capita rate than 67% of 2,392 rated counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-06-03
Pierce County's rate vs. the Wisconsin state average
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Pierce County, Wisconsin?
Pierce County recorded 45 total traffic fatalities across 43 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 3 fatalities. The county averages approximately 5.0 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Pierce County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Pierce County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Wisconsin may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Pierce County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Pierce County is decreasing. This suggests road safety improvements are having a positive effect in the county.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Pierce County?
Pierce County has a fatality rate of 11.6 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
How does Pierce County compare to the rest of Wisconsin?
Pierce County's per-capita rate of 11.6 per 100,000 residents is below the Wisconsin county average of 12.3. Visit the Wisconsin state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Pierce County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) This information is for research and informational purposes only
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainRoadSafety is computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no number is typed in by an editor. County figures are computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.