The 28-year-old becomes manager Roberto Martinez's second January signing after Serbian international goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic joined last week.
"Steven has a fantastic attitude and is desperate to play for Wigan Athletic," Martinez told the club's website.
Gohouri, who has scored three goals in two international appearances, is hoping a run in the Latics team will earn him a place in Ivory Coast's World Cup squad having missed out on the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
As well as Germany, Gohouri has played in France, where he started his career with Paris St German, and also had a spell in the Swiss league.
Martinez added: "He has good experience and in what has been a very difficult period for clubs because of the weather interrupting the training routines, he has gone about his business very professionally and shown us he has the potential to play in the best league in the world.
"He is a tremendous athlete, very powerful in the air, strong in the tackle and technically excellent."
Gohouri said: "I am so grateful that Wigan have given me a chance to prove myself, and I am desperate to repay that faith and show the manager, the club, and the supporters that they have made a good choice.
"There is a lot of quality in the squad but it's up to me now to force my way into the team and make an impression."
Source: BBC Sport
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Source: BBC Sport