Illinois’ population decline crisis has now spread to every major metropolitan area in the state. Chicago continued losing residents in 2023.
Illinois’ population decline continued for its 10th consecutive year in 2023 as the state’s population dropped by 32,826 residents from July 2022-July 2023, but new data shows losses in every metropolitan area in the state.
While overall population decline slowed in 2023 compared to previous years, populations declined in virtually every corner of the state, according to data released March 14 by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Illinois portion of the Cape Girardeau metro area in Southern Illinois was losing at the fastest rate, but has a relatively small population. The Decatur metro area was losing more than 7 out of every 1,000 residents – substantially faster than Springfield (-3.8) or Bloomington (-2.8). Meanwhile, total population decline was the largest in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area, which lost 16,602 residents during the year.
Population decline in the Chicago metro area was among the worst in the nation in 2023, with only Los Angeles (-71,037) and New York (-65,549) losing more people.
On the flip side, Dallas (+152,598) and Houston (+139,789) were the metro areas to see the largest population growth in 2023, followed by Atlanta, Orlando and Tampa.
Illinois’ population struggles continues to be driven exclusively by residents leaving for other states, with Florida and Texas being two of the most popular destinations.
Of the Illinoisans who leave the state on net, 97% moved to lower-tax states in 2022 – the most recent data available.Historically, high taxes have been the No. 1 reason Illinoisans considered leaving the state.PollingfromNPR Illinois and the University of Illinoisfound 61% of Illinoisans thought about moving out of state in 2019, and the No. 1 reason was taxes. ThePaul Simon Public Policy Institutefound 47% of Illinoisans wanted to leave the state in 2016. It also found “taxes are the single biggest reason people want to leave,” with 27% citing that motive. The Lincoln Poll conducted for the Illinois Policy Institute in 2023substantiatedthese sentiments.
Even when taxes were not a response option, surveys of those who have left the state showed themajor reasonswere for better housing and employment opportunities. Both have been made worse by poor public policy in Illinois.
A10th year of population decline, especially when driven by residents choosing to leave Illinois, should get the state’s leaders working on solutions. Politicians need to listen when people reject what they are offering. If they ease the tax burden and reduce arduous business regulations, they can make it easier for Illinoisans to stay.
FAQs
Every Illinois metro area saw population drop in 2023
Why is Illinois losing so many people? ›
Several factors contributed to the change, but the single largest was domestic outmigration. According to the data, 122,460 people moved from Illinois to other states during the period from April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021, while only 5,766 people moved into the state, a net loss of 116,694.
How many people live in Chicago in 2023? ›
The Chicago urban agglomeration, according to the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects report (2023 revision), lists a population of 8,937,000.
How much black population has Chicago lost? ›
Chicago has been losing Black residents for decades. The city's Black population peak came in 1980, when it reached nearly 1.19 million people. Over the next 40 years, that figure declined by roughly 400,000, dipping to about 788,000 in 2020. That's the lowest decennial census count of Black Chicagoans since 1950.
Which state has the windy city of Chicago with a metro population of almost 10 million and a history of blues and jazz music? ›
Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois on the southwestern shores of freshwater Lake Michigan. It is the principal city in the Chicago metropolitan area, situated in both the Midwestern United States and the Great Lakes region.
What is the fastest shrinking city in Illinois? ›
Thorntonship lost what makes up 1.9% of this city's population and tops the list for the state of Illinois with a population loss of just shy of 3000. This population decline took place in just one year.
Is Illinois a declining state? ›
Length of loss: This marks the 10th consecutive year of population decline for Illinois, according to census estimates for 2023. The only state that's population has been in decline longer, West Virginia, currently is suffering its 11th consecutive year of population decline.
Is Chicago growing or shrinking? ›
Illinois' population decline crisis has now spread to every major metropolitan area in the state. Chicago continued losing residents in 2023.
Is Chicago still the 3rd largest city? ›
People constantly come and go, but new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that Chicago lost about 81,000 people, or just under 3% of its population, from 2020 to 2022. Despite the decline, the city retained its position as the nation's third most populous city, after New York City and Los Angeles, in 2022.
What percent of Chicago is white? ›
According to 2021 US Census Bureau American Community Survey one-year estimates, which is conducted annually for cities over 65,000 via sampling, the population of Chicago, Illinois was 36.1% White (32.9% Non-Hispanic White and 3.2% Hispanic White), 28.5% Black or African American, 6.9% Asian, 1.1% Native American and ...
A MacArthur Foundation/UIC data report analyzing Chicago Metro population trends also found that the lack of racial and economic equity and lack of affordable loans have caused people to move out of the region. Florida and Texas are top destinations.
What is the largest ethnic group in Chicago? ›
The racial composition of the city was:
- 45.0% White (31.7% non-Hispanic whites);
- 32.9% Black or African American;
- 13.4% from some other race;
- 5.5% Asian (1.6% Chinese, 1.1% Indian, 1.1% Filipino, 0.4% Korean, 0.3% Pakistani, 0.3% Vietnamese, 0.2% Japanese, 0.1% Thai);
- 2.7% from two or more races;
- 0.5% American Indian.
Chicago is a diverse city. The city's population is about one-third white, one-third Black, one-third Latino and one-tenth Asian. But there's much more to Chicago's racial identity than that.
Why is Chicago so famous? ›
Chicago has a very well-known culture. Some of the many things Chicago is famous for are: Chicago-style hot dogs, Chicago-style (deep dish) pizza, Maxwell Street Polish Sausage, jazz music, and 1920s gangsters, for example Al Capone. Chicago is also known for architecture, for example the Sears Tower and museums.
What is the most populated town in Chicago? ›
As of 2020, Near North Side is the most populous of the areas with over 105,000 residents, while Burnside is the least populous with just over 2,500.
Why is Illinois declining? ›
The Illinois population decline of nearly 33,000 people in 2023 is due in large part to the net domestic migration of 83,839 people who left for other states, offset by net international immigration, which added 40,492 people, according to census data.
How fast is Illinois losing population? ›
Illinois' population decline continued for its 10th consecutive year in 2023 as the state's population dropped by 32,826 residents from July 2022-July 2023, but new data shows losses in every metropolitan area in the state.
Are more people moving out of Illinois? ›
For the fifth year in a row, Illinois had the greatest percentage of individuals leaving the state versus moving in, according to a study by North American Moving Services. According to the study, 63% of all moves in Illinois in 2023 were people leaving the state rather than moving into the state.
Why is the state of Illinois broke? ›
Debt and overspending are driving costs higher.
Illinois' state pension debt is an estimated $142.2 billion, and current pension payments take up 22% – more than $11 billion – of the state's budget. Illinois is currently underfunding pensions by $4.9 billion annually.
