44K international migrants offset 40K Illinoisans leaving last year
Illinois’ population grew by 16,108 in 2025 thanks to an influx of people migrating from other countries. But Illinoisans moving away offset most of that gain.
People moving to Illinois from other countries again saved the state from population decline, but the gain could have been much larger had so many Illinoisans not opted to move to other states in 2025.
Illinois’ population grew by 16,108 residents from July 2024-June 2025, according to estimates released Jan. 27 by the U.S. Census Bureau. The increase marks the third consecutive year of population increases driven by the massive surge in international migration which began in 2022. International migration levels remained far above their pre-pandemic averages last year.
If not for the elevated international migration figures, Illinois’ population would have continued to decline, as more than 40,000 residents left Illinois for other states last year. The state saw only an 11,000 boost to the population from “natural increases” – more births than deaths.
During the past three years, Illinois has received a massive influx of immigrants, particularly in Chicago. The city has been the center of heated political debate between public leaders and residents over financial and other resources being used for newcomers after local minority and low-income residents have said their needs have been neglected for decades. The latest Census Bureau estimates confirm the extent of international migration to the state during the past several years, while raising questions of the sustainability of this trend.
Previous trends of domestic migration continue to hold in Illinois. The state is pushing more of its own residents to other places in the country than virtually any other state, ranking 48th in losses because of moves to other states.
When comparing all 50 states’ 2025 domestic migration figures, Illinois’ loss of 40,017 is only beaten by California, losing 229,077, and New York, losing 137,586. Even when considering population size, Illinois ranks 44th in domestic migration with only New York, Hawaii, Alaska, California, Massachusetts and New Jersey losing residents to other states faster.
Recent data also released by the Census Bureau shed light on one of the potential reasons so many Illinoisans are leaving the state: high taxes. In 2024, 95% of those leaving the state fled to states with lower tax burdens.
These results are further evidence of what Illinoisans routinely tell pollsters: high taxes are the No. 1 reason why Illinoisans consider leaving the state. Polling from NPR Illinois and the University of Illinois found 61% of Illinoisans thought about moving out of state in 2019, and the No. 1 reason was taxes.
The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute found 47% of Illinoisans wanted to leave the state, and “taxes are the single biggest reason people want to leave” with 27% of respondents citing taxes as the motive for departing in 2016. More recent polling conducted by Echelon Insights in 2023 substantiated these sentiments.
Illinoisans face one of the highest state and local tax burdens in the nation, including the highest property taxes and 7th highest sales taxes in the country. Illinois’ income tax endured the largest permanent rate hike in state history in 2017.
Despite Illinois’ continued outmigration of residents amid an onslaught of high taxes, state leaders are again pushing for higher income taxes in the upcoming legislative session, including the potential to tax retirees. Another year of residents fleeing for other states should be a wake-up call to the state’s leaders, who refuse to adopt policies that would make it easier for residents to stay in Illinois.
Reforms that would ease Illinoisans’ tax burdens or reduce arduous business regulations are needed to make the state more affordable and stop the departures. More tax hikes will mean fewer Illinoisans.