CHICAGO (Dec. 21, 2017) – Illinois’ people problem is its biggest budget problem, the Illinois Policy Institute reports. Yesterday, the U.S. Census Bureau released data that showed nearly 115,000 residents on net moved to other states from July 2016 to July 2017, causing the state’s population to shrink. This is part of a long-term trend.

New analysis from the Illinois Policy Institute reveals Illinois’ net loss of people to other states since 2010 is equivalent to the population of the four largest cities outside Chicago – Aurora, Joliet, Rockford and Naperville. Since 2010, Illinois has lost nearly 643,000 people on net to outmigration.

Heavy outmigration has caused Illinois’ population to drop by more than 88,000 people since 2014. That is equivalent to the population of the city of Waukegan.

Other highlights from the Census report:

• Illinois is no longer the fifth-largest state in the nation
• Illinois’ population shrank by 33,703 people
• 114,779 Illinoisans left for other states on net
• Illinois ranks first in population loss among 50 states
• None of Illinois’ neighboring states saw population losses
• Illinois’ net loss of people to other states since 2010 is equivalent to the population of the four largest cities outside Chicago: Aurora, Joliet, Rockford and Naperville

Quote from Orphe Divounguy, chief economist at the Illinois Policy Institute:

“A shrinking state is bad news for the state economy. Fewer and fewer people are being asked to pay more and more for government. But the truth is, if Illinois doesn’t address its crushing tax burden, more people will continue to flee.

“This is a long-term problem that will continue to spell trouble for residents in 2018 if officials do not address the root cause: a crushing, job-killing tax burden.”