Illinois was the nation’s fifth-largest state until 2020 census data was released. Now Pennsylvania’s population exceeds Illinois’ to take the No. 5 spot.

Illinois will lose one representative in the U.S. House. The state’s population declined for the first time in over 200 years, the 10-year U.S. Census count showed.

Illinois’ decade of population loss, with last year being the worst loss of people since World War II, will cost is one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Some thought the new Census would cost Illinois two seats in Congress.

A third moving company ranked Illinois as a prime place to abandon during 2020. State leaders can control the exodus if they reform spending.

Illinois’ population decline has been accelerating during the past 7 years, while neighboring states gain from that loss.

More people again in 2020 became former Illinoisans than new Illinoisans. The new General Assembly has the power to stop the moving vans.

Even subtracting COVID-19 deaths, Illinois still suffered its largest population drop in modern history in the first year of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s fiscal policies, including 20 new tax and fee hikes, as well as his pandemic response.