Chicago lost the most, but communities across Illinois lost population in 2023. Three-fourths of the cities and towns lost people.

Chicago lost 8,208 residents in 2023, the third-largest decline of any city in the nation. At this rate, the Second City will drop from No. 3 to No. 4 by 2035

While Cook County experienced the largest decline, less-populous Illinois counties were losing people at the fastest rate last year.

Illinois’ population decline crisis has now spread to every major metropolitan area in the state. Chicago continued losing residents in 2023.

Illinois’ population decline crisis continues to affect virtually all counties despite fewer losses in 2023. Cook County saw nation’s second-highest number of residents moving out.

2023 data on Illinois’ labor market gives cause for both concern and hope as state emerges from pandemic job losses.

Illinois’ base population total is larger than previously predicted after the U.S. Census discovered it had missed people in group quarters. But the change shouldn’t lull politicians into thinking taxes and other policies didn’t drive 364,443 people away.

Illinois lost 83,839 residents who moved to other states, one of the highest rates in the U.S. and driving a 10th consecutive year of population decline. It ranks near the bottom on multiple other population measures, too.

Illinoisans moving to other states was the sole reason for population decline in 2023. It’s not a Midwestern thing, because our neighbors are growing.

People choosing to move out of state again drove Illinois’ population to decline from July 2022-July 2023. Another one left every 6 minutes and 16 seconds.