For the first time on record, every metropolitan area based in Illinois shrank last year, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data released. From July 2017 to July 2018, the Chicago metro area experienced the largest raw population decline in the nation, shrinking by 22,068 people. Danville, Peoria and Decatur saw the worst population decline among Illinois metros on a percentage basis – and among the worst nationwide. Analysis by the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute found the population decline was caused almost entirely by migration of Illinoisans to other states in search of better economic opportunities. This is the first local population data released covering the time period after Illinois’ historic 2017 income tax hike. Across the nation, the metro areas growing both the most and the fastest are typically in states with competitive tax environments and healthy jobs growth.

Takeaways from the analysis include: 

• The Chicago area experienced the largest population decline of any metro area in the nation last year, shrinking by 22,068 people. Chicago population has been declining since 2014.

• Outside of Chicago, Peoria and Springfield suffered the most population loss in Illinois in raw terms. Peoria shrank by 3,437 people, while Springfield shrank by 1,539 people.

• Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles all shrank in 2018. The fastest-growing big cities included Dallas, Phoenix, Orlando, Las Vegas, Austin, Jacksonville and Raleigh.