Illinois’ population decline reached record levels in 2021. During the year, population loss hit nearly all areas of the state, as 81 of Illinois’ 102 counties and 10 of the state’s 14 metropolitan areas saw net drops, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data. An analysis from the Illinois Policy Institute found Illinois outmigration hit all-time highs from July 2020 to July 2021 and the population decline was driven entirely by Illinoisans moving to other states.
The largest decline was from the Chicago-Naperville-Evanston metropolitan division, which ranked third worst nationally for total raw population decline. It lost over 92,000 residents, and was fourth worst nationally for population decline as a percentage of population. Out of 384 U.S. metropolitan areas, Decatur experienced the ninth-worst population decline as a percentage. Danville saw the 12th-worst population decline as a share of total population. Institute experts point out metro areas that lost population also saw lagging job recoveries, with the bulk of the state’s missing jobs coming from Chicago.

Takeaways from the Illinois Policy Institute analysis: 

• Nationally, the Chicago area saw the fourth worst outmigration to other states in the nation, behind New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, Austin and San Bernardino saw the largest migration gains.

• The Peoria, Springfield, Kankakee and Rockford metropolitan areas all ranked among the worst in the nation for population decline, each performing in the bottom 11% of metro areas nationally for population growth.

• Danville and Decatur ranked the second- and third-least recovered metros in the state in terms of employment. They performed equally as poorly when it came to population decline in 2021.

To read the full analysis of the latest U.S. Census release, visit: illin.is/metrocensus