Illinois continues population decline, losing 364K in 3 years

(The Center Square) – Illinois was tied for third-worst rate of population decline compared to last year in new annual population estimates. Between April 1, 2020 and July 1, 2023, Illinois lost 364,443 people, the third worst loss behind New York and California.

New U.S. Census Bureau annual estimates released Tuesday shows Illinois had an estimated 12,582,515 people, or 32,826 fewer than the year before on net. That’s fewer losses than in 2022 when the state’s estimated net loss was 111,179, and fewer than in 2021 when the state lost 104,209, but more than the state lost on net in 2020 at 22,041.

For total net change over the past year, Illinois’ loss of 32,826 is second worst behind California’s loss of 75,423 people. On a percentage basis, Illinois is tied for third with Hawaii and Louisiana at -0.3%.

For domestic migration, Illinois lost 83,839 people to other states in the past year, but with inbound migration, births and deaths, the state’s net loss was 32,826.

Despite the annual estimated net loss in the hundreds of thousands of people over the past decade, some elected officials in the state deny the state is shrinking.

During a recent discussion with Crain’s Chicago Business, Pritzker blamed the population decline on outgoing college students. He said with more taxpayer funding for college scholarships, that’s turning around.

“People who are down on Illinois are not looking at the right indicators of the future of our state. Our future is bright,” Pritzker said. “Our enrollment numbers are some of the best in our university and our colleges are some of the best in the country now.”

State Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, said the state-by-state population battles shouldn’t matter as long as the United States is growing.

“The biggest thing is, let’s focus on continuing to gain,” Evans said last month. “Bringing new jobs here. Creating good job climates. Making sure it’s high quality jobs and making sure that we’re taking care of people who are struggling to make them more productive.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, said Illinois’ population loss is evident.

“People are leaving the state and the amount of members of Congress shows that,” Bost told The Center Square last month.

Bost suggested poor policies by the Democratic majority in Illinois don’t compare to Republican control decades ago.

“If you’ll remember in 1995, the Republicans had control of the House, control of the Senate and every statewide office,” Bost said. “We paid our bills on a 28-day pay cycle and our long-term indebtedness was less than $20 billion.”