According to a recent report from the Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois experienced a decline in population across all eight metro areas and 87 out of 102 counties between July 2022 and July 2023.
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, it has been discovered that Chicago’s population decline contributed to roughly 50% of the overall decrease of 41,000 residents in the state of Illinois in 2023. When taking into account the total number of people who left the state, which was 8,300, and those who moved in, the net loss amounted to approximately 33,000. Apart from Chicago, other metropolitan areas such as Decatur, Springfield, and Bloomington-Normal also experienced significant declines relative to their population sizes.
Cook County witnessed a significant decline in its population, ranking second in the nation. Over 58,000 residents opted to move out of the county, seeking new homes in the suburbs or even outside of the state. Los Angeles County in California was the only county that experienced a larger exodus of residents.
Bryce Hill, director of Fiscal and Economic Research, emphasizes that the impact of this issue extends to every corner of the state. It is not limited to Chicago or downstate areas; it affects communities throughout Illinois.
Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office has stated that it will persist in contesting the reported decrease in the state’s population. In January, after requesting a review, the U.S. Census acknowledged that it had overlooked or underestimated the count for individuals residing in group facilities during the 2020 Census.
“I am delighted that the Census Bureau has acknowledged the undercounting issue, which myself and several members of Illinois’ Congressional Delegation have been tirelessly working to address since the release of the 2020 census results,” stated Pritzker.
According to Hill, the most recent figures are not a fluke.
According to Hill, population decline has been a growing trend for the past ten years, as estimated by the Census Bureau.
According to Hill, many residents are choosing to relocate to states with lower taxation, such as Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Texas. The data reveals that a staggering 97% of Illinoisans who decided to leave the state in 2022 opted for lower-tax states.
Hill emphasized that unless elected officials take action to alleviate the heavy tax burden on Illinois residents, the ongoing trend of people leaving the state is likely to persist.
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