Chicago City Wire

Illinois faced a significant population decrease in 2023, with all eight metro areas and 87 out of 102 counties experiencing a decline, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Chicago alone contributed to half of the state's total decline, with over 71,000 residents leaving the metro area. The Illinois Policy Institute highlighted that the state lost a total of 32,826 residents in the same year.

The largest population loss in the state was observed in Cook County, where 24,494 residents moved away, making it the most substantial decline. This trend was fueled by a significant exodus, with more than 58,000 individuals leaving the county. St. Clair and Lake counties also saw notable decreases, each losing over 1,000 residents.

Despite the overall decline, some counties like Will, Kendall, and McHenry experienced population growth, likely due to residents migrating from Chicago. Data indicates that individuals are relocating to states with lower tax burdens, such as Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Texas. Illinois stands out as the only state in the region to suffer a population loss, attributed to its high tax rates.

Bryce Hill, the director of fiscal and economic research at the Illinois Policy Institute, expressed concern over Illinois' ongoing outmigration issue. Hill noted that although nationwide migration has slowed compared to previous years, Illinois continues to lose residents at a rapid pace. He emphasized the importance of addressing the state's tax burden, stating that failure to do so may result in continued population decline.

Hill warned, "If lawmakers don’t take steps to reduce the crippling burden of taxes on residents, people will likely continue to leave Illinois as they have done for the past decade."

For more information on Illinois' outmigration crisis, interested individuals can visit illin.is/2023counties.