Chicago City Wire

Illinois has reversed nine years of population decline, adding approximately 67,899 residents between July 2023 and June 2024. This data was released by the U.S. Census Bureau, which also revised last year's figures to indicate growth rather than a loss.

The increase in Illinois' population is largely attributed to international migration, with 112,955 individuals moving to the state from other countries. However, domestic outmigration remains a concern as 56,235 residents left Illinois for other states during the same period. The Illinois Policy Institute highlights this as a significant factor in nearly a decade of population decline.

Among all states in 2024, only New York and California experienced greater losses due to domestic migration than Illinois. According to polling conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute, high taxes, crime rates, and living costs are major reasons why residents consider leaving the state. In contrast, low-tax states like Florida and Texas have seen higher domestic population growth alongside neighboring states such as Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin that offer lower living costs.

Bryce Hill from the Illinois Policy Institute commented on these trends: “Population growth buoyed by massive influxes of international migration is not sustainable for a state bleeding taxpayers. Despite what some politicians claim, domestic outmigration is very real – and the trends should be concerning to everyone who lives here.” He further stated that "serious economic reforms are needed" for Illinois to become an attractive destination where residents can establish roots and prosper.

Hill also emphasized the need for lawmakers to tackle economic and fiscal issues or risk losing recent international migrants too: “Lawmakers must address the state's economic and fiscal challenges or recent international migrants will soon leave as well."

Further details on Illinois’ domestic outmigration crisis can be found at illin.is/2024populationgrowth.