Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Republican Party is calling out the state’s Democrats for lying about outmigration. 

U.S. Census data contradicts Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's claims that the state is experiencing population growth.

“Democrats lying to push an agenda? What else is new?” Illinois Republican Party said on Facebook. 

U.S. Census data reveals that Illinois continues to see residents leaving the state, with approximately 150,000 people departing for other states in 2021. The Census data aligns with other indicators of population decline, including reports from U-Haul, United Van Lines, and IRS data. The data also shows that 81 out of 102 counties in Illinois experienced population loss, resulting in the state losing a congressional seat, The Center Square reported. Additionally, businesses like Boeing, McDonald's, and Citadel have reduced their presence in Illinois. While Pritzker mentions companies choosing Illinois for tax incentives, the overall trend indicates a population exodus from the state.

In 2022 Illinois experienced its largest population decline on record, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. According to Illinois Policy, the state lost a record 104,437 residents from July 2021 to July 2022, primarily due to outmigration to other states. Illinois had a net domestic outmigration of 141,656 residents, marking the largest in the state's history. The analysis of Census data reveals that Illinois had the second-highest share of residents lost to outmigration and population decline in the nation, surpassed only by New York. In terms of raw numbers, Illinois had the third-worst population decline and outmigration, following New York and California. The most popular states attracting people from Illinois were Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee Georgia, and Arizona.

Census data shows that Illinois has been losing residents at a faster rate compared to neighboring states like Michigan, Missouri, and Indiana. The reasons behind outmigration were investigated by the Chicago Sun-Times, which spoke with residents and demographers. Many who left Illinois cited job changes, lifestyle preferences, or retirement as their reasons for departure. While the state's population did grow between 2010 and 2020 through births and immigration, the growth could have been stronger if not for the significant number of people leaving. Northwestern University Sociology Professor Lincoln Quillian explained that people typically move within the US for financial reasons, such as job opportunities in specific areas. Preferences for certain amenities or weather come secondary but remain important to many. The cost of living in cities like Chicago and the need for a car in rural or suburban areas also influence relocation decisions. Demographer Kenneth Johnson noted that the Chicago area attracts younger people in their 20s but tends to lose those in their early 30s.