|
ILLINOIS
LOSES RESIDENT EVERY 4 MINUTES, 18 SECONDS: LIKE SPRINGFIELD VANISHING
EACH YEAR
Illinois Policy Institute/
Bryce Hill
More Illinoisans fled for other states from
July 2020-July 2021 than during any other year in recorded history,
driving the state’s record population decline.
|
|
 Illinois’ population declined by a
record 113,776 residents from July 2020-July 2021, according to estimates
released Dec. 21 by the U.S. Census Bureau.
While there were 2,778 more births than deaths in Illinois, and 5,766 net
migrants gained from abroad, Illinois lost 122,460 residents on net to other
states. The loss in residents to other states was the largest in state history.
Domestic outmigration has been the
sole driver of Illinois’ population decline for eight consecutive years. The
only state that’s population has been in decline longer, West Virginia,
currently is suffering its ninth consecutive year of population decline.
Net outmigration has now hit all-time highs, with Illinois losing a resident
every 4 minutes and 18 seconds to other states. During the course of an entire
year, that’s the equivalent of losing more people than live in Springfield.
[to top of second column] |
Historically speaking,
the major reasons Illinoisans are choosing to leave the state are
for better housing and employment opportunities, both of which have
been made worse by poor public policy in Illinois. Nearly half of
Illinoisans have thought about moving away, and they said taxes were
their No. 1 reason. Population decline also contributes to the lower
economic prospects of the state.
It remains unclear to what extent these factors contributed to
Illinoisans moving out of state from 2020-2021. Other factors, such
as pandemic-related job losses, school closures and government
mandates could also be to blame.
What the new census data confirms is Illinois’ exodus has reached
record levels. It is more of a problem now than ever, regardless of
the cause. |
