Researchers noted that there are some caveats to the data. In states or counties with a smaller population or sample size, the estimates are derived less from the CDC survey responses.

While Illinois lost population as a whole in recent years, 15 of its 102 counties gained residents from 2020 to 2024, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The bureau’s estimates of the ...

And, while the rest of Illinois has experienced very modest population growth of about 1.4%, these secessionist counties have lost a whopping 5.2% of their population.

This one-third of counties comprise only 6.6% of the Illinois population and only 4% of the state’s economy. Per capita income in the secessionist counties is $54,381.

Illinois’ total population is 12,710,158 in 2024, up from 12,642,259 in 2023. The population for Illinois in 2020 was 12,799,088. This article was first published in the Center Square.

Illinois has a population of almost 13 million people. About half of them live in the greater Chicago area. That gives Chicago a dominant position in Illinois state government and leads to the state's ...

This one-third of counties comprise only 6.6% of the Illinois population, and only 4% of the state’s economy. Per capita income in the secessionist counties is $54,381.

Those counties, now 33 in total, have voted to leave the state of Illinois. The language in the referenda involved the counties splitting off to create a new, 51st state—not joining Indiana.