A massive influx of 112,955 international migrants boosted Illinois population in 2024, new Census Bureau data shows. Buses from Texas likely grew Illinois’ population
By Bryce Hill | Illinois Policy Institute
Illinois’ population grew by 67,899 residents from July 2023-June 2024, according to estimates released Dec. 19 by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Illinois may have Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to thank: He shipped migrants by bus and plane to Chicago and other sanctuary cities to relieve the border crisis.
This marks the first time in 11 years the Census Bureau has estimated the population has grown for the state of Illinois – though this data release revised previous figures for 2023 to show growth that year as well.
The new data shows after nine consecutive years of population decline, Illinois’ population grew in 2023 and 2024
The reason Illinois was able to buck the near-decade trend of population decline was because of a massive influx of international migrants in 2023 and 2024. Chicago counted over 51,000 migrants being sent to the city, with total statewide international migration over double that figure in the census estimate.
Illinois continues to see a natural increase in population as births outpace deaths, but by an increasingly narrow margin – adding only 11,012 residents during the year. International migration added 112,955 new residents – 10 times more than what the state received in 2021 and nearly five times what the state gained on average from 2010-2020 before the pandemic.
Domestic migration saw the state shed 56,235 residents as the state continues to push people to other states with high taxation, a poor job market and housing issues.
During the past two years, Illinois has received a massive influx of immigrants, particularly in Chicago. The city has been the center of heated political debate between public leaders and residents over financial and other resources being used for newcomers after local minority and low-income residents have said their needs have been neglected for decades. The latest Census Bureau estimates confirm the extent of international migration to the state during the past several years, while raising questions of the sustainability of this trend.
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