What are the largest metro areas in Illinois?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is the largest metro area in Illinois, with 9,434,123 residents in 2025 (Census PEP). St. Louis, MO-IL (2,814,421) and Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL (380,452) come next.
Data as of 2025 · updated
All 9 ranked Illinois metro areas
| Rank | Metro area | Residents 2025 | Change 2020–25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 9,434,123 | −0.0% |
| 2 | St. Louis, MO-IL | 2,814,421 | −0.2% |
| 3 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 380,452 | −0.9% |
| 4 | Peoria, IL | 363,505 | −1.3% |
| 5 | Rockford, IL | 337,242 | −0.3% |
| 6 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | 239,979 | +1.5% |
| 7 | Springfield, IL | 206,033 | −1.2% |
| 8 | Paducah, KY-IL | 102,259 | −1.2% |
| 9 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 99,215 | +1.7% |
How this is ranked
The Census Bureau's July 1 resident population estimates for 2025, largest first, with the change since 2020. Only metropolitan statistical areas of two or more counties are ranked (OMB Bulletin 23-01): a one-county area's figures are its county's, and micro areas are left out. An area that crosses a state line is ranked in each of its states. Areas without an estimate for the same year as the others are not ranked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built.
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Questions
What is the largest metro area in Illinois?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is the largest metro area in Illinois, with 9,434,123 residents in 2025 (Census PEP). St. Louis, MO-IL (2,814,421) and Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL (380,452) come next.
How is this ranking calculated?
The Census Bureau's July 1 resident population estimates for 2025, largest first, with the change since 2020. Only metropolitan statistical areas of two or more counties are ranked (OMB Bulletin 23-01): a one-county area's figures are its county's, and micro areas are left out. An area that crosses a state line is ranked in each of its states. Areas without an estimate for the same year as the others are not ranked.