Which counties in Illinois are people leaving?

55 of the 102 counties in Illinois had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025. Cass County had the largest net outflow for its size: 11.7 per 1,000 residents (−146 people). In people, Cook County had the largest net outflow (−31,144).

Net out-migration does not always mean fewer residents: 8 of these 55 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

Data as of 2025 · updated November 5, 2026

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All 55 Illinois counties with net out-migration

Counties with the most out-migration in Illinois
Rank	County	Per 1,000 residents, 2025	Net movers 2025	Residents	Population change 2020–25
1	Cass County	−11.7	−146	12,463	−4.0%
2	Edwards County	−11.2	−66	5,898	−5.0%
3	Champaign County	−10.7	−2,247	209,972	+1.8%
4	Jackson County	−7.9	−414	52,501	−1.5%
5	Perry County	−7.5	−151	20,160	−3.5%
6	White County	−6.9	−91	13,250	−4.0%
7	McLean County	−6.3	−1,082	171,419	+0.1%
8	DuPage County	−6.3	−5,854	934,298	+0.3%
9	Wabash County	−6.1	−67	10,907	−3.6%
10	Cook County	−6.0	−31,144	5,194,625	−1.3%
11	Pulaski County	−5.8	−28	4,820	−6.9%
12	Moultrie County	−5.1	−73	14,371	−0.8%
13	McDonough County	−5.0	−130	25,916	−4.5%
14	Union County	−5.0	−83	16,656	−3.7%
15	Schuyler County	−4.8	−32	6,657	−3.0%
16	Cumberland County	−4.7	−48	10,208	−2.1%
17	Macon County	−4.7	−462	99,300	−4.3%
18	Fayette County	−4.6	−96	20,790	−3.2%
19	Richland County	−4.6	−70	15,219	−3.7%
20	Lake County	−4.4	−3,176	719,339	+0.8%
21	Brown County	−4.2	−27	6,401	+2.7%
22	Peoria County	−4.1	−738	178,553	−1.6%
23	Ford County	−4.0	−53	13,216	−2.2%
24	Hancock County	−3.7	−63	16,803	−4.4%
25	Henderson County	−3.5	−21	5,984	−5.6%
26	Marshall County	−3.4	−39	11,473	−2.0%
27	Douglas County	−3.3	−66	19,880	+0.5%
28	Calhoun County	−3.0	−13	4,300	−2.3%
29	Rock Island County	−3.0	−421	141,869	−1.7%
30	Woodford County	−2.8	−105	38,111	−0.8%
31	Scott County	−2.7	−13	4,866	−4.0%
32	Gallatin County	−2.6	−12	4,616	−6.4%
33	Monroe County	−2.5	−86	34,840	−0.3%
34	Kankakee County	−2.2	−234	105,525	−1.7%
35	Knox County	−1.8	−87	47,767	−4.1%
36	Whiteside County	−1.8	−97	54,121	−2.6%
37	De Witt County	−1.8	−27	15,118	−2.1%
38	Menard County	−1.8	−21	11,863	−3.3%
39	Pope County	−1.6	−6	3,672	−2.2%
40	Effingham County	−1.6	−55	34,519	−0.5%
41	St. Clair County	−1.6	−393	250,708	−2.5%
42	Clay County	−1.2	−15	12,793	−3.6%
43	Mercer County	−0.9	−13	15,229	−2.6%
44	Kane County	−0.7	−374	525,757	+1.8%
45	Greene County	−0.7	−8	11,313	−5.1%
46	Pike County	−0.7	−10	14,231	−2.8%
47	Sangamon County	−0.5	−99	194,170	−1.0%
48	Livingston County	−0.5	−16	35,057	−2.1%
49	Henry County	−0.4	−21	48,095	−2.2%
50	Stephenson County	−0.4	−17	43,220	−3.0%
51	Coles County	−0.3	−14	46,607	−1.0%
52	Wayne County	−0.3	−4	15,882	−1.6%
53	Morgan County	−0.2	−8	32,515	−2.9%
54	Vermilion County	−0.2	−15	71,259	−3.7%
55	Boone County	−0.1	−3	53,568	+0.4%

How this is ranked

Counties where more residents moved away to other U.S. counties than moved in (negative net domestic migration in the Census Bureau's population estimates for 2025), per 1,000 residents, largest net outflow first. Moves from and to other countries, births and deaths are not counted. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are left out, as on every ranking.

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. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

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Questions

Which county in Illinois are the most people leaving?

For its size, Cass County: net domestic migration of −11.7 per 1,000 residents in 2025 (−146 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Edwards County (−11.2) and Champaign County (−10.7).

How many counties in Illinois have more people moving out than in?

55 of the 102 counties in Illinois had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025.

Does net out-migration mean a county is losing population?

Not always. Net domestic migration counts moves between U.S. counties only; births, deaths and international migration also change the total. 8 of these 55 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

More county rankings for Illinois

Counties with the most out-migration in other states

Across the U.S.