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Which counties in Illinois are losing population?

83 of the 102 counties in Illinois had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Alexander County lost the largest share, down 11.6% (−602 people). Cook County lost the most residents (−69,026).

Of the 83 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 54 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 29 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 83 Illinois counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in Illinois
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Alexander County−11.6%−6024,570Domestic migration (−352)
2Lawrence County−9.7%−1,48713,790Domestic migration (−1,297)
3Pulaski County−6.9%−3564,820Natural change (−182)
4Gallatin County−6.4%−3174,616Natural change (−240)
5Henderson County−5.6%−3565,984Domestic migration (−186)
6Greene County−5.1%−61111,313Natural change (−385)
7Edwards County−5.0%−3095,898Domestic migration (−187)
8Mason County−4.9%−63912,411Natural change (−539)
9Massac County−4.5%−63913,502Natural change (−588)
10McDonough County−4.5%−1,21225,916Domestic migration (−997)
11Hancock County−4.4%−76716,803Domestic migration (−418)
12Macon County−4.3%−4,46199,300Domestic migration (−3,803)
13Knox County−4.1%−2,04547,767Domestic migration (−1,508)
14Saline County−4.1%−96922,772Natural change (−767)
15White County−4.0%−55713,250Natural change (−551)
16Scott County−4.0%−2044,866Domestic migration (−114)
17Cass County−4.0%−51512,463Domestic migration (−1,069)
18Richland County−3.7%−58915,219Natural change (−457)
19Union County−3.7%−64316,656Natural change (−521)
20Vermilion County−3.7%−2,74971,259Domestic migration (−1,484)
21Warren County−3.7%−61516,222Domestic migration (−743)
22Wabash County−3.6%−41210,907Natural change (−287)
23Clay County−3.6%−47812,793Domestic migration (−294)
24Perry County−3.5%−72420,160Natural change (−431)
25Marion County−3.4%−1,27436,382Natural change (−737)
26Lee County−3.4%−1,14932,914Domestic migration (−694)
27Menard County−3.3%−41011,863Domestic migration (−270)
28Fayette County−3.2%−69320,790Domestic migration (−405)
29Schuyler County−3.0%−2086,657Natural change (−192)
30Iroquois County−3.0%−81726,150Natural change (−728)
31Stephenson County−3.0%−1,35043,220Natural change (−963)
32Morgan County−2.9%−97532,515Natural change (−646)
33Edgar County−2.9%−48316,323Natural change (−576)
34Pike County−2.8%−40414,231Natural change (−327)
35Macoupin County−2.6%−1,18143,748Natural change (−1,193)
36Mercer County−2.6%−40815,229Natural change (−368)
37Whiteside County−2.6%−1,43454,121Natural change (−1,189)
38Logan County−2.5%−71027,182Natural change (−584)
39St. Clair County−2.5%−6,349250,708Domestic migration (−6,029)
40Jasper County−2.4%−2219,032Natural change (−205)
41Jefferson County−2.3%−85136,147Natural change (−504)
42Calhoun County−2.3%−994,300Natural change (−79)
43Jo Daviess County−2.2%−49621,594Natural change (−542)
44Ford County−2.2%−30313,216Natural change (−422)
45Clark County−2.2%−34215,114Natural change (−373)
46Pope County−2.2%−833,672Natural change (−190)
47Henry County−2.2%−1,07948,095Natural change (−646)
48De Witt County−2.1%−33215,118Natural change (−386)
49Cumberland County−2.1%−22410,208Domestic migration (−111)
50Bureau County−2.1%−70532,510Natural change (−665)
51Livingston County−2.1%−75135,057Natural change (−580)
52Adams County−2.1%−1,37064,267Domestic migration (−801)
53Franklin County−2.1%−77836,916Natural change (−1,035)
54Marshall County−2.0%−24011,473Natural change (−342)
55Fulton County−2.0%−66132,901Natural change (−1,115)
56Hardin County−1.8%−663,588Natural change (−163)
57Kankakee County−1.7%−1,877105,525Domestic migration (−2,099)
58Rock Island County−1.7%−2,488141,869Domestic migration (−4,753)
59Hamilton County−1.7%−1377,859Natural change (−155)
60Carroll County−1.7%−26715,419Natural change (−446)
61Shelby County−1.6%−34520,576Natural change (−453)
62Peoria County−1.6%−2,952178,553Domestic migration (−6,793)
63Wayne County−1.6%−26115,882Natural change (−365)
64Jersey County−1.5%−33321,160Natural change (−594)
65Christian County−1.5%−51733,443Natural change (−631)
66LaSalle County−1.5%−1,638107,773Natural change (−1,580)
67Jackson County−1.5%−78852,501Domestic migration (−1,850)
68Cook County−1.3%−69,0265,194,625Domestic migration (−306,394)
69Washington County−1.2%−16513,564Natural change (−157)
70Stark County−1.2%−635,319Natural change (−86)
71Sangamon County−1.0%−2,032194,170Domestic migration (−3,236)
72Coles County−1.0%−48046,607Domestic migration (−500)
73Madison County−1.0%−2,636263,110Natural change (−3,261)
74Tazewell County−1.0%−1,251130,049Natural change (−1,750)
75Moultrie County−0.8%−11414,371Natural change (−86)
76Woodford County−0.8%−29438,111Domestic migration (−304)
77Ogle County−0.7%−36651,399Natural change (−362)
78Montgomery County−0.6%−16828,076Natural change (−652)
79Randolph County−0.6%−17029,921Natural change (−573)
80Effingham County−0.5%−17634,519Domestic migration (−421)
81Winnebago County−0.4%−1,265283,674Domestic migration (−4,725)
82Monroe County−0.3%−12134,840Natural change (−481)
83Putnam County−0.1%−55,619Natural change (−51)

How this is ranked

Counties whose Census Bureau resident population estimate for July 1, 2025 is lower than for July 1, 2020, steepest percentage decline first. The largest factor is the most negative of natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration and net international migration over the same years (Census Bureau components of population change). 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 is losing population fastest?

Alexander County: down 11.6% between 2020 and 2025, to 4,570 residents (−602 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Lawrence County (−9.7%) and Pulaski County (−6.9%).

How many counties in Illinois are losing population?

83 of the 102 counties in Illinois had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 19 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in Illinois losing population?

Of the 83 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 54 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 29 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for Illinois

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