15 Fastest-Declining States in the US

2. Illinois

Percentage Change in Population: -1.60%

Population Decline: 204,548

Illinois ranks second on our list of the fastest declining in the US. Illinois lost over 200,000 residents between 2020 and 2022. The trend of people moving out of Illinois is primarily driven by high taxes and a lack of professional growth. For the tenth consecutive year, Illinois’ population has been shrinking, with residents citing high living costs, excessive taxation, and limited job opportunities as the main reasons for leaving.