Illinois Struggles to Retain Young Residents as Population Declines

State loses young people at faster rate than any other, raising concerns about brain drain and economic future

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Illinois has seen its population decline by 0.7% since the 2020 Census, one of only six states to lose residents in that time. The state is particularly struggling to retain young people, with more 18-and-under residents leaving than any other state. This brain drain is hitting Illinois's smaller, less prestigious universities the hardest, as students opt to attend out-of-state schools with lower costs. Governor Pritzker has proposed making community college more affordable, but his plan failed to gain traction. Experts say Illinois's small towns, designed for the industrial era, are having trouble adapting to the post-industrial economy and keeping young graduates from moving to Chicago or out of state.

Why it matters

Illinois's population decline and the exodus of young residents threatens the state's economic future. Losing college-educated workers makes it harder to attract new businesses and industries. It also reduces the tax base and representation in Congress, with Illinois likely to lose one or two seats after the next census. Reversing these trends is crucial for Illinois to grow and thrive in the coming decades.

The details

Illinois recorded a small population increase of 16,000 residents last year, but this was mostly due to 11,000 more births than deaths. The state has actually lost 0.7% of its population since the 2020 Census, one of only six states to see a decline. This is driven by young people leaving the state, with Illinois losing 18-and-under residents at a faster rate than any other state. The brain drain is hitting smaller, less prestigious universities hardest, as students opt for out-of-state schools with lower costs. For every 0.51 students who entered Illinois for college, one left the state. In 2022, 18,369 students came to Illinois for college while 35,884 departed.

  • Since the 2020 Census, Illinois has lost 0.7% of its population.
  • In 2022, 18,369 students came to Illinois for college while 35,884 left the state.

The players

JB Pritzker

The governor of Illinois who wants to make college more affordable in the state.

John Jackson

A researcher at Southern Illinois University's Paul Simon Public Policy Institute who has commented on the difficulties small towns face in retaining young people.

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What they’re saying

“Illinois recorded its third consecutive year of population growth, as the state remains focused on strengthening the factors that help people choose to stay and build their lives here.”

— JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois (chicagomag.com)

“Our situation is typical of rural America. Towns that used to be market towns are now drying up, disappearing. The possibilities of keeping young people there are difficult.”

— John Jackson, Researcher, Southern Illinois University's Paul Simon Public Policy Institute (chicagomag.com)

What’s next

Governor Pritzker has proposed allowing community colleges to offer four-year degrees, which could help make college more affordable in Illinois, but his plan did not pass the state legislature.

The takeaway

Illinois's population decline and the exodus of young, educated residents poses a serious threat to the state's economic future. Reversing these trends will require significant investments in education affordability and creating more economic opportunities in small towns to retain young people.