This is a 1.7 percent fall in Cook County’s population, from 5,262,741 in 2020 to 5,173,146 in 2021.
Cook County had the largest population in Illinois in 2021.
The US Census Bureau found more than 73 percent of counties in the US saw a natural decrease in population in 2021. This is up from a 55.5 percent increase in 2020.
The Midwest suffered the most sustained population decreases, with many counties along the US East Coast and through the Rocky Mountains seeing increases.
The US population continues to grow, though at a slower rate than before.
Illinois Counties By Population Change from 2020 to 2021
| County | 2020 Estimated Population | 2021 Estimated Population | % Change in Population From Year to Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown County | 6,217 | 6,421 | 3.3% |
| Kendall County | 132,291 | 134,867 | 1.9% |
| Johnson County | 13,307 | 13,463 | 1.2% |
| Pope County | 3,744 | 3,779 | 0.9% |
| Grundy County | 52,514 | 52,989 | 0.9% |
| Piatt County | 16,654 | 16,753 | 0.6% |
| Perry County | 20,880 | 20,985 | 0.5% |
| Hardin County | 3,634 | 3,650 | 0.4% |
| McHenry County | 309,770 | 311,122 | 0.4% |
| Logan County | 27,879 | 27,992 | 0.4% |
| Randolph County | 30,055 | 30,142 | 0.3% |
| Champaign County | 205,469 | 205,943 | 0.2% |
| Carroll County | 15,664 | 15,698 | 0.2% |
| Will County | 695,903 | 697,252 | 0.2% |
| DeKalb County | 100,233 | 100,414 | 0.2% |
| Moultrie County | 14,486 | 14,510 | 0.2% |
| Crawford County | 18,639 | 18,659 | 0.1% |
| Monroe County | 34,898 | 34,932 | 0.1% |
| Lee County | 34,021 | 34,049 | 0.1% |
| Coles County | 46,737 | 46,765 | 0.1% |
| McLean County | 170,870 | 170,889 | 0% |
| Richland County | 15,803 | 15,796 | 0% |
| Douglas County | 19,742 | 19,722 | -0.1% |
| Pike County | 14,633 | 14,618 | -0.1% |
| Kane County | 516,155 | 515,588 | -0.1% |
| Ford County | 13,533 | 13,511 | -0.2% |
| White County | 13,808 | 13,784 | -0.2% |
| Marshall County | 11,691 | 11,663 | -0.2% |
| Livingston County | 35,752 | 35,664 | -0.2% |
| Montgomery County | 28,157 | 28,084 | -0.3% |
| Lake County | 713,217 | 711,239 | -0.3% |
| Clinton County | 36,896 | 36,793 | -0.3% |
| Boone County | 53,326 | 53,159 | -0.3% |
| Williamson County | 67,094 | 66,879 | -0.3% |
| Mercer County | 15,633 | 15,582 | -0.3% |
| Fayette County | 21,460 | 21,384 | -0.4% |
| LaSalle County | 109,359 | 108,965 | -0.4% |
| Whiteside County | 55,509 | 55,305 | -0.4% |
| Madison County | 265,498 | 264,490 | -0.4% |
| Bond County | 16,663 | 16,596 | -0.4% |
| Washington County | 13,711 | 13,655 | -0.4% |
| Jefferson County | 37,029 | 36,877 | -0.4% |
| Henderson County | 6,339 | 6,312 | -0.4% |
| Jo Daviess County | 22,035 | 21,939 | -0.4% |
| Woodford County | 38,395 | 38,225 | -0.4% |
| Ogle County | 51,678 | 51,449 | -0.4% |
| Tazewell County | 131,018 | 130,413 | -0.5% |
| Schuyler County | 6,875 | 6,843 | -0.5% |
| Henry County | 49,138 | 48,907 | -0.5% |
| Franklin County | 37,636 | 37,442 | -0.5% |
| Jersey County | 21,444 | 21,333 | -0.5% |
| Shelby County | 20,900 | 20,789 | -0.5% |
| Effingham County | 34,614 | 34,430 | -0.5% |
| Lawrence County | 15,234 | 15,152 | -0.5% |
| Iroquois County | 26,984 | 26,827 | -0.6% |
| Jasper County | 9,247 | 9,193 | -0.6% |
| Morgan County | 32,798 | 32,606 | -0.6% |
| Kankakee County | 107,236 | 106,601 | -0.6% |
| Marion County | 37,613 | 37,390 | -0.6% |
| Greene County | 11,915 | 11,843 | -0.6% |
| Winnebago County | 284,858 | 283,119 | -0.6% |
| Jackson County | 52,896 | 52,565 | -0.6% |
| De Witt County | 15,441 | 15,341 | -0.6% |
| Sangamon County | 196,012 | 194,734 | -0.7% |
| DuPage County | 931,153 | 924,885 | -0.7% |
| Clark County | 15,407 | 15,300 | -0.7% |
| Christian County | 33,900 | 33,662 | -0.7% |
| Bureau County | 33,118 | 32,883 | -0.7% |
| Fulton County | 33,440 | 33,197 | -0.7% |
| St. Clair County | 256,789 | 254,796 | -0.8% |
| Cumberland County | 10,428 | 10,345 | -0.8% |
| Menard County | 12,265 | 12,164 | -0.8% |
| Hamilton County | 7,977 | 7,911 | -0.8% |
| Hancock County | 17,552 | 17,400 | -0.9% |
| Adams County | 65,530 | 64,954 | -0.9% |
| Gallatin County | 4,947 | 4,903 | -0.9% |
| Macoupin County | 44,810 | 44,406 | -0.9% |
| McDonough County | 27,079 | 26,828 | -0.9% |
| Clay County | 13,267 | 13,143 | -0.9% |
| Knox County | 49,736 | 49,268 | -0.9% |
| Rock Island County | 144,267 | 142,909 | -0.9% |
| Calhoun County | 4,411 | 4,369 | -1% |
| Wayne County | 16,121 | 15,963 | -1% |
| Stephenson County | 44,457 | 44,021 | -1% |
| Peoria County | 181,225 | 179,432 | -1% |
| Wabash County | 11,316 | 11,202 | -1% |
| Vermilion County | 73,883 | 73,095 | -1.1% |
| Mason County | 13,026 | 12,881 | -1.1% |
| Massac County | 14,125 | 13,960 | -1.2% |
| Macon County | 103,647 | 102,432 | -1.2% |
| Putnam County | 5,635 | 5,566 | -1.2% |
| Saline County | 23,634 | 23,320 | -1.3% |
| Edgar County | 16,755 | 16,520 | -1.4% |
| Cass County | 12,956 | 12,773 | -1.4% |
| Warren County | 16,777 | 16,531 | -1.5% |
| Union County | 17,179 | 16,923 | -1.5% |
| Cook County | 5,262,741 | 5,173,146 | -1.7% |
| Stark County | 5,391 | 5,294 | -1.8% |
| Scott County | 4,927 | 4,836 | -1.8% |
| Pulaski County | 5,161 | 5,065 | -1.9% |
| Edwards County | 6,205 | 6,075 | -2.1% |
| Alexander County | 5,168 | 5,030 | -2.7% |
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
City of Prospect Heights• Village of Western Springs• Village of Justice• City of Northlake• City of Chicago Heights• Village of Flossmoor• Village of Lyons• City of Oak Forest• Village of Glenwood• Village of Schiller Park• City of Des Plaines• City of Blue Island• Village of South Chicago Heights• Village of McCook• Village of Lynwood• Village of Alsip• Village of Franklin Park• Village of Posen• Village of Riverdale• Village of Elmwood Park• City of Park Ridge• Village of Calumet Park• Village of Dolton• Village of Bellwood• Village of River Grove• Village of Winnetka• Village of Robbins• Village of Forest View• Village of Merrionette Park• Village of Brookfield• Village of Stone Park• Village of South Holland• Village of Westchester• Village of Ford Heights• Village of Bridgeview• Village of Niles• Village of Stickney• Village of Midlothian• Village of Glenview• Village of Thornton• Village of Phoenix• Village of Dixmoor• Village of Worth• Village of Forest Park• Village of Harwood Heights• City of Palos Heights• Village of Northfield• Village of Evergreen Park• Village of Oak Lawn• Village of Skokie• Village of River Forest• Village of Lansing• Village of Bedford Park• Village of Maywood• Village of South Barrington• City of Berwyn• Village of La Grange• Village of Northbrook• Village of Indian Head Park• Village of Homewood• City of Rolling Meadows• Village of Melrose Park• Village of Streamwood• City of Burbank• Village of Chicago Ridge• City of Palos Hills• Village of Morton Grove• Village of Broadview• City of Hickory Hills• Village of Crestwood• Village of Golf• Village of Berkeley• Village of Wilmette• Village of Oak Park• Village Of Richton Park• Village Of Hillside• Village Of Orland Hills• Village Of Mt Prospect• City of Harvey• Village Of Hazel Crest• Village Of La Grange Park• Village Of Olympia Fields• Village Of Inverness• Village Of Glencoe• City of Evanston• Village Of Hodgkins• Village Of North Riverside• City of Hometown• City of Countryside• Village Of Burnham• City of Markham• Village Of Rosemont
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