U.S. Census Bureau estimates say the majority of municipalities in the Chicago region, including the city itself, lost population last year.
The yearly estimates released this week show that Chicago remains the nation's third-largest city with just over 2.7 million residents, down an estimated 7,073 from 2017 to 2018.
Christine Percheski, an associate professor of sociology at Northwestern University, tells the Chicago Tribune that while it is significant to note that Chicago is losing people, "this does not necessarily reflect the health or the functioning of the city."
The new estimates show that most municipalities in northeastern Illinois aren't adding residents.
The newspaper reported more than three-fourths lost population in the last year.
Far northwest suburban municipalities such as Huntley and the village of Pingree Grove are among those growing.
Last last year, U.S. Census Bureau estimates showed Illinois' population shrunk by more than 45,000 over the previous 12 months ending July 1.
Those estimates showed the loss was more than any other state except New York, which lost more than 48,000. They were among nine states losing population during the 12 months.
Census Bureau demographer Sandra Johnson said in a statement that "many states have seen fewer births and more deaths in recent years. If those states are not gaining from either domestic or international migration they will experience either low population growth or outright decline."
The estimates have Illinois remaining as the sixth most populous state with more than 12.74 million residents, behind California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania.
