Illinois Had Largest Population Drop This Year: Census Bureau

Illinois is no longer the fifth most-populated state, after losing tens of thousands of residents in a one-year period. U.S. Census Bureau data released Wednesday revealed that the Prairie State lost 33,703 residents between July 2016 and July 2017, slipping down a notch among the most-populated states. The drop puts Illinois at No. 5 just behind Pennsylvania, which saw an increase in population this year after a few years of decline.

According to the Census Bureau, Illinois' current population is 12,802,023, which is about 3,500 people fewer than Pennsylvania. The Land of Lincoln had the largest numeric decline, but with such a large population, it amounted to a change of just .72 percent. Wyoming, on the other hand, had the largest percentage decline at 1 percent.

Chicago's Incredible Shrinking Population: City Loses Residents For 3rd Consecutive Year

Nationwide, the population grew by 2.3 million people over the one-year period, to a total of 325.7 million. The study found that Idaho is the fastest-growing U.S. state.

The 10 most-populated states, according to the Census Bureau, are:

1. California
2. Texas
3. Florida
4. New York
5. Pennsylvania
6. Illinois
7. Ohio
8. Georgia
9. North Carolina
10. Michigan

    [Source: U.S. Census Bureau]

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast