Cook County sees second-most decline in population among all U.S. counties

Cook County has lost residents by the tens of thousands, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's latest estimates.

The county lost 68,000 people between July 2021 and July 2022, the second-greatest decline among all U.S. counties during that period, behind only Los Angeles County, which lost 91,000, according to estimates released on Thursday.

The county retained its status as second-most populous (5,110,000) after Los Angeles County (9,720,000), but the 1.3% decline in population was a sharper blow than the 0.9% drop in Los Angeles.

The estimates were drawn from the base population plus net migration, births and deaths.

Cook County's decline, however, is not as sharp as last year's (1.6%), thanks largely to international migration, according to demographers with the Census Bureau. An influx of about 18,000 immigrants helped to offset an estimated 94,000 residents lost via domestic migration.

The number of immigrants is the highest seen in Cook County since roughly 2011, according to demographer Kristie Wilder.

• This report was produced in partnership with the Chicago Sun-Times. For more coverage, check chicago.suntimes.com.