I noted yesterday that Illinois has lost net population, with losses growing at an alarming rate over the last three years.
Illinois lost more people than any other state during that three-year period from July 2013 to July 2016. West Virginia, whose coal industry is reeling from federal regulations and low natural gas prices, lost more population in terms of percent change. (These are the only two states that have lost net population since 2010.)
America’s population center of gravity appears to be, on the whole, shifting south and west in search of warmer climes and/or better governance. Mouse over each state to see details.
A state that shrinks — or even that just fails to grow as much as other states — is bound to lose seats in the U.S. House after the next U.S. Census in 2020.
