In 2023, the population of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area in the United States was about 9.26 million people. This was a slight decrease from the previous year, which was about 9.27 million.

Graph and download economic data for Resident Population in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (MSA) (CHIPOP) from 2000 to 2022 about Chicago, WI, IN, IL, residents, population, and USA.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Chicago metro area from 1950 to 2025.

In 2023, the metropolitan area of New York-Newark-Jersey City had the biggest population in the United States. Based on annual estimates from the census, the metropolitan area had around 19.5 million inhabitants, which was a slight decrease from the previous year. The Los Angeles and Chicago metro areas rounded out the top three. What is a metropolitan statistical area? In general, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a core urbanized area with a population of at least 50,000 inhabitants – the smallest MSA is Carson City, with an estimated population of nearly 56,000. The urban area is made bigger by adjacent communities that are socially and economically linked to the center. MSAs are particularly helpful in tracking demographic change over time in large communities and allow officials to see where the largest pockets of inhabitants are in the country. How many MSAs are in the United States? There were 421 metropolitan statistical areas across the U.S. as of July 2021. The largest city in each MSA is designated the principal city and will be the first name in the title. An additional two cities can be added to the title, and these will be listed in population order based on the most recent census. So, in the example of New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York has the highest population, while Jersey City has the lowest. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts an official population count every ten years, and the new count is expected to be announced by the end of 2030.

Population totals for groupings commonly used in other datasets. Not all values are available for all years. Note that because the "Citywide" rows roll up the values from the individual ZIP Codes and the "Age 0-4," "Age 5-11," "Age 12-17," "Age 5+," "Age 18+," and "Age 65+" columns overlap other age categories, as well as each other in some cases, care should be taken in summing values to avoid accidental double-counting. The "Age 5-11" and "Age 12-17" columns only include children who live in households. Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (ZIP Code) and 1-year estimates (Citywide). The U.S. Census Bureau did not release standard 1-year estimates from the 2020 ACS. In 2020 only, 5-year estimates were used for the Citywide estimates.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployed Persons in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (MSA) (LAUMT171698000000004) from Jan 1990 to Aug 2025 about Chicago, WI, IN, IL, household survey, persons, unemployment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Employed Persons in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (MSA) (LAUMT171698000000005) from Jan 1990 to Aug 2025 about Chicago, WI, IN, IL, household survey, persons, employment, and USA.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the population of Chicago by gender, including both male and female populations. This dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of Chicago across both sexes and to determine which sex constitutes the majority.

Key observations

There is a slight majority of female population, with 51.46% of total population being female. Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Scope of gender :

Please note that American Community Survey asks a question about the respondents current sex, but not about gender, sexual orientation, or sex at birth. The question is intended to capture data for biological sex, not gender. Respondents are supposed to respond with the answer as either of Male or Female. Our research and this dataset mirrors the data reported as Male and Female for gender distribution analysis. No further analysis is done on the data reported from the Census Bureau.

Variables / Data Columns

• Gender: This column displays the Gender (Male / Female)
• Population: The population of the gender in the Chicago is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each gender as a proportion of Chicago total population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Chicago Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

Graph and download economic data for Civilian Labor Force in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (MSA) (LAUMT171698000000006A) from 1990 to 2024 about Chicago, WI, IN, IL, civilian, labor force, labor, household survey, and USA.

Comprehensive demographic dataset for Chicago, IL, US including population statistics, household income, housing units, education levels, employment data, and transportation with year-over-year changes.

This statistic shows the population of Chicago, IL in 2023, by age and sex. There were ****** male and ****** female residents under the age of five living in Chicago in 2023.

Selected variables from the most recent 5 year ACS Community Survey (Released 2023) aggregated by Ward. Additional years will be added as they become available. The underlying algorithm to create the dataset calculates the percent of a census tract that falls within the boundaries of a given ward. Given that census tracts and ward boundaries are not aligned, these figures should be considered an estimate. Total Population in this Dataset: 2,649,803 Total Population of Chicago reported by ACS 2023: 2,664,452 % Difference: %-0.55 There are different approaches in common use for displaying Hispanic or Latino population counts. In this dataset, following the approach taken by the Census Bureau, a person who identifies as Hispanic or Latino will also be counted in the race category with which they identify. However, again following the Census Bureau data, there is also a column for White Not Hispanic or Latino. The City of Chicago is actively soliciting community input on how best to represent race, ethnicity, and related concepts in its data and policy. Every dataset, including this one, has a "Contact dataset owner" link in the Actions menu. You can use it to offer any input you wish to share or to indicate if you would be interested in participating in live discussions the City may host. Code can be found here: https://github.com/Chicago/5-Year-ACS-Survey-Data Ward Shapefile: https://data.cityofchicago.org/Facilities-Geographic-Boundaries/Boundaries-Wards-2023-Map/cdf7-bgn3 Census Area Python Package Documentation: https://census-area.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the population of Chicago by race. It includes the population of Chicago across racial categories (excluding ethnicity) as identified by the Census Bureau. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of Chicago across relevant racial categories.

Key observations

The percent distribution of Chicago population by race (across all racial categories recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau): 42.41% are white, 28.81% are Black or African American, 0.73% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 7.01% are Asian, 0.05% are Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 11.30% are some other race and 9.70% are multiracial.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates.

Racial categories include:

• White
• Black or African American
• American Indian and Alaska Native
• Asian
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• Some other race
• Two or more races (multiracial)

Variables / Data Columns

• Race: This column displays the racial categories (excluding ethnicity) for the Chicago
• Population: The population of the racial category (excluding ethnicity) in the Chicago is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each race as a proportion of Chicago total population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Chicago Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

How many incorporated places are registered in the U.S.?

There were 19,502 incorporated places registered in the United States as of July 31, 2019. 16,410 had a population under 10,000 while, in contrast, only 10 cities had a population of one million or more.

Small-town America

Suffice it to say, almost nothing is more idealized in the American imagination than small-town America. When asked where they would prefer to live, 30 percent of Americans reported that they would prefer to live in a small town. Americans tend to prefer small-town living due to a perceived slower pace of life, close-knit communities, and a more affordable cost of living when compared to large cities.

An increasing population

Despite a preference for small-town life, metropolitan areas in the U.S. still see high population figures, with the New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago metro areas being the most populous in the country. Metro and state populations are projected to increase by 2040, so while some may move to small towns to escape city living, those small towns may become more crowded in the upcoming decades.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the New Chicago population over the last 20 plus years. It lists the population for each year, along with the year on year change in population, as well as the change in percentage terms for each year. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population change of New Chicago across the last two decades. For example, using this dataset, we can identify if the population is declining or increasing. If there is a change, when the population peaked, or if it is still growing and has not reached its peak. We can also compare the trend with the overall trend of United States population over the same period of time.

Key observations

In 2023, the population of New Chicago was 1,961, a 0.46% decrease year-by-year from 2022. Previously, in 2022, New Chicago population was 1,970, a decline of 0.66% compared to a population of 1,983 in 2021. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2023, population of New Chicago decreased by 70. In this period, the peak population was 2,044 in the year 2001. The numbers suggest that the population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Data Coverage:

• From 2000 to 2023

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2023)
• Population: The population for the specific year for the New Chicago is shown in this column.
• Year on Year Change: This column displays the change in New Chicago population for each year compared to the previous year.
• Change in Percent: This column displays the year on year change as a percentage. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for New Chicago Population by Year. You can refer the same here

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (MSA) (LAUMT171698000000003A) from 1990 to 2024 about Chicago, WI, IN, IL, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

A dataset listing Illinois cities by population for 2024.

In terms of population size, the sex ratio in the United States favors females, although the gender gap is remaining stable. In 2010, there were around 5.17 million more women, with the difference projected to decrease to around 3 million by 2027.

Gender ratios by U.S. state In the United States, the resident population was estimated to be around 331.89 million in 2021. The gender distribution of the nation has remained steady for several years, with women accounting for approximately 51.1 percent of the population since 2013. Females outnumbered males in the majority of states across the country in 2020, and there were eleven states where the gender ratio favored men.

Metro areas by population National differences between male and female populations can also be analyzed by metropolitan areas. In general, a metropolitan area is a region with a main city at its center and adjacent communities that are all connected by social and economic factors. The largest metro areas in the U.S. are New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. In 2019, there were more women than men in all three of those areas, but Jackson, Missouri was the metro area with the highest share of female population.

Separate tables for the last ten years of Community Data Snapshot releases (2015-2025) are provided for three geographic levels:The seven counties in the CMAP region (with regional total)The 284 municipalities in the CMAP regionThe 77 Chicago community areas (CCAs) There is limited geographic availability (particularly at the CCA level) for some variables. Additional information on availability and data sources are found in the CDS Data Dictionary. Looking to match human-friendly labels to field names? Use the CDS Data Dictionary Crosswalk.When using multiple releases of the snapshots, please don’t compare overlapping ACS 5-Year Estimates. The Census Bureau provides specific guidance for when it is appropriate to compare ACS data across time. CMAP uses the most recently available 5-Year Estimates, which are usually available on a two year lag:CDS release yearACS 5-Year Estimates data vintageCompare to previous CDS release year20252019-20232020, 201520242018-2022201920232017-2021201820222016-2020201720212015-2019201620202014-2018201520192013-2017 20182012-2016 20172011-2015 20162010-2014 20152009-2013 NOTE: Much of the data is from five-year American Community Survey, which is a sample-based data product. This means users must exercise caution when interpreting data from low-population municipalities, as the margins of error are often large compared to the estimate. Not sure which municipality or Chicago community area you want? Explore a community's data in the interactive dashboard.Are you looking for the PDF versions? Find and download the print-friendly Community Data Snapshots from the agency website.

There are three components of change: births, deaths, and migration. The change in the population from births and deaths is often combined and referred to as natural increase or natural change. Populations grow or shrink depending on if they gain people faster than they lose them. Looking at an area’s unique combination of natural change and migration helps us understand why its population is changing, and how quickly the change is occurring.Natural IncreaseNatural change is the difference between births and deaths in a population. Often times, natural change is positive, which means that more babies are being born than people are dying. This positive natural change is referred to as natural increase. Examples of natural increase exist across the United States, one being the Salt Lake City metro area in Utah. Between 2014 and 2015, Salt Lake City had around 19,100 births and 6,400 deaths. Since there were about 12,700 more births than deaths, Salt Lake City had a natural increase of about 12,700 people, making natural increase a key reason why its population grew over the year.The opposite of natural increase is called natural decrease, where more people are dying than babies being born, which can cause a population to shrink. Areas with aging populations often have natural decrease. Two states had natural decrease between 2014 and 2015, Maine and West Virginia. Between 2014 and 2015, Maine had 450 more deaths than births and West Virginia had 940 more deaths than births. In both cases, natural decrease was one of the reasons why their populations shrank between 2014 and 2015 in our latest estimates.MigrationMigration is the movement of people from one area to another. It is often expressed as net migration, which is the difference between how many people move into and out of an area. When net migration is positive, a population has more people moving in than out. We split migration into domestic migration and international migration.Domestic migration refers to people moving between areas within the United States, and is often one of the largest contributors to population change. Regionally, the South gains the most net domestic migrants, with roughly 440,000 more people moving into southern states than leaving them between 2014 and 2015. Sometimes net domestic migration is negative, in which case more people are moving away than are moving in. The Chicago metro area in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin lost about 80,000 people through migration between 2014 and 2015, which is consistent with a long-standing pattern of negative net domestic migration for the metro area.International migration refers to people moving into and out of the United States, and consists of a diverse group of people such as foreign-born immigrants from many countries around the world, members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and U.S. citizens working abroad. Some areas, like the Miami metro area in Florida, grow (in part) due to net international migration. Miami gained about 70,000 net international migrants between 2014 and 2015, making net international migration a major factor in Miami’s population growth.