Census undercounted Illinois population in 2020

Illinois officials said the U.S. Census Bureau omitted nearly 47,000 people when counting the state’s population in 2020, showing the state actually gained residents instead of losing them following a state-requested recount.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) announced in a press release on Wednesday that the Census Bureau approved the state’s request to have 46,400 people included in future population estimates after the bureau found it missed or undercounted 733 “Group Quarters,” with the majority of the omitted people coming from care homes or senior living facilities.

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“The 2020 Census officially omitted over 45,000 residents of our state,” Pritzker said in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter. “I’m pleased the Census Bureau approved the correction for future estimates, bringing in millions in additional fed funding. In fact, we’ve gained population in the prior decade contrary to reported declines.”

Originally, the census reported that Illinois lost just over 18,000 residents between 2010 and 2020, or approximately 0.1% of its population. The state filed a recount request in September, and it was granted this week. While the recounted individuals will not be added to the 2020 census numbers, they will be counted toward future censuses and affect how year-to-year calculations are projected, subsequently handing the state additional federal funding.

The recount found that 733 group quarters were omitted or undercounted, amounting to 46,400 people. Of the 46,400 people, 40,512 were identified as residing in group care homes or senior living facilities. The state identified 123 dormitory settings that were also missed, counting for an additional 5,888 people.

Illinois’s recount comes as several cities in the state have requested a special second census count in 2024. While most cities do not believe their original counts were inaccurate, officials say their populations have been growing at such a rapid rate over the last three years that they believe they are missing out on opportunities to grow the cities’ commercial bases.

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Unlike the 2020 census, the 2024 census will not factor into any redistricting or determine how many congressional seats each state receives. Instead, the population size will determine how much the communities will receive in state funding.

The state’s press release on the recount said these updated numbers will help decide how to distribute the $675 billion in state and federal programs.