2,638,159
Chicago is a city located in Cook County and DuPage County Illinois. Chicago has a 2024 population of 2,638,159. It is also the county seat of Cook County. Chicago is currently declining at a rate of -0.99% annually and its population has decreased by -3.83% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 2,743,329 in 2020.
The average household income in Chicago is $108,346 with a poverty rate of 16.93%. The median age in Chicago is 35.3 years: 34.7 years for males, and 35.9 years for females.
The latest estimate for the population of Chicago, Illinois comes from the US Census Bureau. They confirmed that, in July 2011, there were 2,707,120 people living in the city of Chicago. The population has been estimated to be approximately 2,679,080, with slow growth and declines attributed to violence, tax increases and issues with schools.
This estimate is based on extrapolating the 2010 census data, which reported that the city was home to 2,695,598 people. The 2010 census showed a dramatic drop of almost 7% over the previous ten years, so if the Census Bureau's 2011 figures are correct, they would appear to show Chicago tentatively entering a new period of growth.
The 2016 estimated population of 2.7 million makes Chicago the third largest city in the United States, behind New York City (8.55 million) and Los Angeles (3.97 million). Chicago is by far the largest city in Illinois, with the next largest city, Aurora, being under 200,000 people.
Population of the Chicago Metropolitan Area
Today, Chicago the city makes up only just over a quarter of the wider Chicago-Joliet-Naperville Metropolitan Area's population. According to data from the 2010 census, the CJN Metro Area is home to an impressive 9,504,753 people. In 2016, this number is estimated to be around 9,554,598. Like the city of Chicago, the CJN Metro Area is also the third largest in the US, behind New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island (20.18 million) and the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana (13.34 million) metro areas.
As the population of Chicago itself has gradually fallen, the population of its wider metro area has grown, representing both natural growth in those areas and a gradual move of the city's workforce into its suburbs. Like Chicago itself, the northern suburbs are relatively more affluent than its southern suburbs.
Chicago Diversity
The city's white population is found primarily in the Northern part of the city, and its black community in the Southern part of the city (as can be seen from this map, in which red dots represent Whites, blue dots represent Blacks and orange dots represent Hispanics.) The geographical distribution of race in Chicago is mostly a result of Chicago's historically racist housing allocation policy, which forced its black population into the cheaper Chicago South Side.
Looking back into historical data also shows some interesting trends – non-Hispanic whites made up 59% of the residents of Chicago in 1970, falling to just 31.7% in 2010 – which indicates that many of the people leaving the city over the past few decades for the suburbs have been from among its relatively more affluent white population.
Chicago Census 2010 - further reading
The best source for official data about Chicago from the 2010 census is, of course, the official census website. The census.gov Chicago quick facts page contains not only high-level data on Chicago's population, but also more detailed statistics on the average income in Chicago, the city's age distribution, its businesses, and other important facts.
You can also find some interesting data, including some useful Chicago population maps at the University of Chicago library website and a great news portal covering the 2010 census as it applied to the Windy City at the Chicago Tribune newspaper.
Finally, just as a word of caution to indicate that published statistics aren't always the final word, this article in the Chicago Tribune reports that Mayor Rahm Emanuel is challenging the results of the 2010 census. He believes that the census undercounted the city's population by around 200,000 people. Why is this so important to him? Because millions of dollars of federal subsidies, which are allocated based on relative population, are at stake.
Just around 200 settlers founded the town of Chicago in 1833, and almost immediately this small town on the US frontier became a boom town. Seven years later, the census came to town for the first time and recorded a healthy population of 4,000. Every ten years the census came, and almost every time it registered that the city's population had doubled or more. By the time the 1890 census rolled around, over a million people were living in Chicago, America's second largest city.
Growth, fueled by wave after wave of immigration; continued right up until 1950, where Chicago reached its highest ever population of 3,620,962.
Ever since then, Chicago has, like so many of America's grand cities, been in decline. Almost every census since 1960 has recorded a drop in population – sometimes as much as 10% in a decade – as the city's population gradually moves outwards to the more hospitable surrounding suburbs.
Chicago Demographics
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Chicago was:
- White: 42.41%
- Black or African American: 28.81%
- Other race: 11.3%
- Two or more races: 9.7%
- Asian: 7.01%
- Native American: 0.73%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.05%
State
Illinois
County
Cook County
DuPage County
Land Area (mi²)
227.7
sq mi
Density (mi²)
11,583.70
/sq mi
Growth Since 2020
-3.83% (
-105,170
)
The current population of Chicago, Illinois is 2,638,159 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates (released May 2024). The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 2,743,329.
Population by Race
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 1,154,279 | 42.41% |
Black or African American | 784,078 | 28.81% |
Other race | 307,614 | 11.3% |
Two or more races | 263,927 | 9.7% |
Asian | 190,801 | 7.01% |
Native American | 19,806 | 0.73% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 1,409 | 0.05% |
White
Black or African American
Other race
Two or more races
Asian
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Chicago Population by Race
Chicago Population Pyramid 2024
Chicago Median Age
35.3
Total
34.7
Male
35.9
Female
Chicago Adults
There are 2,178,503 adults, (361,148 of whom are seniors) in Chicago.
Chicago Age Dependency
49.8
Age Dependency Ratio
19.9
Old Age Dependency Ratio
29.9
Child Dependency Ratio
Chicago Sex Ratio
Female | 1,394,215 | 51.22% |
Male | 1,327,699 | 48.78% |
Chicago Population by Age
Chicago Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 1,129,908 | 2.36 | 45.6 | 54.4 |
Non Family | 551,984 | 1.27 | 32.5 | 67.5 |
Married | 357,408 | 3.36 | 69.5 | 30.5 |
Female | 163,786 | 3.49 | 37.9 | 62.1 |
Male | 56,730 | 3.38 | 44.6 | 55.4 |
3.3
Average Family Size
2.36
Average Household Size
45.6%
Rate of Home Ownership
Chicago Households and Families
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 124,369 | 6.51% |
Associates Degree | 111,805 | 5.85% |
Bachelors Degree | 466,629 | 24.41% |
Graduate Degree | 344,395 | 18.02% |
High School Graduate | 414,395 | 21.68% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 130,881 | 6.85% |
Some College | 318,856 | 16.68% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
Chicago Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)
Chicago Educational Attainment by Race
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 704,193 | 676,318 | 472,071 |
Black | 538,132 | 466,847 | 129,882 |
Hispanic | 486,379 | 349,720 | 94,416 |
Other Race | 190,763 | 128,046 | 30,104 |
2+ Races | 160,192 | 129,162 | 51,120 |
Asian | 143,313 | 126,203 | 92,208 |
Native American | 12,702 | 8,926 | 2,636 |
Islander | 975 | 823 | 228 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 96.04%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 67.04%.
Chicago Educational Attainment by Race
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $72,194 | $80,955 | $65,468 |
Graduate Degree | $88,557 | $102,575 | $79,765 |
High School Graduate | $33,665 | $38,154 | $28,156 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $30,143 | $34,021 | $24,295 |
Overall | $53,101 | $57,531 | $48,167 |
Some College | $40,457 | $46,601 | $35,337 |
$53,101
Average Earnings
$57,531
Average Male
$48,167
Average Female
Chicago Earnings by Educational Attainment
Chicago Language by Age
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
Chicago Language
64.79% of Chicago residents speak only English, while 35.21% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 23.52% of the population.
Chicago Language
Chicago Poverty by Race
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
Black | 767,055 | 212,672 | 27.73% |
Hispanic | 779,787 | 125,275 | 16.07% |
White | 871,228 | 74,218 | 8.52% |
Other | 305,421 | 55,863 | 18.29% |
Multiple | 261,210 | 36,030 | 13.79% |
Asian | 186,933 | 30,396 | 16.26% |
Native | 19,609 | 2,316 | 11.81% |
Islander | 1,376 | 331 | 24.06% |
16.93%
Overall Poverty Rate
15.25%
Male Poverty Rate
18.51%
Female Poverty Rate
Poverty in Chicago
The race most likely to be in poverty in Chicago is Black, with 27.73% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Chicago is White, with 8.52% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.43%. Among those working part-time, it was 20.03%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 31.17%.
Chicago Poverty
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 27.03% |
High School | 19.91% |
Some College | 15.5% |
Bachelors or Greater | 6.2% |
Chicago Poverty Rate by Education
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 38.19% |
Male Unemployed | 30.41% |
Female Employed | 7.84% |
Male Employed | 5.53% |
Chicago Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex
Chicago Income by Household Type
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $87,343 | $131,706 |
Households | $71,673 | $108,346 |
Married Families | $121,687 | $171,157 |
Non Families | $55,106 | $80,686 |
mean
median
Income by Household Type
Chicago Marital Status
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Marriage Rates
35.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
37.6%
Male Marriage Rate
33.7%
Female Marriage Rate
Chicago Married by Age and Sex
male
female
Chicago Marriage
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Chicago Marital Status by Race
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Chicago Marital Status
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
63,690
Number of Veterans
57,036
Male Veterans
6,654
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 19,812 |
Second Gulf War | 15,077 |
First Gulf War | 11,951 |
Korea | 3,651 |
World War II | 1,241 |
Chicago Veterans by War
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
35 to 54 | 15,597 |
65 to 74 | 15,182 |
75+ | 14,886 |
55 to 64 | 12,138 |
18 to 34 | 5,887 |
Chicago Veterans by Age
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
Black | 28,579 | 4.67% |
White | 25,125 | 2.59% |
Hispanic | 10,116 | 1.75% |
2+ Races | 4,631 | 2.46% |
Other Race | 3,366 | 1.47% |
Asian | 1,543 | 0.95% |
Native American | 391 | 2.62% |
Islander | 55 | 4.92% |
Chicago Veterans by Race
Chicago Veterans by Education
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
11.71%
Veteran Poverty Rate
29.97%
Veteran Disability Rate
Chicago Veterans by Education
LaborForceParticipation
67.3%
Labor Force Participation
61.7%
Employment Rate
8.2%
Unemployment Rate
Chicago Employment by Age
LaborForceParticipation
Chicago Employment by Race
LaborForceParticipation
Chicago Employment by Education
Origin of Non-Citizens
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Origin of Naturalized Citizens
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
59.21%
Born in Chicago
79.76%
Native Born
20.24%
Foreign Born
10.41%
Non Citizen
9.83%
Naturalized
Place of Birth
79.76% of Chicago residents were born in the United States, with 59.21% having been born in Illinois. 10.41% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Chicago Place of Birth
Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 2,506,697 | -26,293 | -1.04% |
2028 | 2,532,990 | -26,292 | -1.03% |
2027 | 2,559,282 | -26,292 | -1.02% |
2026 | 2,585,574 | -26,293 | -1.01% |
2025 | 2,611,867 | -26,292 | -1% |
2024 | 2,638,159 | -26,293 | -0.99% |
2023 | 2,664,452 | -8,208 | -0.31% |
2022 | 2,672,660 | -31,441 | -1.16% |
2021 | 2,704,101 | -39,228 | -1.43% |
2020 | 2,743,329 | 51,832 | 1.93% |
2019 | 2,691,497 | -9,471 | -0.35% |
2018 | 2,700,968 | -9,488 | -0.35% |
2017 | 2,710,456 | -5,841 | -0.22% |
2016 | 2,716,297 | -7,709 | -0.28% |
2015 | 2,724,006 | -2,794 | -0.1% |
2014 | 2,726,800 | 1,225 | 0.04% |
2013 | 2,725,575 | 6,536 | 0.24% |
2012 | 2,719,039 | 10,972 | 0.41% |
2011 | 2,708,067 | 10,587 | 0.39% |
2010 | 2,697,480 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 2,896,016 | 112,290 | 4.03% |
1990 | 2,783,726 | -221,346 | -7.37% |
1980 | 3,005,072 | -364,285 | -10.81% |
1970 | 3,369,357 | -181,047 | -5.1% |
1960 | 3,550,404 | -70,558 | -1.95% |
1950 | 3,620,962 | 224,154 | 6.6% |
1940 | 3,396,808 | 20,370 | 0.6% |
1930 | 3,376,438 | 674,733 | 24.97% |
1920 | 2,701,705 | 516,422 | 23.63% |
1910 | 2,185,283 | 486,708 | 28.65% |
1900 | 1,698,575 | 598,725 | 54.44% |
1890 | 1,099,850 | 596,665 | 118.58% |
1880 | 503,185 | 204,208 | 68.3% |
1870 | 298,977 | 186,805 | 166.53% |
1860 | 112,172 | 82,209 | 274.37% |
1850 | 29,963 | 25,493 | 570.31% |
1840 | 4,470 | -2,502,227 | -99.82% |