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Chicago population

Chicago, Illinois had an estimated 2,731,585 residents on July 1, 2025, the 3rd-largest city in the US. That is up 1.3% since the 2010 Census and down 5.7% since 2000.

ChicagoIllinoisPop. 2,731,585
Population, July 2025
2,731,585-0.6% since April 2020
People per sq mile
11,994227.7 sq mi of land
Median age
35.813.8% are 65 or older
Households with kids
23.3%with anyone under 18

Population by year, 2000 to 2025

2.20M2.37M2.55M2.72M2.90M2000: 2,895,96620002001: 2,874,4772002: 2,847,26620022003: 2,819,1172004: 2,786,29120042005: 2,752,5232006: 2,720,18120062007: 2,703,9912008: 2,697,35920082009: 2,697,0062010: 2,695,59820102011: 2,708,0672012: 2,719,03920122013: 2,725,5752014: 2,726,80020142015: 2,724,0062016: 2,716,29720162017: 2,710,4562018: 2,700,96820182019: 2,691,4972020: 2,748,33320202021: 2,705,9342022: 2,680,60920222023: 2,698,7582024: 2,726,33220242025: 2,731,5852025
Darker bars are the April 2000, 2010 and 2020 benchmarks; the rest are July 1 estimates. Source: US Census Bureau population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020 and Vintage 2025).
YearPopulationChangeBasis
20252,731,585+5,253Estimate, July 1
20242,726,332+27,574Estimate, July 1
20232,698,758+18,149Estimate, July 1
20222,680,609-25,325Estimate, July 1
20212,705,934-42,399Estimate, July 1
20202,748,333+56,836April 2020 estimates base
20192,691,497-9,471Estimate, July 1
20182,700,968-9,488Estimate, July 1
20172,710,456-5,841Estimate, July 1
20162,716,297-7,709Estimate, July 1
20152,724,006-2,794Estimate, July 1
20142,726,800+1,225Estimate, July 1
20132,725,575+6,536Estimate, July 1
20122,719,039+10,972Estimate, July 1
20112,708,067+12,469Estimate, July 1
20102,695,598-1,4082010 Census (April 1)
20092,697,006-353Estimate, July 1
20082,697,359-6,632Estimate, July 1
20072,703,991-16,190Estimate, July 1
20062,720,181-32,342Estimate, July 1
20052,752,523-33,768Estimate, July 1
20042,786,291-32,826Estimate, July 1
20032,819,117-28,149Estimate, July 1
20022,847,266-27,211Estimate, July 1
20012,874,477-21,489Estimate, July 1
20002,895,966April 2000 estimates base

Year-to-year changes across 2010 and 2020 mix census counts with estimates, so small jumps at those years are partly method changes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Chicago in 2025?

The Census Bureau estimates Chicago had 2,731,585 residents on July 1, 2025, making it the 3rd-largest city in the US.

Is Chicago growing?

Yes. Chicago has grown 1.3% since the 2010 Census (2,695,598 people), and shrunk 0.6% since 2020.

What was the population of Chicago in 2000?

About 2,895,966 (the Census Bureau's April 2000 estimates base). By the 2010 Census it was 2,695,598.

How dense is Chicago?

Chicago has about 11,994 people per square mile of land (227.7 square miles).

More about Chicago

See cost of living, jobs and commutes in Chicago, Chicago weather by month, or every Chicago ZIP code. For the biggest cities in the country, see the largest US cities.