1st most populous of 102
With 5,182,617 residents in 2024, Cook County ranks 1st by population among Illinois's 102 counties and is home to 40.8% of the state's residents.
Cook County is home to 5,182,617 people (2024 estimate) on 945 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
5,182,617
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
5,278,969
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−1.8%
2020–2024
Land area
945 mi²
2,447 km²
Population density
5,484.7 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
51,412
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
41,953
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+9,459
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+30,570
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$79,964
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$546.4 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$83,498
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
13.5%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
42.7%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
21.7%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$324,500
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
5.3%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–20245,182,617▼ 4%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 5,182,617 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 5,194,675 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 5,373,418 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | −3.6% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +67,763 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −37,193 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 9.9 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 8.1 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Illinois | 1st of 102 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $79,964 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $546.4 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $83,498 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 42.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 21.7% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $324,500 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,435/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 38.0 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 2,100,230 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 57.7% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Cook County in context
Comparable indicators for Cook County, Illinois and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Illinois | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | −1.8% | −0.9% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 9.9 | 9.9 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 8.1 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 5.9 | 4.5 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 5484.7 | 229.0 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $79,964 | $74,522 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $83,498 | $83,390 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | 11.8% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 42.7% | 37.8% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 21.7% | 14.7% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $324,500 | $263,300 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,435/month | $1,274/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 38.0 years | 39.0 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 57.7% | 67.1% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
15 cities · choose how to order them
Chicago
2,721,308 residents
Cicero
82,090 residents
Schaumburg
77,099 residents
Evanston
76,006 residents
Arlington Heights
75,596 residents
Palatine
65,951 residents
Skokie
65,850 residents
Des Plaines
58,832 residents
Orland Park
58,020 residents
Oak Lawn
56,531 residents
Mount Prospect
55,460 residents
Berwyn
55,152 residents
Did you know? Cook County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 5,373,418 in 2000 to 5,182,617 in 2024, a change of −3.6%, compared with +2.2% for Illinois as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 51,412 births and 41,953 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 9,459.
Peak population in 2000
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 5,373,418 in 2000. The 2024 figure is 190,801 lower.
1st in density
Cook County has about 5484.7 residents per square mile of land, ranking 1st of 102 counties; Illinois averages 229.0.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $83,498 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 14th of 102 Illinois counties; the state median is $83,390.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $546.4 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 1st largest among 102 Illinois counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 1.3% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS