New U.S. Census Bureau data show that the Chicago area's population has fallen for a fourth straight year.
Data released Thursday show that the Chicago metropolitan area lost an estimated 22,068 residents from 2017 to 2018, but remains home to nearly 9.5 million people.
The decline continues a statewide trend that could threaten future federal funding, economic prosperity and political representation for those left behind, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Although New York and Los Angeles' population also shrank, the Chicago region saw bigger drops in both total numbers and percent change. The Chicago area lost 0.23% of its population, more than twice New York's 0.10%.
The Census Bureau defines the Chicago metro area as stretching from Cook County to its suburbs and into parts of southeast Wisconsin and northwest Indiana.
