Census: Metro-east population has dropped slightly since 2010

The metro-east has lost population for the fifth year in a row, U.S. Census Bureau estimates show.

According to the bureau’s new numbers, which were released on Thursday, the metro-east has gone from a population of 661,815 in 2010 to 651,728 in 2015, for a drop of 1.52 percent.

Bond County experienced a 4.63 percent population loss, the largest percentage in the metro-east. Monroe County was the only one that saw gains. It added 868 people over the past five years for a change of 2.63 percent.

The Census Bureau takes a decennial survey of the United States every 10 years and periodically releases updated estimates based on administrative documents such as tax forms and birth and death records.

Metro-east’s population loss from 2010 to 2015 is a result of emigration, the data show.

Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties all experienced more births than deaths last year. Randolph County, on the other hand, had 105 more deaths than births.

However, just over 19,000 Illinoisans have left the area since 2010, including 11,980 St. Clair County residents and 5,983 Madison County residents.

During the same five-year period, the metro-east has seen 2,268 people from other countries move in, including 188 to Madison County and 265 to St. Clair County.

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 11:41 AM with the headline "Census: Metro-east population has dropped slightly since 2010."