At a glance: Illinois Illinois is the 6th most populous state in the U.S., with 12,710,158 residents across its 57,914 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 15 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Illinois is known for its diverse economy, built on professional services, agribusiness and food processing, advanced manufacturing, energy, life sciences and transportation and logistics. Energy Illinois ranks No. 11 among states for most energy production, with its leading production sources being nuclear, coal and noncombustible renewables, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Illinois ranks No. 24 for most energy consumption. The leading energy sources consumed by Illinoisans is natural gas, nuclear, and coal. Illinoisans’ residential electricity rate is $0.166/kWh, more expensive than the national average. Commercial electricity rate is slightly cheaper; Illinois commercial users pay a rate of $0.1124/kWh, compared to the national average commercial rate of $0.1259/kWh. Industrial users pay $0.0820/kWh, just above the national average industrial electricity rate of $0.0804/kWh. Illinoisans’ residential natural gas price is $11.57 per thousand cubic feet, below the national average of $14.75, according to the most recently available data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Environment Annual carbon emissions decreased 26 percent since 1970, while the state’s population increased 25 percent during the same span. The population is projected to decrease 9 percent, to 11.6 million residents, by 2050. The federal government lists 34 species in Illinois as threatened or endangered.
