The state's black population has dwindled. Of the state's 12.8 million residents, 14.3% are black, down from 14.9% in 2000. Hispanics comprise 15.8% of Illinois' population. In 2000, Hispanic residents were 12.3% of the population.
Since 2000, the Hispanic population has grown by 497,316 to 2.03 million, a trend that could portend shifts in political clout. Over the same time span, the black population fell by 23,228 to 1.83 million.
