Northwest Indiana
Four counties in the northwest corner of the state (Lake, Porter, Jasper and Newton) form the Lake County-Porter County-Jasper County Division.* As of 2024, the region had a population of 726,333.
* Metropolitan statistical areas are defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Highly populated MSAs (in this case, the Chicago region) can be subdivided into smaller metropolitan divisions.Quick Stats
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The Northwest Futurecast Event
Avalon Manor Banquet Center
3550 E Lincoln Hwy,
Merrillville, IN 46410
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Donate »Potential Speakers at the Northwest Indiana Futurecast Event
Join us to discuss how the changing economic environment will affect the local region, Indiana and the nation in the coming year.
This event is co-hosted by The Legacy Foundation, the IU Northwest School of Business and Economics, the IBRC and the Kelley School of Business.
What did we say last year about Northwest Indiana?
Published December 2025
Since 2020, GRP in the region grew from an estimated $36.4 billion to $50.1 billion in 2023 and an estimated $51 billion in 2024, averaging approximately 6.6% annual growth. In 2025, there is projected annual growth between 2% and 4% amid stable industrial production and expanding service markets.
Northwest Indiana’s industry mix contributed positively to growth due to logistics and health services, but regional competitiveness was uneven — strong in Jasper and Porter counties, weak in Newton and Starke counties (due to declining retail and manufacturing bases).
Looking ahead to 2026, we see that Northwest Indiana is in a strong position to continue its steady growth. The author forecasts an unemployment rate between 4.5% and 4.9%, growth in personal income of 2.5% and growth in GRP of 1.8%.
Each year in December, the Indiana Business Research Center publishes a special Outlook edition of the Indiana Business Review.
Published continuously since 1926, the Indiana Business Review is a quarterly publication that provides analysis and insight on economic and demographic issues.