Share of population living in urbanized areas in United States
United States: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 86.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in urbanized areas in United States, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urbanized areas in United States is 86.3%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in United States peaked at 86.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
United States ranks 40th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1780s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
| 1790s | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 1 |
| 1800s | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 1 |
| 1810s | 7.3% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 1 |
| 1820s | 7.2% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 1 |
| 1830s | 8.8% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 1 |
| 1840s | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 1 |
| 1850s | 15.3% | 15.3% | 15.3% | 1 |
| 1860s | 19.8% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 1 |
| 1870s | 25.7% | 25.7% | 25.7% | 1 |
| 1880s | 28.2% | 28.2% | 28.2% | 1 |
| 1890s | 35.1% | 35.1% | 35.1% | 1 |
| 1900s | 39.6% | 39.6% | 39.6% | 1 |
| 1910s | 45.6% | 45.6% | 45.6% | 1 |
| 1920s | 51.2% | 51.2% | 51.2% | 1 |
| 1930s | 56.2% | 56.2% | 56.2% | 1 |
| 1940s | 60.0% | 60.0% | 60.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 66.6% | 63.8% | 69.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 71.6% | 69.8% | 73.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 73.6% | 73.6% | 73.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 74.3% | 73.6% | 75.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 78.1% | 75.8% | 80.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.4% | 80.6% | 82.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 83.5% | 82.3% | 84.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.7% | 85.1% | 86.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 37 South Korea 86.8% compare
- 38 Netherlands 86.7% compare
- 39 Falkland Islands 86.3% compare
- 41 Saudi Arabia 86.1% compare
- 42 Canada 85.2% compare
- 43 Western Sahara 84.9% compare
More population data for United States
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Population density 46.05 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 19.91 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.1% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.63 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.63 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 435,333 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.63 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.62 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.6 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in United States?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in United States was 86.3% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 86.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does United States rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- United States ranks 40th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.