Population in the largest city in United States
United States: Population in the largest city was 5.59 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
5.59
World rank
177th
of 179 countries
All-time high
10.38
in 1950
All-time low
5.59
in 2020
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Population in the largest city in United States, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in the largest city in United States is 5.59, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in United States peaked at 10.38 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 5.59, in 2020.
United States ranks 177th of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10.38 | — |
| 1955 | 9.86 | -5.1% |
| 1960 | 9.54 | -3.2% |
| 1965 | 9.22 | -3.4% |
| 1970 | 8.93 | -3.1% |
| 1975 | 8.47 | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 7.77 | -8.3% |
| 1985 | 7.38 | -5.0% |
| 1990 | 7 | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 6.78 | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 6.6 | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 6.27 | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 6 | -4.4% |
| 2015 | 5.77 | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 5.59 | -3.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 5.59 is below the median for high income countries, which is 29.23, 19% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 10.12 | 9.86 | 10.38 | 2 |
| 1960s | 9.38 | 9.22 | 9.54 | 2 |
| 1970s | 8.7 | 8.47 | 8.93 | 2 |
| 1980s | 7.57 | 7.38 | 7.77 | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.89 | 6.78 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.44 | 6.27 | 6.6 | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.88 | 5.77 | 6 | 2 |
| 2020s | 5.59 | 5.59 | 5.59 | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More population data for United States
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.8 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0241 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 375,392 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4762 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1565 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.129 (2100)
- Population density 46.05 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 19.91 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in United States?
- Population in the largest city in United States was 5.59 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 10.38 in 1950.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.59 in 2020.
- How does United States rank for population in the largest city?
- United States ranks 177th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).