Share of urban population who live in the largest city in United States
United States: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 5.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in United States, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban population who live in the largest city in United States is 5.6%, 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, share of urban population who live in the largest city in United States peaked at 10.4% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 10.1% | 9.9% | 10.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 9.4% | 9.2% | 9.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 8.7% | 8.5% | 8.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 7.6% | 7.4% | 7.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.9% | 6.8% | 7.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.4% | 6.3% | 6.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.9% | 5.8% | 6.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
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 urban population who live in the largest city in United States?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in United States was 5.6% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 10.4% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2020.
- How does United States rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- United States ranks 177th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live 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 European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.