Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in United States of America
United States of America: Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita was 74.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in United States of America, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in United States of America stood at 74.0%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in United States of America peaked at 74.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 58.3%, in 1950.
United States of America ranks 118th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 58.3% | — |
| 1955 | 59.8% | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 61.4% | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 63.0% | +2.7% |
| 1970 | 64.1% | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 65.1% | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 65.8% | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 66.7% | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 67.7% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 68.9% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 70.2% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 71.1% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 72.0% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 73.1% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 74.0% | +1.3% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 74.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 76.2%, 97% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 59.0% | 58.3% | 59.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 62.2% | 61.4% | 63.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 64.6% | 64.1% | 65.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 66.3% | 65.8% | 66.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 68.3% | 67.7% | 68.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 70.7% | 70.2% | 71.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 72.5% | 72.0% | 73.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 74.0% | 74.0% | 74.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More population data for United States of America
- 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in United States of America?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in United States of America was 74.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 74.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.3% in 1950.
- How does United States of America rank for share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita?
- United States of America ranks 118th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.