Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in United States
United States: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 51.49 million people in 2050. ▲ Rising
Latest (2050)
51.49 million people
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
13th
of 238 countries
All-time high
68.85 million people
in 2026
All-time low
773,314 people
in 1600
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in United States, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2050, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in United States stood at 51.49 million people.
That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and down 18.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in United States peaked at 68.85 million people in 2026 and was at its lowest, 773,314 people, in 1600.
United States ranks 13th of 238 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 133 years of available data.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in United States, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 1.22 million people | — |
| 1100 | 1.31 million people | +7.7% |
| 1200 | 1.45 million people | +10.8% |
| 1300 | 1.57 million people | +8.2% |
| 1400 | 1.74 million people | +10.6% |
| 1500 | 1.88 million people | +8.3% |
| 1600 | 773,314 people | -58.9% |
| 1700 | 908,535 people | +17.5% |
| 1710 | 1.35 million people | +48.1% |
| 1720 | 1.78 million people | +32.1% |
| 1730 | 2.21 million people | +24.2% |
| 1740 | 2.63 million people | +19.3% |
| 1750 | 3.06 million people | +16.0% |
| 1760 | 3.47 million people | +13.7% |
| 1770 | 3.88 million people | +11.9% |
| 1780 | 4.29 million people | +10.4% |
| 1790 | 4.69 million people | +9.3% |
| 1800 | 5.93 million people | +26.5% |
| 1810 | 7.58 million people | +27.8% |
| 1820 | 9.84 million people | +29.8% |
| 1830 | 12.62 million people | +28.3% |
| 1840 | 16.07 million people | +27.3% |
| 1850 | 20.15 million people | +25.4% |
| 1860 | 25.57 million people | +26.9% |
| 1870 | 28.95 million people | +13.2% |
| 1880 | 36.32 million people | +25.5% |
| 1890 | 40.97 million people | +12.8% |
| 1900 | 46.03 million people | +12.4% |
| 1910 | 49.83 million people | +8.3% |
| 1920 | 51.74 million people | +3.8% |
| 1930 | 53.96 million people | +4.3% |
| 1940 | 52.87 million people | -2.0% |
| 1950 | 55.54 million people | +5.1% |
| 1951 | 55.32 million people | -0.4% |
| 1952 | 55.08 million people | -0.4% |
| 1953 | 54.84 million people | -0.4% |
| 1954 | 54.61 million people | -0.4% |
| 1955 | 54.41 million people | -0.4% |
| 1956 | 54.24 million people | -0.3% |
| 1957 | 54.10 million people | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 54.01 million people | -0.2% |
| 1959 | 54.01 million people | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 54.12 million people | +0.2% |
| 1961 | 54.23 million people | +0.2% |
| 1962 | 54.29 million people | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 54.29 million people | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 54.27 million people | -0.0% |
| 1965 | 54.23 million people | -0.1% |
| 1966 | 54.20 million people | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 54.21 million people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 54.31 million people | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 54.58 million people | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 55.08 million people | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 55.69 million people | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 56.27 million people | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 56.79 million people | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 57.30 million people | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 57.81 million people | +0.9% |
| 1976 | 58.31 million people | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 58.82 million people | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 59.33 million people | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 59.83 million people | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 60.34 million people | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 60.80 million people | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 61.22 million people | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 61.58 million people | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 61.87 million people | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 62.11 million people | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 62.28 million people | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 62.39 million people | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 62.48 million people | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 62.54 million people | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 62.66 million people | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 62.73 million people | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 62.58 million people | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 62.24 million people | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 61.75 million people | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 61.16 million people | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 60.53 million people | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 59.93 million people | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 59.42 million people | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 59.07 million people | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 58.90 million people | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 58.82 million people | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 58.72 million people | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 58.63 million people | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 58.57 million people | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 58.56 million people | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 58.64 million people | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 58.81 million people | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 59.10 million people | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 59.49 million people | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 60.04 million people | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 60.64 million people | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 61.25 million people | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 61.91 million people | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 62.61 million people | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 63.36 million people | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 64.20 million people | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 65.11 million people | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 66.07 million people | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 67.12 million people | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 67.90 million people | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 68.01 million people | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 68.20 million people | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 68.45 million people | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 68.65 million people | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 68.79 million people | +0.2% |
| 2026 | 68.85 million people | +0.1% |
| 2027 | 68.85 million people | -0.0% |
| 2028 | 68.79 million people | -0.1% |
| 2029 | 68.67 million people | -0.2% |
| 2030 | 68.49 million people | -0.3% |
| 2031 | 68.25 million people | -0.4% |
| 2032 | 67.95 million people | -0.4% |
| 2033 | 67.59 million people | -0.5% |
| 2034 | 67.16 million people | -0.6% |
| 2035 | 66.68 million people | -0.7% |
| 2036 | 66.13 million people | -0.8% |
| 2037 | 65.52 million people | -0.9% |
| 2038 | 64.84 million people | -1.0% |
| 2039 | 64.10 million people | -1.1% |
| 2040 | 63.29 million people | -1.3% |
| 2041 | 62.42 million people | -1.4% |
| 2042 | 61.47 million people | -1.5% |
| 2043 | 60.47 million people | -1.6% |
| 2044 | 59.39 million people | -1.8% |
| 2045 | 58.24 million people | -1.9% |
| 2046 | 57.02 million people | -2.1% |
| 2047 | 55.74 million people | -2.3% |
| 2048 | 54.39 million people | -2.4% |
| 2049 | 52.97 million people | -2.6% |
| 2050 | 51.49 million people | -2.8% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 51.49 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 306,014 people, 168.3× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1600 | -58.9% | 1.88 million people | 773,314 people |
| 1710 | +48.1% | 908,535 people | 1.35 million people |
| 1720 | +32.1% | 1.35 million people | 1.78 million people |
| 1820 | +29.8% | 7.58 million people | 9.84 million people |
| 1830 | +28.3% | 9.84 million people | 12.62 million people |
| 1810 | +27.8% | 5.93 million people | 7.58 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 1.22 million people | 1.22 million people | 1.22 million people | 1 |
| 1100s | 1.31 million people | 1.31 million people | 1.31 million people | 1 |
| 1200s | 1.45 million people | 1.45 million people | 1.45 million people | 1 |
| 1300s | 1.57 million people | 1.57 million people | 1.57 million people | 1 |
| 1400s | 1.74 million people | 1.74 million people | 1.74 million people | 1 |
| 1500s | 1.88 million people | 1.88 million people | 1.88 million people | 1 |
| 1600s | 773,314 people | 773,314 people | 773,314 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 908,535 people | 908,535 people | 908,535 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.35 million people | 1.35 million people | 1.35 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 1.78 million people | 1.78 million people | 1.78 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.21 million people | 2.21 million people | 2.21 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.63 million people | 2.63 million people | 2.63 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.06 million people | 3.06 million people | 3.06 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.47 million people | 3.47 million people | 3.47 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 3.88 million people | 3.88 million people | 3.88 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 4.29 million people | 4.29 million people | 4.29 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 4.69 million people | 4.69 million people | 4.69 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.93 million people | 5.93 million people | 5.93 million people | 1 |
| 1810s | 7.58 million people | 7.58 million people | 7.58 million people | 1 |
| 1820s | 9.84 million people | 9.84 million people | 9.84 million people | 1 |
| 1830s | 12.62 million people | 12.62 million people | 12.62 million people | 1 |
| 1840s | 16.07 million people | 16.07 million people | 16.07 million people | 1 |
| 1850s | 20.15 million people | 20.15 million people | 20.15 million people | 1 |
| 1860s | 25.57 million people | 25.57 million people | 25.57 million people | 1 |
| 1870s | 28.95 million people | 28.95 million people | 28.95 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 36.32 million people | 36.32 million people | 36.32 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 40.97 million people | 40.97 million people | 40.97 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 46.03 million people | 46.03 million people | 46.03 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 49.83 million people | 49.83 million people | 49.83 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 51.74 million people | 51.74 million people | 51.74 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 53.96 million people | 53.96 million people | 53.96 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 52.87 million people | 52.87 million people | 52.87 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 54.62 million people | 54.01 million people | 55.54 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 54.27 million people | 54.12 million people | 54.58 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 57.52 million people | 55.08 million people | 59.83 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.76 million people | 60.34 million people | 62.54 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 61.21 million people | 59.07 million people | 62.73 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.82 million people | 58.56 million people | 59.49 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.23 million people | 60.04 million people | 67.12 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.52 million people | 67.90 million people | 68.85 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 66.67 million people | 64.10 million people | 68.49 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 58.54 million people | 52.97 million people | 63.29 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 51.49 million people | 51.49 million people | 51.49 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More population data for United States
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0241 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 19.91 million people (2100)
- Population density 46.05 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1565 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4762 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population projected to 2050 in United States?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in United States was 51.49 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 68.85 million people in 2026.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 773,314 people in 1600.
- How does United States rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- United States ranks 13th out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.