Urban and rural population in United States
United States: Urban and rural population was 278.49 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
278.49 million
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
3rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
278.49 million
in 2025
All-time low
98.66 million
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in United States, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, urban and rural population in United States stood at 278.49 million. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in United States peaked at 278.49 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 98.66 million, in 1950.
That places United States 3rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Urban and rural population in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 98.66 million | — |
| 1951 | 101.16 million | +2.5% |
| 1952 | 103.72 million | +2.5% |
| 1953 | 106.33 million | +2.5% |
| 1954 | 109.03 million | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 111.79 million | +2.5% |
| 1956 | 114.58 million | +2.5% |
| 1957 | 117.40 million | +2.5% |
| 1958 | 120.21 million | +2.4% |
| 1959 | 123.13 million | +2.4% |
| 1960 | 126.16 million | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 129.26 million | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 132.43 million | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 135.53 million | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 138.55 million | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 141.42 million | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 144.07 million | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 146.49 million | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 148.70 million | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 150.72 million | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 152.72 million | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 154.73 million | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 156.57 million | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 158.21 million | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 159.78 million | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 161.32 million | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 162.86 million | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 164.44 million | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 166.07 million | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 167.74 million | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 169.52 million | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 171.40 million | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 173.37 million | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 175.41 million | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 177.48 million | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 179.58 million | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 181.68 million | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 183.77 million | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 185.92 million | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 188.13 million | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 190.71 million | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 193.75 million | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 197.03 million | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 200.39 million | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 203.73 million | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 207.05 million | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 210.33 million | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 213.54 million | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 216.69 million | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 219.72 million | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 222.58 million | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 225.46 million | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 228.36 million | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 231.28 million | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 234.22 million | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 237.15 million | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 240.09 million | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 243.03 million | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 245.87 million | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 248.53 million | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 251.03 million | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 253.47 million | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 255.86 million | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 258.20 million | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 260.51 million | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 262.76 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 264.98 million | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 267.10 million | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 268.99 million | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 270.67 million | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 271.54 million | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 272.15 million | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 273.34 million | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 275.03 million | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 276.77 million | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 278.49 million | +0.6% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 278.49 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.22 million, 125.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 110.60 million | 98.66 million | 123.13 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 139.33 million | 126.16 million | 150.72 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 160.44 million | 152.72 million | 167.74 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 178.63 million | 169.52 million | 188.13 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 205.29 million | 190.71 million | 219.72 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 235.66 million | 222.58 million | 248.53 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 261.36 million | 251.03 million | 270.67 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 274.55 million | 271.54 million | 278.49 million | 6 |
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 urban and rural population in United States?
- Urban and rural population in United States was 278.49 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 278.49 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 98.66 million in 1950.
- How does United States rank for urban and rural population?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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