Urban population in North America
North America: Urban population was 308.67 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Urban population in North America, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in North America stood at 308.67 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in North America peaked at 308.67 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 138.84 million, in 1960.
That places North America 36th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Urban population in North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 138.84 million | — |
| 1961 | 142.18 million | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 145.46 million | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 148.68 million | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 151.87 million | +2.1% |
| 1965 | 154.85 million | +2.0% |
| 1966 | 157.64 million | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 160.25 million | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 162.61 million | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 164.74 million | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 166.95 million | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 169.46 million | +1.5% |
| 1972 | 171.35 million | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 173.05 million | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 174.73 million | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 176.54 million | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 178.32 million | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 180.19 million | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 182.16 million | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 184.24 million | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 186.19 million | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 188.23 million | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 190.31 million | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 192.38 million | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 194.44 million | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 196.58 million | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 198.84 million | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 201.16 million | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 203.56 million | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 206.17 million | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 209.15 million | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 212.64 million | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 216.51 million | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 220.46 million | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 224.41 million | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 228.37 million | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 232.31 million | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 236.32 million | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 240.15 million | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 243.83 million | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 247.31 million | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 250.52 million | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 253.66 million | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 256.62 million | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 259.75 million | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 262.84 million | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 266.00 million | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 269.06 million | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 272.05 million | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 274.77 million | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 277.28 million | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 279.56 million | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 281.86 million | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 284.02 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 286.24 million | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 288.36 million | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 290.52 million | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 292.41 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 294.04 million | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 295.42 million | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 296.48 million | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 297.19 million | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 299.45 million | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 302.76 million | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 306.62 million | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 308.67 million | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 152.71 million | 138.84 million | 164.74 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 175.70 million | 166.95 million | 184.24 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 195.79 million | 186.19 million | 206.17 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 226.41 million | 209.15 million | 243.83 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 261.26 million | 247.31 million | 274.77 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 286.97 million | 277.28 million | 295.42 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 301.86 million | 296.48 million | 308.67 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
More climate change data for North America
- Urban population growth 0.7% (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6692 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.8049 units per person (2025)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 0.5691 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total 383.50 million (2025)
- Population growth 0.6% (2025)
- Annual Net Emissions/Removals (Greenhouse gas, Total, Metric ton of) 0.472 % change on previous year (2024)
- Annual Net Emissions/Removals (Greenhouse gas, Total, Metric ton of) 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in North America?
- Urban population in North America was 308.67 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 308.67 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 138.84 million in 1960.
- How does North America rank for urban population?
- North America ranks 36th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.