Population in the largest city in North America
North America: Population in the largest city was 8.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Population in the largest city in North America, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
In 2025, population in the largest city in North America stood at 8.3%.
The figure is down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in North America peaked at 11.7% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 8.3%, in 2024.
That places North America 41st out of 43 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in North America, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11.7% | — |
| 1961 | 11.6% | -0.7% |
| 1962 | 11.5% | -0.7% |
| 1963 | 11.4% | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 11.4% | -0.5% |
| 1965 | 11.3% | -0.4% |
| 1966 | 11.3% | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 11.3% | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 11.3% | +0.1% |
| 1969 | 11.3% | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 11.3% | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 11.1% | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 11.0% | -1.4% |
| 1973 | 10.9% | -1.3% |
| 1974 | 10.7% | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 10.6% | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 10.4% | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 10.3% | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 10.2% | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 10.1% | -1.2% |
| 1980 | 10.0% | -1.0% |
| 1981 | 9.9% | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 9.9% | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 9.8% | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 9.8% | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 9.8% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 9.7% | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 9.7% | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 9.6% | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 9.6% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 9.5% | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 9.5% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 9.4% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 9.4% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 9.3% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 9.3% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 9.2% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 9.2% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 9.1% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 9.1% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 9.1% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 9.0% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 9.0% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 8.9% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 8.8% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 8.8% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 8.7% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 8.7% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 8.7% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 8.6% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 8.6% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 8.6% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 8.6% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 8.5% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 8.5% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 8.5% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 8.5% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 8.5% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 8.5% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 8.4% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 8.4% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 8.4% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 8.4% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 8.4% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 8.3% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 8.3% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11.4% | 11.3% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.7% | 10.1% | 11.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.8% | 9.6% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.3% | 9.1% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.8% | 8.6% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.5% | 8.4% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.4% | 8.3% | 8.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
More urban development data for North America
- Population density 21.01 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 6.92 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 3.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in North America?
- Population in the largest city in North America was 8.3% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 11.7% in 1960.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.3% in 2024.
- How does North America rank for population in the largest city?
- North America ranks 41st out of 43 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.