The United States has a population density of 97.3 people per square mile, compared to the average of 144 people in other countries. The United States has 309,474 sq ft of land per person and ranks 149th out of 197 countries (most to least densely populated).
The United States has 4.21% of the world's population and 6.14% of the total land area of all countries.
The United States population density by year
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 97.3 | 149 |
| 2025 | 96.8 | 149 |
| 2024 | 96.3 | 149 |
| 2023 | 94.8 | 149 |
| 2022 | 94.4 | 148 |
| 2021 | 94 | 148 |
| 2020 | 93.9 | 148 |
| 2019 | 93 | 148 |
| 2018 | 92.5 | 148 |
| 2017 | 92.1 | 148 |
| 2016 | 91.5 | 147 |
| 2015 | 90.8 | 147 |
| 2014 | 90.1 | 146 |
| 2013 | 89.5 | 146 |
| 2012 | 88.9 | 146 |
| 2011 | 88.2 | 146 |
| 2010 | 87.6 | 145 |
| 2009 | 86.9 | 146 |
| 2008 | 86.1 | 146 |
| 2007 | 85.2 | 146 |
| 2006 | 84.3 | 146 |
| 2005 | 83.5 | 144 |
| 2004 | 82.8 | 145 |
| 2003 | 82 | 142 |
| 2002 | 81.3 | 142 |
| 2001 | 80.6 | 141 |
| 2000 | 79.8 | 141 |
| 1999 | 79 | 138 |
| 1998 | 78.1 | 137 |
| 1997 | 77.2 | 136 |
| 1996 | 76.3 | 136 |
| 1995 | 75.4 | 136 |
| 1994 | 74.5 | 136 |
| 1993 | 73.6 | 136 |
| 1992 | 72.6 | 133 |
| 1991 | 71.7 | 116 |
| 1990 | 70.7 | 113 |
| 1989 | 69.8 | 113 |
| 1988 | 69.1 | 112 |
| 1987 | 68.5 | 112 |
| 1986 | 67.9 | 112 |
| 1985 | 67.3 | 111 |
| 1984 | 66.7 | 111 |
| 1983 | 66.1 | 110 |
| 1982 | 65.5 | 110 |
| 1981 | 64.9 | 110 |
| 1980 | 64.1 | 107 |
| 1979 | 63.6 | 106 |
| 1978 | 62.9 | 104 |
| 1977 | 62.3 | 104 |
| 1976 | 61.7 | 104 |
| 1975 | 61.1 | 101 |
| 1974 | 60.5 | 100 |
| 1973 | 59.9 | 100 |
| 1972 | 59.4 | 100 |
| 1971 | 58.7 | 100 |
| 1970 | 58 | 98 |
| 1969 | 57.3 | 98 |
| 1968 | 56.8 | 97 |
| 1967 | 56.2 | 97 |
| 1966 | 55.6 | 97 |
| 1965 | 54.9 | 96 |
| 1964 | 54.3 | 95 |
| 1963 | 53.5 | 96 |
| 1962 | 52.7 | 95 |
| 1961 | 51.9 | 94 |
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/population-density/united-states | CC BY 
This chart shows how population density in the United States has changed over time. From 2006 to 2026, population density increased by 15.3%. The United States ranked 146th by population density 20 years ago and ranks 149th today.
Density metrics
United States
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 97.3 ppl/mi² | 149/197 |
| Population |
344023146
|
3/197 |
| Land area | 3,531,839 sq mi | 3/197 |
| Land area per capita | 288,082 sq ft | 49/197 |
| Rural population | 19.9% | 152/195 |
| Urban population | 80.1% | 44/195 |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 7.59% | 89/197 |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 80.1% | 44 |
| 2023 | 80.1% | 44 |
| 2022 | 80% | 43 |
| 2021 | 80% | 44 |
| 2020 | 80% | 44 |
| 2019 | 80.1% | 43 |
| 2018 | 80.3% | 42 |
| 2017 | 80.4% | 42 |
| 2016 | 80.5% | 42 |
| 2015 | 80.6% | 42 |
| 2014 | 80.6% | 40 |
| 2013 | 80.7% | 39 |
| 2012 | 80.7% | 39 |
| 2011 | 80.7% | 39 |
| 2010 | 80.7% | 38 |
| 2009 | 80.7% | 38 |
| 2008 | 80.6% | 37 |
| 2007 | 80.5% | 36 |
| 2006 | 80.4% | 36 |
| 2005 | 80.2% | 36 |
| 2004 | 80% | 36 |
| 2003 | 79.8% | 36 |
| 2002 | 79.5% | 36 |
| 2001 | 79.3% | 35 |
| 2000 | 79.1% | 34 |
| 1999 | 78.8% | 33 |
| 1998 | 78.5% | 33 |
| 1997 | 78.1% | 36 |
| 1996 | 77.7% | 36 |
| 1995 | 77.2% | 36 |
| 1994 | 76.7% | 36 |
| 1993 | 76.3% | 36 |
| 1992 | 75.9% | 37 |
| 1991 | 75.5% | 35 |
| 1990 | 75.3% | 34 |
| 1989 | 75.1% | 35 |
| 1988 | 74.8% | 35 |
| 1987 | 74.7% | 35 |
| 1986 | 74.5% | 34 |
| 1985 | 74.3% | 34 |
| 1984 | 74.2% | 34 |
| 1983 | 74% | 34 |
| 1982 | 73.9% | 33 |
| 1981 | 73.8% | 32 |
| 1980 | 73.8% | 31 |
| 1979 | 73.7% | 29 |
| 1978 | 73.7% | 29 |
| 1977 | 73.7% | 28 |
| 1976 | 73.6% | 27 |
| 1975 | 73.6% | 27 |
| 1974 | 73.6% | 27 |
| 1973 | 73.6% | 27 |
| 1972 | 73.6% | 27 |
| 1971 | 73.5% | 25 |
| 1970 | 73.5% | 25 |
| 1969 | 73.4% | 25 |
| 1968 | 73.2% | 25 |
| 1967 | 73% | 22 |
| 1966 | 72.7% | 21 |
| 1965 | 72.3% | 20 |
| 1964 | 71.9% | 20 |
| 1963 | 71.4% | 19 |
| 1962 | 70.9% | 19 |
| 1961 | 70.4% | 19 |
| 1960 | 70% | 19 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population-density/united-states | CC BY
This chart shows the share of urban population in the United States from 1960 to 2024: 70% lived in urban areas in 1960, 79.1% in 2000, and 80.1% in 2024.
Densely populated cities
|
United States
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| New York | 8.8M |
| Los Angeles | 3.9M |
| Chicago | 2.75M |
| Houston | 2.3M |
| Phoenix | 1.61M |
| Philadelphia | 1.6M |
| San Antonio | 1.43M |
| San Diego | 1.39M |
| Dallas | 1.3M |
| San Jose | 1.01M |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population density in other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population-density/united-states | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2020–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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