Air passengers in United States
United States: Air passengers was 941.56 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Air passengers in United States, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for air passengers in United States is 941.56 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
The figure is up 10.4% on the previous year and up 26.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in United States peaked at 941.56 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 163.45 million, in 1970.
That places United States 1st out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Air passengers in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 163.45 million | — |
| 1971 | 174.14 million | +6.5% |
| 1972 | 191.32 million | +9.9% |
| 1973 | 202.31 million | +5.7% |
| 1974 | 207.61 million | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 204.90 million | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 223.02 million | +8.8% |
| 1977 | 240.15 million | +7.7% |
| 1978 | 273.03 million | +13.7% |
| 1979 | 313.62 million | +14.9% |
| 1980 | 295.33 million | -5.8% |
| 1981 | 281.09 million | -4.8% |
| 1982 | 290.99 million | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 315.60 million | +8.5% |
| 1984 | 340.19 million | +7.8% |
| 1985 | 372.06 million | +9.4% |
| 1986 | 414.55 million | +11.4% |
| 1987 | 441.83 million | +6.6% |
| 1988 | 454.20 million | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 453.16 million | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 464.57 million | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 452.02 million | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 466.96 million | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 469.93 million | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 514.92 million | +9.6% |
| 1995 | 533.51 million | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 571.07 million | +7.0% |
| 1997 | 590.57 million | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 588.17 million | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 634.37 million | +7.9% |
| 2000 | 665.33 million | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 622.19 million | -6.5% |
| 2002 | 598.41 million | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 589.00 million | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 678.11 million | +15.1% |
| 2005 | 720.55 million | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 725.53 million | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 744.30 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 701.78 million | -5.7% |
| 2009 | 679.42 million | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 720.50 million | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 730.80 million | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 736.70 million | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 743.17 million | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 762.71 million | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 798.22 million | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 824.04 million | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 849.40 million | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 889.02 million | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 926.74 million | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 369.50 million | -60.1% |
| 2021 | 666.15 million | +80.3% |
| 2022 | 852.83 million | +28.0% |
| 2023 | 941.56 million | +10.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 941.56 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.14 million, 103.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +80.3% | 369.50 million | 666.15 million |
| 2020 | -60.1% | 926.74 million | 369.50 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 219.35 million | 163.45 million | 313.62 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 365.90 million | 281.09 million | 454.20 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 528.61 million | 452.02 million | 634.37 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 672.46 million | 589.00 million | 744.30 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 798.13 million | 720.50 million | 926.74 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 707.51 million | 369.50 million | 941.56 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in United States?
- Air passengers in United States was 941.56 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 941.56 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 163.45 million in 1970.
- How does United States rank for air passengers?
- United States ranks 1st out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.