Urban area over the long-term in United States
United States: Urban area over the long-term was 230,837 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
230,837 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
1st
of 202 countries
All-time high
230,837 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0222 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in United States, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
United States recorded 230,837 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 16.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in United States peaked at 230,837 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0222 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
United States ranks 1st of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in United States, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0222 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0718 km² per grid cell | +223.2% |
| 1200 | 0.2387 km² per grid cell | +232.3% |
| 1300 | 0.7747 km² per grid cell | +224.5% |
| 1400 | 2.57 km² per grid cell | +232.0% |
| 1500 | 8.37 km² per grid cell | +225.5% |
| 1600 | 10.36 km² per grid cell | +23.8% |
| 1700 | 37.01 km² per grid cell | +257.3% |
| 1710 | 54.47 km² per grid cell | +47.2% |
| 1720 | 81.18 km² per grid cell | +49.0% |
| 1730 | 113.71 km² per grid cell | +40.1% |
| 1740 | 153.1 km² per grid cell | +34.6% |
| 1750 | 200.57 km² per grid cell | +31.0% |
| 1760 | 257.52 km² per grid cell | +28.4% |
| 1770 | 325.56 km² per grid cell | +26.4% |
| 1780 | 406.59 km² per grid cell | +24.9% |
| 1790 | 502.79 km² per grid cell | +23.7% |
| 1800 | 768.82 km² per grid cell | +52.9% |
| 1810 | 1,191 km² per grid cell | +55.0% |
| 1820 | 1,523 km² per grid cell | +27.9% |
| 1830 | 2,431 km² per grid cell | +59.6% |
| 1840 | 3,884 km² per grid cell | +59.8% |
| 1850 | 7,265 km² per grid cell | +87.1% |
| 1860 | 12,597 km² per grid cell | +73.4% |
| 1870 | 19,930 km² per grid cell | +58.2% |
| 1880 | 28,112 km² per grid cell | +41.1% |
| 1890 | 42,401 km² per grid cell | +50.8% |
| 1900 | 53,032 km² per grid cell | +25.1% |
| 1910 | 62,886 km² per grid cell | +18.6% |
| 1920 | 65,617 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1930 | 65,879 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1940 | 65,806 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1950 | 65,788 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1951 | 61,526 km² per grid cell | -6.5% |
| 1952 | 62,740 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 64,008 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1954 | 65,340 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 66,738 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1956 | 68,218 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 69,775 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 71,422 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1959 | 73,160 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1960 | 74,918 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 76,355 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 77,818 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 79,312 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1964 | 80,836 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 82,387 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1966 | 83,977 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 85,595 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 87,244 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 88,919 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 90,524 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 91,820 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1972 | 93,140 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 94,487 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 95,869 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 97,283 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 98,647 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 100,055 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 101,494 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 102,970 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 104,537 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 106,191 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 107,898 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 109,668 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 111,507 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 113,456 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 115,419 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 117,505 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 119,678 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 121,942 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 124,348 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 127,512 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 130,743 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 134,058 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 137,543 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 141,049 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 144,328 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 147,695 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 151,129 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 154,556 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 157,972 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 160,741 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 163,544 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 166,218 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 168,619 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 170,972 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 173,411 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 175,755 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 178,239 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 180,736 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 183,184 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 186,116 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 189,005 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 192,045 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 195,194 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 198,410 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 201,677 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 204,911 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 208,321 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 211,622 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 214,970 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 218,082 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 221,288 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 224,456 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 227,633 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 230,837 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 230,837 km² per grid cell is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,007 km² per grid cell, 229.3× the median. (68 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700 | +257.3% | 10.36 km² per grid cell | 37.01 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +232.3% | 0.0718 km² per grid cell | 0.2387 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +232.0% | 0.7747 km² per grid cell | 2.57 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +225.5% | 2.57 km² per grid cell | 8.37 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +224.5% | 0.2387 km² per grid cell | 0.7747 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +223.2% | 0.0222 km² per grid cell | 0.0718 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0222 km² per grid cell | 0.0222 km² per grid cell | 0.0222 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0718 km² per grid cell | 0.0718 km² per grid cell | 0.0718 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.2387 km² per grid cell | 0.2387 km² per grid cell | 0.2387 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.7747 km² per grid cell | 0.7747 km² per grid cell | 0.7747 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 2.57 km² per grid cell | 2.57 km² per grid cell | 2.57 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 8.37 km² per grid cell | 8.37 km² per grid cell | 8.37 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 10.36 km² per grid cell | 10.36 km² per grid cell | 10.36 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 37.01 km² per grid cell | 37.01 km² per grid cell | 37.01 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 54.47 km² per grid cell | 54.47 km² per grid cell | 54.47 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 81.18 km² per grid cell | 81.18 km² per grid cell | 81.18 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 113.71 km² per grid cell | 113.71 km² per grid cell | 113.71 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 153.1 km² per grid cell | 153.1 km² per grid cell | 153.1 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 200.57 km² per grid cell | 200.57 km² per grid cell | 200.57 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 257.52 km² per grid cell | 257.52 km² per grid cell | 257.52 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 325.56 km² per grid cell | 325.56 km² per grid cell | 325.56 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 406.59 km² per grid cell | 406.59 km² per grid cell | 406.59 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 502.79 km² per grid cell | 502.79 km² per grid cell | 502.79 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 768.82 km² per grid cell | 768.82 km² per grid cell | 768.82 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 1,191 km² per grid cell | 1,191 km² per grid cell | 1,191 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 1,523 km² per grid cell | 1,523 km² per grid cell | 1,523 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 2,431 km² per grid cell | 2,431 km² per grid cell | 2,431 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 3,884 km² per grid cell | 3,884 km² per grid cell | 3,884 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 7,265 km² per grid cell | 7,265 km² per grid cell | 7,265 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 12,597 km² per grid cell | 12,597 km² per grid cell | 12,597 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 19,930 km² per grid cell | 19,930 km² per grid cell | 19,930 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 28,112 km² per grid cell | 28,112 km² per grid cell | 28,112 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 42,401 km² per grid cell | 42,401 km² per grid cell | 42,401 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 53,032 km² per grid cell | 53,032 km² per grid cell | 53,032 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 62,886 km² per grid cell | 62,886 km² per grid cell | 62,886 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 65,617 km² per grid cell | 65,617 km² per grid cell | 65,617 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 65,879 km² per grid cell | 65,879 km² per grid cell | 65,879 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 65,806 km² per grid cell | 65,806 km² per grid cell | 65,806 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 66,872 km² per grid cell | 61,526 km² per grid cell | 73,160 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 81,736 km² per grid cell | 74,918 km² per grid cell | 88,919 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 96,629 km² per grid cell | 90,524 km² per grid cell | 102,970 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 112,780 km² per grid cell | 104,537 km² per grid cell | 121,942 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 139,296 km² per grid cell | 124,348 km² per grid cell | 154,556 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 169,621 km² per grid cell | 157,972 km² per grid cell | 180,736 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 197,048 km² per grid cell | 183,184 km² per grid cell | 211,622 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 222,878 km² per grid cell | 214,970 km² per grid cell | 230,837 km² per grid cell | 6 |
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 urban area over the long-term in United States?
- Urban area over the long-term in United States was 230,837 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 230,837 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0222 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does United States rank for urban area over the long-term?
- United States ranks 1st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.