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Detroit

#88 largest metro areaNorth America

In United States

Metro population
4,392,000
0.053% of world population
Archive estimate
Annual growth
−0.35%
About 42 people a day
Archive estimate
Density
437/km²
10,062 km² metro area
City proper
645,705
Within the administrative boundary
GeoNames

About Detroit

With a metropolitan population of 4,392,000, Detroit ranks among the largest urban areas in the United States. The city proper had 645,705 residents, spread across an area yielding a density of 437 people per km². The region experienced an annual growth rate of -0.3%, indicating population decline. Situated at 183 meters elevation, Detroit was founded in 1701 and is presently led by Mayor Mary Sheffield.

Transportation infrastructure includes Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Bishop International Airport (FNT) serving the area. The city's long history and substantial metropolitan footprint reflect its established role within the broader North American urban network.

This summary is AI-generated from the statistics on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.

Key Facts

Country
United States
Continent
North America
World rank
#88 of 140
Share of country
1.3%
Founded
1701
Leadership
Mary Sheffield
Elevation
183 m
Coordinates
42.331, -83.046

Airports

Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.

  • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County AirportDTW

    29 km from the city centre

  • Bishop International AirportFNT

    91 km from the city centre

Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.

Compared with the World's Largest Cities

Metropolitan population against the fifteen largest metro areas.

  1. Tokyo37.4M
  2. Delhi32.9M
  3. Shanghai29.2M
  4. São Paulo22.6M
  5. Dhaka22.5M
  6. Mexico City22.3M
  7. Cairo22.2M
  8. Mumbai21.7M
  9. Beijing21.5M
  10. Osaka19M
  11. New York18.9M
  12. Karachi17.1M
  13. Kinshasa17.1M
  14. Chongqing16.9M
  15. Lagos15.9M
  16. Detroit4.39M
Metro populations are archive estimates; boundaries differ between national statistical agencies.
Detroit compared with the fifteen largest metropolitan areas
NameMetro population
Tokyo37.4M
Delhi32.9M
Shanghai29.2M
São Paulo22.6M
Dhaka22.5M
Mexico City22.3M
Cairo22.2M
Mumbai21.7M
Beijing21.5M
Osaka19M
New York18.9M
Karachi17.1M
Kinshasa17.1M
Chongqing16.9M
Lagos15.9M
Detroit4.39M

Population Trend in United States

No free source publishes metropolitan population back to 1950, so the parent country's series is shown instead.

0100M200M300M400M1950197520002025205020752100projected →
This is United States's national population, not Detroit's. The legacy city series this page previously carried was generated by scaling the current figure, so it has been dropped rather than presented as history. Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024.
United States population, 1950 to 2100
YearPopulation
1950154,202,680
1960180,274,555
1970207,796,339
1980229,858,655
1990253,373,387
2000281,484,131
2010311,062,790
2020339,436,159
2030355,649,881
2040370,209,316
2050380,846,910
2060388,918,394
2070398,218,088
2080407,079,816
2090414,457,640
2100421,278,889

Other Major Cities in United States

14 more cities in our dataset.

Nearest Major Cities

Closest cities in our dataset by great-circle distance.

Detroit Population FAQ

What is the population of Detroit?

Detroit's metropolitan area has about 4,392,000 people, making it the 88th largest metro area in our dataset of 140 major cities.

What is the difference between Detroit's city and metro population?

About 645,705 people live within the city proper, while the wider metropolitan area holds roughly 4,392,000. Metro figures include surrounding commuter areas that fall outside the city's administrative boundary.

Is Detroit growing or shrinking?

Detroit is shrinking at −0.35% a year.

What share of United States's population lives in Detroit?

Detroit's metro area holds about 1.3% of United States's total population.

How densely populated is Detroit?

Detroit has roughly 437 people per km² across a metro area of about 10,062 km².

Which airports serve Detroit?

The nearest major airports are Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Bishop International Airport (FNT).

Which country is Detroit in?

Detroit is in United States, in North America.

Explore More Cities

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