North America’s urban landscape drives much of the continent’s culture, economy, and everyday life. From long-established ports to newly growing inland centers, tracking city populations helps explain migration patterns, infrastructure needs, and regional influence.
There are 21 Largest Cities in North America by Population, ranging from Calgary to Toronto. For each entry, data are organized with Country,Population (city; year),Metro population (metro; year) so you can compare city proper and metropolitan figures side by side; you’ll find below.
How recent are the population figures, and where do they come from?
The table uses the most recent official census counts or national statistical office estimates available for each city, with the year shown in the Population (city; year) and Metro population (metro; year) columns; sources typically include national agencies, metropolitan planning bodies, and recognized international datasets.
Why include both city proper and metro population numbers?
City proper and metro figures capture different realities: the city number shows administrative population, while the metro reflects the broader economic and commuting area—both matter for planning, services, and comparing urban influence across regions.
Largest Cities in North America by Population
| City | Country | Population (city; year) | Metro population (metro; year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | Mexico | 9,209,944 (2020) | 21,804,515 (2020) |
| New York City | United States | 8,804,190 (2020) | 20,140,470 (2020) |
| Los Angeles | United States | 3,898,747 (2020) | 13,197,744 (2020) |
| Toronto | Canada | 2,794,356 (2021) | 6,202,225 (2021) |
| Chicago | United States | 2,746,388 (2020) | 9,618,502 (2020) |
| Houston | United States | 2,304,580 (2020) | 7,122,240 (2020) |
| Havana | Cuba | 2,106,146 (2012) | |
| Montreal | Canada | 1,762,949 (2021) | 4,291,732 (2021) |
| Tijuana | Mexico | 1,922,523 (2020) | 2,157,853 (2020) |
| Puebla | Mexico | 1,692,181 (2020) | 3,199,530 (2020) |
| Phoenix | United States | 1,608,139 (2020) | 4,845,832 (2020) |
| Philadelphia | United States | 1,603,797 (2020) | 6,102,434 (2020) |
| Ciudad Juárez | Mexico | 1,512,450 (2020) | 2,731,576 (2020) |
| San Antonio | United States | 1,434,625 (2020) | 2,550,960 (2020) |
| San Diego | United States | 1,386,932 (2020) | 3,298,634 (2020) |
| Guadalajara | Mexico | 1,385,629 (2020) | 5,268,642 (2020) |
| Calgary | Canada | 1,306,784 (2021) | 1,481,806 (2021) |
| Dallas | United States | 1,304,379 (2020) | 7,637,387 (2020) |
| Monterrey | Mexico | 1,142,944 (2020) | 5,341,171 (2020) |
| San Jose | United States | 1,021,795 (2020) | 2,016,000 (2020) |
| Edmonton | Canada | 1,010,899 (2021) | 1,418,118 (2021) |
Images and Descriptions
Mexico City
Mexico City is the political, cultural, and economic heart of Mexico, famous for its historic Zócalo, museums, and dense urban fabric. The city proper houses over 9.2 million residents, while the greater metro exceeds 21.8 million (2020).
New York City
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, and culture, anchored by Manhattan and five boroughs. With 8.8 million residents in the city and roughly 20.1 million in its metro, it’s the United States’ largest city (2020).
Los Angeles
Los Angeles blends entertainment, ports, and diverse neighborhoods, known worldwide for Hollywood and film industries. The city proper hosts nearly 3.9 million people, while the sprawling Los Angeles metro counts about 13.2 million (2020).
Toronto
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and financial center, notable for its multicultural neighborhoods, skyline, and waterfront. The city proper had about 2.79 million residents at the 2021 census, with a metro population exceeding 6.2 million.
Chicago
Chicago sits on Lake Michigan and is renowned for architecture, industry, and cultural institutions. With roughly 2.75 million residents in the city and nearly 9.6 million in the metro, it remains a major Midwest economic hub (2020).
Houston
Houston is a global energy and medical research center with a sprawling city footprint and strong port economy. The city proper had about 2.3 million residents in 2020, while its metro region approaches 7.1 million.
Havana
Havana is Cuba’s historic and cultural capital, famed for colonial architecture, music, and a vibrant street life. The 2012 census recorded roughly 2.1 million residents in the city proper; more recent official metro figures are not uniformly published.
Montreal
Montreal blends French-language culture with festivals, universities, and aerospace industries. The 2021 census counted about 1.76 million people in the city proper and roughly 4.29 million across the Montreal metropolitan area.
Tijuana
Tijuana is a dynamic border city linking Mexico and the United States, known for cross-border trade, manufacturing, and cultural exchange. The city proper had about 1.92 million residents in 2020, with a metro population over two million.
Puebla
Puebla is a historic colonial city east of Mexico City, famed for cuisine, talavera pottery, and well-preserved architecture. The municipality hosted about 1.69 million people in 2020, while the Puebla metro surpasses three million.
Phoenix
Phoenix anchors a fast-growing desert metropolis with major tech, real estate, and service sectors. The city proper recorded around 1.61 million residents in 2020, and its larger metro area approaches 4.85 million people.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia combines rich American Revolutionary history with medical, education, and cultural institutions. The city had about 1.6 million residents in 2020, and the broader metropolitan region contains over six million people.
Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez is a major industrial and border city opposite El Paso, Texas, with strong manufacturing and logistics sectors. The city proper counted about 1.51 million residents in 2020, and the binational region surpasses two million.
San Antonio
San Antonio is celebrated for its Spanish colonial missions, the Alamo, and a large tourism sector. The city recorded roughly 1.43 million residents in 2020 and anchors a metro area of about 2.55 million people.
San Diego
San Diego is known for its mild climate, naval presence, and biotech industries. The city proper had about 1.39 million residents in 2020, while the metropolitan area across the border and inland totals roughly 3.3 million.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is Mexico’s second-largest metro and a tech and cultural hub famous for mariachi music and tequila. The city municipality had about 1.39 million residents in 2020, while the metro area exceeds five million people.
Calgary
Calgary is an Alberta energy and transportation center with proximity to the Rockies and a strong corporate presence. The 2021 census listed about 1.31 million residents in the city and roughly 1.48 million in the metro.
Dallas
Dallas is a major commercial and cultural center in North Texas with significant finance, tech, and logistics sectors. The city proper had about 1.30 million residents in 2020, while the broader metro holds over 7.6 million people.
Monterrey
Monterrey is an industrial and business powerhouse in northeastern Mexico, known for manufacturing and mountain scenery. The city municipality counted about 1.14 million residents in 2020, with a metro population exceeding five million.
San Jose
San Jose sits at the heart of Silicon Valley, home to high-tech companies and a high-income population. The city proper had around 1.02 million residents in 2020; the broader metro area is a major tech agglomeration.
Edmonton
Edmonton is Alberta’s capital and a center for energy, education, and government services. The 2021 census counted about 1.01 million residents in the city proper, with a metro area of roughly 1.42 million people.
