Quick answerNew York City is the largest city of the United States, with 8,584,629 people inside the city limits in 2025. The wider metropolitan area had about 20.1 million people in 2025. It is best known for the Statue of Liberty, the Times Square and the Central Park. Its official language is English, and its currency is the United States dollar.
New York City is the largest city in the United States, with about 8.6 million people in 2025 and about 20.1 million in its metropolitan area. It stands where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean, at the south-eastern tip of New York State. The city is a world centre of finance, media, art and culture.
Key facts
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 8,584,629 (2025) |
| Population (metro) | 20,112,448 (2025) · U.S. Census Bureau Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), July 1, 2025 estimate |
| Time zone | America/New_York |
| Language | English |
| Currency | United States dollar (USD, $) |
| Coordinates | 40.7128° N, 74.006° W |
Overview
New York City is the largest city in the United States and one of the great cities of the world. It stands where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean, on a harbour that made it a trading port from the 17th century, when the Dutch founded New Amsterdam. The city grew by immigration, and by the early 20th century it was the largest city in the world. Its five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island — came together as one city in 1898.
About 8.6 million people lived in New York in 2025, and about 20.1 million in its metropolitan area, which reaches into New Jersey and Connecticut. More than a third of its residents were born abroad, and over 200 languages are spoken here. New York is the country's financial centre, home to the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street, and a world centre of media, fashion, art and theatre.
The city's best-known sights are the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France in 1886, the Empire State Building, Times Square and Central Park, laid out in the 19th century in the middle of Manhattan. Broadway's theatres, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the city's food — from bagels to pizza — draw millions of visitors every year.
What New York City is known for
- Statue of Liberty
- Times Square
- Central Park
- Wall Street and finance
- Broadway theatre
- World-class museums
Landmarks
- Statue of Liberty
- Empire State Building
- Central Park
- Times Square
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- One World Trade Center
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of New York City?
About 8.6 million people lived in New York City in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making it the largest city in the country. Its metropolitan area, which includes parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, had about 20.1 million people. The city is made up of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.
What is New York City famous for?
New York City is famous for the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park and the Empire State Building. It is also known as a world centre of finance, centred on Wall Street, and of theatre, music and art, with Broadway shows and museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The city's five boroughs are each distinct.
Where is New York City located?
New York City is in south-eastern New York State, where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is about 330 kilometres north-east of Washington, D.C., and about 300 kilometres south-west of Boston. Its coordinates are 40.71° N, 74.01° W, and its time zone is Eastern Time.
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Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — New York City
- U.S. Census Bureau, City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2025
- Wikipedia — Metropolitan statistical area
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.