The three tables presented on the left display the population change from the 1800s to the 2000s in the following areas: New York City as a whole and its five districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island).
Overall, it is clear that the population numbers surge dramatically throughout the centuries. With Manhattan initially holding the majority of the total residents, its proportion decreased steadily. On the other hand, people began to distribute equally to the other zones.
In 1800, NYC had a population of roughly 80,000 people, with Manhattan accommodating 76% of the total, while the remaining 24% lived elsewhere.
After a period of time, the total number of people living in NYC came to around 3.5 million. Compared to before, the number of people living in the other districts rose to 1.5 million, or 46% of the total. Meanwhile, although Manhattan’s inhabitants rose considerably to around 1.85 million, its share of the city’s total fell to 54%.
By the 2000s, NYC’s residents peaked at over 8 million. However, the total proportion of occupants living in Manhattan fell dramatically to 19%. In contrast, the combined dwellers of the other districts rocketed to over 6.4 million, accounting for 81%, reflecting a major shift in population distribution within the city.