Times Square by the Numbers: 350,000+ Daily Pedestrians

The World's Most Walked Intersection

Over 350,000 people traverse Times Square every day—peaking at 450,000+ on New Year’s Eve and during major events. That’s more than the population of New Orleans or Honolulu passing through a few blocks of Broadway and Seventh Avenue.

Who’s Counting?

The Times Square Alliance uses thermal sensors and video analytics at multiple choke points to generate 24/7 pedestrian counts, distinguishing commuters, tourists, residents, and workers.

Composition of the Crowd

• Tourists: ~60% (domestic and international)
• Commuters: ~25% (subway transfers, Port Authority Bus Terminal)
• Office/retail workers: ~10%
• Residents: ~5% (Theater District, Hell’s Kitchen)

Economic Engine

This foot traffic drives $1.7+ billion in annual retail sales and supports 300,000+ jobs in the broader Theater District. Advertisers pay premium rates for the “impressions” generated by this human river.

Design for Density

Broadway’s pedestrian plazas (2009–present) reclaimed space from cars, adding seating, planters, and room for the crowds. The “Red Steps” at TKTS booth serve as an informal amphitheater.

Global Context

Comparable pedestrian volumes: Shibuya Crossing (Tokyo), Oxford Street (London), Nanjing Road (Shanghai)—but Times Square’s concentration in a bow-tie intersection is uniquely intense.