Trees are part of the working fabric of American towns and cities. They shade buildings, filter air, store carbon, and demand careful attention when their health or structure changes. These figures offer useful national context, not a diagnosis or valuation for an individual tree.
For a property-level concern, the right next step depends on the species, condition, setting, and what is beneath the tree. M&M Tree’s tree trimming guide and tree health guide explain what homeowners can safely notice from the ground.
The figures
Six citable statistics about trees and tree care
5.5 billion
trees were estimated in U.S. urban areas
The estimate describes the national urban forest, the trees that share space with homes, roads, parks, schools, and businesses.
Source: U.S. Forest Service, 2018 urban-forest assessment (2018)39.4%
of U.S. urban areas were estimated to have tree cover
Tree cover varies widely from place to place, so this is a national estimate rather than a benchmark for an individual property or town.
Source: U.S. Forest Service, 2018 urban-forest assessment (2018)$18.4 billion
in annual urban-forest benefits were conservatively estimated nationwide
The Forest Service estimate counts four measured benefits: air-pollution removal, lower building energy use, carbon sequestration, and avoided pollutant emissions.
Source: U.S. Forest Service, Improved Air Quality and Other Services from Urban Trees and Forests (2023)$5.4 billion
of the estimate was tied to air-pollution removal
This figure is part of the national annual benefits estimate, not a value assigned to any one tree or property.
Source: U.S. Forest Service, Improved Air Quality and Other Services from Urban Trees and Forests (2023)$5.4 billion
of the estimate was tied to reduced building energy use
Shade and other tree effects can influence building energy use. The figure reflects the Forest Service’s national model.
Source: U.S. Forest Service, Improved Air Quality and Other Services from Urban Trees and Forests (2023)55,160
U.S. tree trimmers and pruners were counted in 2025
The federal occupation includes workers who prune or remove branches for right-of-way, appearance, health, and tree value. The 2025 national mean annual wage was $55,970.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025)Method and sources
How to use this page
This page brings together published national figures from the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It does not combine the figures into a new estimate, and it does not treat national data as a prediction for one neighborhood, tree, or job.
Statistics are retained with the reporting year supplied by the original source. We will refresh this page when a key source publishes a newer national figure, while keeping these section links stable for readers who cite it.
Cite this page
Make the source trail easy to follow.
Suggested citation: M&M Tree. “U.S. Urban Tree and Tree Care Statistics (2026).” Updated November 10, 2026. https://mnmtreejoeminor.com/tree-care-statistics
When quoting a specific number, please link to that statistic’s section and the original source shown with it.
Clear information is a useful place to begin.
National figures can add context. A closer look at the individual tree is what turns context into a sensible next step.
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