Straight answers from a licensed New York exterminator and Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) — serving all five boroughs, in English and Spanish.
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Quick answer: The famous claim that NYC has “8 million rats” — one per person — is a myth with no scientific basis. A widely cited 2014 statistical study estimated roughly 2 million rats in the city. The exact number is unknowable, but it’s large enough that NYC created an Office of Rodent Mitigation, Rat Mitigation Zones, and new trash-containerization rules to bring it down. The dominant species is the Norway rat.
So how many rats are really in NYC?
Nobody can count them precisely, but the often-repeated “one rat per person” (about 8 million) figure traces back to a century-old guess, not data. A 2014 analysis by a researcher at Columbia applied statistical modeling and landed near 2 million — far fewer than the myth, but still an enormous urban population. The honest answer: somewhere in the low millions, concentrated where food and harborage are easiest to find.
Why NYC has so many rats
Three things make the city ideal rat habitat: abundant food (street trash, restaurant waste, and bags left at the curb), dense, aging infrastructure (subways, sewers, basements, and connected buildings that offer endless harborage and travel routes), and mild conditions that let colonies persist year-round. Norway rats burrow in soil — parks, tree pits, and yards — and travel into buildings to feed.
Where rats concentrate — and what the city is doing
NYC publishes rodent-inspection data and has designated Rat Mitigation Zones (RMZs) in historically high-activity areas (including parts of Harlem, the Grand Concourse, the East Village/Chinatown, and Bed-Stuy/Bushwick). The city’s response now includes the Mayor’s Office of Rodent Mitigation, a “rat czar,” mandatory trash containerization, and set-out-time rules that limit how long bags sit on the curb. For property owners, these come with compliance obligations — see our Rat Mitigation Zone compliance guide.
What it means for residents and buildings
For a household or building, the citywide number matters less than your block and property. Rats follow food and openings, so containerized trash, sealed entry points (exclusion), and removed burrows make the difference. If you’re seeing burrows, droppings, or runways, see the signs of mice and rats and act before a few become a colony.
Dealing with rats at your property? Lasting control is exclusion + removal, not just bait. New York Exterminating’s NYC rodent control & exclusion is led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). Call (347) 210-4646.
A Brooklyn-based, NYSDEC-registered company (Reg. #15140) led by Jorge Bedoya, an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). For rats and mice, NYE provides rodent exclusion that seals the entry points, not just trapping. ACE-led work comes with a client portal of service reports and photos, fully bilingual service, and no long-term contract.
Rats in NYC — FAQ
Are there really 8 million rats in NYC?
No — the “one rat per person” figure is a myth. A 2014 statistical study estimated about 2 million, though no exact count is possible.
What kind of rats live in New York City?
Overwhelmingly the Norway rat (brown rat), which burrows in soil and travels into buildings to feed. Roof rats are far less common in NYC.
What are Rat Mitigation Zones?
Targeted areas where the city concentrates inspections, baiting, and requirements to drive down rat populations. Property owners in these zones have specific compliance obligations.
What is NYC doing about rats?
It created an Office of Rodent Mitigation and “rat czar,” expanded Rat Mitigation Zones, and rolled out trash containerization and set-out-time rules to cut off the food supply.
