diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/templatetags/admin_list.py b/django/contrib/admin/templatetags/admin_list.py
index db58af9f2c..806be24144 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/templatetags/admin_list.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/templatetags/admin_list.py
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ def date_hierarchy(cl):
                 'show': True,
                 'back': {
                     'link': link({year_field: year_lookup}),
-                    'title': year_lookup
+                    'title': str(year_lookup)
                 },
                 'choices': [{
                     'link': link({year_field: year_lookup, month_field: month_lookup, day_field: day.day}),
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/tests.py
index f3923931a5..a05f40f702 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/tests.py
@@ -2587,6 +2587,21 @@ class DateHierarchyTests(TestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         self.client.login(username='super', password='secret')
+        self.old_USE_THOUSAND_SEPARATOR = settings.USE_THOUSAND_SEPARATOR
+        self.old_USE_L10N = settings.USE_L10N
+        settings.USE_THOUSAND_SEPARATOR = True
+        settings.USE_L10N = True
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        settings.USE_THOUSAND_SEPARATOR = self.old_USE_THOUSAND_SEPARATOR
+        settings.USE_L10N = self.old_USE_L10N
+
+    def assert_non_localized_year(self, url, year):
+        """Ensure that the year is not localized with
+        USE_THOUSAND_SEPARATOR. Refs #15234.
+        """
+        response = self.client.get(url)
+        self.assertNotContains(response, formats.number_format(year))
 
     def assert_contains_year_link(self, response, date):
         self.assertContains(response, '?release_date__year=%d"' % (date.year,))
@@ -2618,9 +2633,10 @@ class DateHierarchyTests(TestCase):
         """
         DATE = datetime.date(2000, 6, 30)
         Podcast.objects.create(release_date=DATE)
-        response = self.client.get(
-            reverse('admin:admin_views_podcast_changelist'))
+        url = reverse('admin:admin_views_podcast_changelist')
+        response = self.client.get(url)
         self.assert_contains_day_link(response, DATE)
+        self.assert_non_localized_year(url, 2000)
 
     def test_within_month(self):
         """
@@ -2631,10 +2647,11 @@ class DateHierarchyTests(TestCase):
                  datetime.date(2000, 6, 3))
         for date in DATES:
             Podcast.objects.create(release_date=date)
-        response = self.client.get(
-            reverse('admin:admin_views_podcast_changelist'))
+        url = reverse('admin:admin_views_podcast_changelist')
+        response = self.client.get(url)
         for date in DATES:
             self.assert_contains_day_link(response, date)
+        self.assert_non_localized_year(url, 2000)
 
     def test_within_year(self):
         """
@@ -2645,12 +2662,13 @@ class DateHierarchyTests(TestCase):
                  datetime.date(2000, 5, 3))
         for date in DATES:
             Podcast.objects.create(release_date=date)
-        response = self.client.get(
-            reverse('admin:admin_views_podcast_changelist'))
+        url = reverse('admin:admin_views_podcast_changelist')
+        response = self.client.get(url)
         # no day-level links
         self.assertNotContains(response, 'release_date__day=')
         for date in DATES:
             self.assert_contains_month_link(response, date)
+        self.assert_non_localized_year(url, 2000)
 
     def test_multiple_years(self):
         """
@@ -2671,14 +2689,20 @@ class DateHierarchyTests(TestCase):
 
         # and make sure GET parameters still behave correctly
         for date in DATES:
-            response = self.client.get(
-                '%s?release_date__year=%d' % (
-                    reverse('admin:admin_views_podcast_changelist'),
-                    date.year))
+            url = '%s?release_date__year=%d' % (
+                  reverse('admin:admin_views_podcast_changelist'),
+                  date.year)
+            response = self.client.get(url)
             self.assert_contains_month_link(response, date)
+            self.assert_non_localized_year(url, 2000)
+            self.assert_non_localized_year(url, 2003)
+            self.assert_non_localized_year(url, 2005)
 
-            response = self.client.get(
-                '%s?release_date__year=%d&release_date__month=%d' % (
-                    reverse('admin:admin_views_podcast_changelist'),
-                    date.year, date.month))
+            url = '%s?release_date__year=%d&release_date__month=%d' % (
+                  reverse('admin:admin_views_podcast_changelist'),
+                  date.year, date.month)
+            response = self.client.get(url)
             self.assert_contains_day_link(response, date)
+            self.assert_non_localized_year(url, 2000)
+            self.assert_non_localized_year(url, 2003)
+            self.assert_non_localized_year(url, 2005)