India vs United States: Urban and rural population
India
522.44 million
in 2025
United States
278.49 million
in 2025
India rank
2nd
United States rank
3rd
Urban and rural population over time
- India
- United States
How they compare
India currently reports 522.44 million against 278.49 million in United States, a difference of 243.95 million.
That makes India's figure about 1.9 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 76 shared years of data; in 1950 it was United States ahead.
India ranks 2nd and United States ranks 3rd of 236 countries.
Across the 8 decades both report, India averaged higher in 5 and United States in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | India | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 67.56 million | 110.60 million | 43.04 million | United States |
| 1960s | 90.29 million | 139.33 million | 49.04 million | United States |
| 1970s | 129.75 million | 160.44 million | 30.70 million | United States |
| 1980s | 187.82 million | 178.63 million | 9.19 million | India |
| 1990s | 252.15 million | 205.29 million | 46.86 million | India |
| 2000s | 332.11 million | 235.66 million | 96.45 million | India |
| 2010s | 427.44 million | 261.36 million | 166.08 million | India |
| 2020s | 500.21 million | 274.55 million | 225.66 million | India |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher urban and rural population, India or United States?
- India, at 522.44 million against 278.49 million in United States as of 2025.
- What is the difference in urban and rural population between India and United States?
- 243.95 million, with India ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for India and United States?
- 76 years are reported by both, from 1950 to 2025.
- How do India and United States rank globally for urban and rural population?
- India ranks 2nd and United States ranks 3rd of 236 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Urban and rural population. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.