Share of population living in urbanized areas in India
India: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 38.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urbanized areas in India, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urbanized areas in India stood at 38.7%. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in India peaked at 38.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 8.7%, in 1870.
That places India 167th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 10.7% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 1 |
| 1100s | 11.2% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 1 |
| 1200s | 11.7% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 1 |
| 1300s | 12.1% | 12.1% | 12.1% | 1 |
| 1400s | 12.6% | 12.6% | 12.6% | 1 |
| 1500s | 13.1% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 1 |
| 1600s | 15.0% | 15.0% | 15.0% | 1 |
| 1700s | 14.0% | 14.0% | 14.0% | 1 |
| 1710s | 13.9% | 13.9% | 13.9% | 1 |
| 1720s | 13.8% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 1 |
| 1730s | 13.7% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 1 |
| 1740s | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 1 |
| 1750s | 13.5% | 13.5% | 13.5% | 1 |
| 1760s | 13.4% | 13.4% | 13.4% | 1 |
| 1770s | 13.3% | 13.3% | 13.3% | 1 |
| 1780s | 13.2% | 13.2% | 13.2% | 1 |
| 1790s | 13.1% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 1 |
| 1800s | 13.0% | 13.0% | 13.0% | 1 |
| 1810s | 13.0% | 13.0% | 13.0% | 1 |
| 1820s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
| 1830s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
| 1840s | 11.0% | 11.0% | 11.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 11.0% | 11.0% | 11.0% | 1 |
| 1860s | 10.0% | 10.0% | 10.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 8.7% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 1 |
| 1880s | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 10.0% | 10.0% | 10.0% | 1 |
| 1900s | 10.9% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 1 |
| 1910s | 10.3% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 1 |
| 1920s | 11.2% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 1 |
| 1930s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 13.9% | 13.9% | 13.9% | 1 |
| 1950s | 17.4% | 16.8% | 17.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 18.7% | 17.9% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 21.0% | 19.7% | 22.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.9% | 22.9% | 25.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.2% | 25.2% | 27.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.6% | 27.4% | 29.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.6% | 30.0% | 35.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.2% | 35.7% | 38.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 164 Yemen 41.8% compare
- 165 Vietnam 39.6% compare
- 166 Madagascar 39.3% compare
- 168 Guinea-Bissau 38.7% compare
- 169 Antigua and Barbuda 38.5% compare
- 169 Saint Kitts and Nevis 38.5% compare
More population data for India
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 66.77 million people (2100)
- Population density 506.27 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 236,763 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in India?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in India was 38.7% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 38.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.7% in 1870.
- How does India rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- India ranks 167th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.