Share of population living in urbanized areas in India
India: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 38.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
38.7%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
167th
of 202 countries
All-time high
38.7%
in 2025
All-time low
8.7%
in 1870
Years of data
108
1000–2025
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.
Share of population living in urbanized areas in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 10.7% | — |
| 1100 | 11.2% | +4.3% |
| 1200 | 11.7% | +4.2% |
| 1300 | 12.1% | +4.0% |
| 1400 | 12.6% | +3.8% |
| 1500 | 13.1% | +3.7% |
| 1600 | 15.0% | +14.8% |
| 1700 | 14.0% | -6.7% |
| 1710 | 13.9% | -0.7% |
| 1720 | 13.8% | -0.7% |
| 1730 | 13.7% | -0.7% |
| 1740 | 13.6% | -0.7% |
| 1750 | 13.5% | -0.7% |
| 1760 | 13.4% | -0.7% |
| 1770 | 13.3% | -0.7% |
| 1780 | 13.2% | -0.8% |
| 1790 | 13.1% | -0.8% |
| 1800 | 13.0% | -0.8% |
| 1810 | 13.0% | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 12.0% | -7.7% |
| 1830 | 12.0% | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 11.0% | -8.3% |
| 1850 | 11.0% | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 10.0% | -9.1% |
| 1870 | 8.7% | -13.0% |
| 1880 | 9.0% | +3.4% |
| 1890 | 10.0% | +11.1% |
| 1900 | 10.9% | +9.0% |
| 1910 | 10.3% | -5.5% |
| 1920 | 11.2% | +8.7% |
| 1930 | 12.0% | +7.1% |
| 1940 | 13.9% | +15.8% |
| 1950 | 16.8% | +21.1% |
| 1951 | 17.1% | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 17.2% | +0.5% |
| 1953 | 17.3% | +0.5% |
| 1954 | 17.4% | +0.5% |
| 1955 | 17.5% | +0.5% |
| 1956 | 17.6% | +0.5% |
| 1957 | 17.6% | +0.5% |
| 1958 | 17.7% | +0.5% |
| 1959 | 17.8% | +0.5% |
| 1960 | 17.9% | +0.4% |
| 1961 | 18.0% | +0.6% |
| 1962 | 18.2% | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 18.4% | +1.0% |
| 1964 | 18.6% | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 18.8% | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 19.0% | +1.1% |
| 1967 | 19.2% | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 19.4% | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 19.5% | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 19.7% | +1.0% |
| 1971 | 19.9% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 20.2% | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 20.5% | +1.5% |
| 1974 | 20.8% | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 21.2% | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 21.5% | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 21.8% | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 22.1% | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 22.5% | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 22.9% | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 23.1% | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 23.4% | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 23.6% | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 23.8% | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 24.0% | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 24.3% | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 24.5% | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 24.7% | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 25.0% | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 25.2% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 25.4% | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 25.6% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 25.9% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 26.1% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 26.3% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 26.5% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 26.7% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 26.9% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 27.1% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 27.4% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 27.6% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 27.9% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 28.2% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 28.4% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 28.7% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 29.2% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 29.5% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 29.7% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 30.0% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 30.6% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 31.2% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 31.7% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 32.3% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 32.9% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 33.4% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 34.0% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 34.6% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 35.2% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 35.7% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 36.3% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 36.9% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 37.5% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 38.1% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 38.7% | +1.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 38.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.0%, 82% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- India's 38.7% is above the median for South Asia, which is 37.4%, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2494 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4607 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.67 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7665 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7604 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 506.27 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 66.77 million people (2100)
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.