Share of urban population who live in the largest city in India
India: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 2.5% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in India, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of urban population who live in the largest city in India stood at 2.5%.
The figure is up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in India peaked at 3.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 2000.
India ranks 178th of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
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 urban population who live in the largest city in India?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in India was 2.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 3.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 2000.
- How does India rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- India ranks 178th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.