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.
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.5% | — |
| 1955 | 3.4% | -3.7% |
| 1960 | 3.2% | -4.2% |
| 1965 | 3.0% | -7.0% |
| 1970 | 2.8% | -5.5% |
| 1975 | 2.7% | -6.1% |
| 1980 | 2.6% | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 2.5% | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 2.4% | -3.6% |
| 1995 | 2.3% | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 2.3% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 2.3% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 2.5% | +3.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 2.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 24.9%, 10% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- India's 2.5% is below the median for South Asia, which is 23.0%, 11% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
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
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4607 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7604 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7665 Percent per annum (2030)
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.