Population of cities towns and villages in India

India: Population of cities towns and villages was 232.95 million in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
232.95 million
World rank
2nd
of 229 countries
All-time high
242.46 million
in 2010
All-time low
170.55 million
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Population of cities towns and villages in India, 1950–2020

050.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M250.0M1950198520201950: 170.6M1955: 179.9M1960: 189.4M1965: 198.4M1970: 206.6M1975: 214.7M1980: 226.1M1985: 232.8M1990: 236.9M1995: 236.9M2000: 236.7M2005: 240.3M2010: 242.5M2015: 241.4M2020: 233.0M

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2020, population of cities towns and villages in India stood at 232.95 million.

That represents a change of down 3.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population of cities towns and villages in India peaked at 242.46 million in 2010 and was at its lowest, 170.55 million, in 1950.

That places India 2nd out of 229 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.

Population of cities towns and villages in India, year by year

Annual values for Population of cities towns and villages in India, 1950 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1950 170.55 million
1955 179.91 million +5.5%
1960 189.37 million +5.3%
1965 198.38 million +4.8%
1970 206.56 million +4.1%
1975 214.74 million +4.0%
1980 226.08 million +5.3%
1985 232.77 million +3.0%
1990 236.89 million +1.8%
1995 236.91 million +0.0%
2000 236.69 million -0.1%
2005 240.31 million +1.5%
2010 242.46 million +0.9%
2015 241.38 million -0.4%
2020 232.95 million -3.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 175.23 million 170.55 million 179.91 million 2
1960s 193.87 million 189.37 million 198.38 million 2
1970s 210.65 million 206.56 million 214.74 million 2
1980s 229.43 million 226.08 million 232.77 million 2
1990s 236.90 million 236.89 million 236.91 million 2
2000s 238.50 million 236.69 million 240.31 million 2
2010s 241.92 million 241.38 million 242.46 million 2
2020s 232.95 million 232.95 million 232.95 million 1

Countries ranked near India

  1. 1 China 233.26 million compare
  2. 1 Mayotte 25,604 compare
  3. 2 Cook Islands 15,644 compare
  4. 3 Anguilla 14,843 compare
  5. 3 United States of America 88.17 million compare
  6. 4 Brazil 43.30 million compare
  7. 4 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha 5,430 compare
  8. 5 Ethiopia 42.37 million compare
  9. 5 Montserrat 4,508 compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is population of cities towns and villages in India?
Population of cities towns and villages in India was 232.95 million in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest population of cities towns and villages recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 242.46 million in 2010.
What is the lowest population of cities towns and villages recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 170.55 million in 1950.
How does India rank for population of cities towns and villages?
India ranks 2nd out of 229 countries with data for 2020.
Is population of cities towns and villages rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population of cities towns and villages. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population of cities towns and villages in India. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/population-of-cities-towns-and-villages/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Population of cities towns and villages
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 3,540 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed