Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in India
India: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 39.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in India, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in India stood at 39.5%.
That represents a change of down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in India peaked at 40.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 19.5%, in 1950.
India ranks 102nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 19.5% | — |
| 1955 | 21.2% | +8.5% |
| 1960 | 23.0% | +8.6% |
| 1965 | 25.1% | +8.9% |
| 1970 | 27.3% | +9.1% |
| 1975 | 29.7% | +8.8% |
| 1980 | 30.3% | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 31.1% | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 31.9% | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 34.5% | +8.0% |
| 2000 | 37.1% | +7.6% |
| 2005 | 38.5% | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 39.5% | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 40.1% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 39.5% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 20.3% | 19.5% | 21.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 24.0% | 23.0% | 25.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 28.5% | 27.3% | 29.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 30.7% | 30.3% | 31.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 33.2% | 31.9% | 34.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 37.8% | 37.1% | 38.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 39.8% | 39.5% | 40.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 39.5% | 39.5% | 39.5% | 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 population living in cities, towns and rural areas in India?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in India was 39.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 40.1% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.5% in 1950.
- How does India rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- India ranks 102nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.