Share of population living in rural areas in India
India: Share of population living in rural areas was 16.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in 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
India recorded 16.6% for share of population living in rural areas in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in India peaked at 49.3% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 16.6%, in 2020.
India ranks 173rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 49.3% | — |
| 1955 | 46.4% | -5.8% |
| 1960 | 43.4% | -6.4% |
| 1965 | 40.5% | -6.8% |
| 1970 | 37.8% | -6.5% |
| 1975 | 35.1% | -7.2% |
| 1980 | 32.9% | -6.4% |
| 1985 | 30.1% | -8.4% |
| 1990 | 27.4% | -9.1% |
| 1995 | 24.7% | -9.9% |
| 2000 | 22.4% | -9.3% |
| 2005 | 20.8% | -7.0% |
| 2010 | 19.5% | -6.3% |
| 2015 | 18.2% | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 16.6% | -8.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 47.8% | 46.4% | 49.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 42.0% | 40.5% | 43.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 36.5% | 35.1% | 37.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 31.5% | 30.1% | 32.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 26.0% | 24.7% | 27.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 21.6% | 20.8% | 22.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 18.8% | 18.2% | 19.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 16.6% | 16.6% | 16.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
- 170 Somalia 17.3% compare
- 171 Tajikistan 17.2% compare
- 172 Gabon 16.9% compare
- 174 Sao Tome and Principe 16.6% compare
- 175 China 16.4% compare
- 176 Saudi Arabia 16.4% 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 rural areas in India?
- Share of population living in rural areas in India was 16.6% 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 rural areas recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 49.3% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.6% in 2020.
- How does India rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- India ranks 173rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.8%. 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 major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.