Share of population living in rural areas in India
India: Share of population living in rural areas was 16.61 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
16.61
World rank
173rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
49.25
in 1950
All-time low
16.61
in 2020
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Share of population living in rural areas in India, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
India recorded 16.61 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 49.25 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 16.61, 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 | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 49.25 | — |
| 1955 | 46.4 | -5.8% |
| 1960 | 43.43 | -6.4% |
| 1965 | 40.47 | -6.8% |
| 1970 | 37.84 | -6.5% |
| 1975 | 35.13 | -7.2% |
| 1980 | 32.89 | -6.4% |
| 1985 | 30.13 | -8.4% |
| 1990 | 27.39 | -9.1% |
| 1995 | 24.67 | -9.9% |
| 2000 | 22.37 | -9.3% |
| 2005 | 20.81 | -7.0% |
| 2010 | 19.5 | -6.3% |
| 2015 | 18.18 | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 16.61 | -8.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 16.61 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 28.75, 58% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 16.61 is below the median for South Asia, which is 22.01, 75% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 47.83 | 46.4 | 49.25 | 2 |
| 1960s | 41.95 | 40.47 | 43.43 | 2 |
| 1970s | 36.48 | 35.13 | 37.84 | 2 |
| 1980s | 31.51 | 30.13 | 32.89 | 2 |
| 1990s | 26.03 | 24.67 | 27.39 | 2 |
| 2000s | 21.59 | 20.81 | 22.37 | 2 |
| 2010s | 18.84 | 18.18 | 19.5 | 2 |
| 2020s | 16.61 | 16.61 | 16.61 | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
- 170 Somalia 17.33 compare
- 171 Tajikistan 17.22 compare
- 172 Gabon 16.91 compare
- 174 Sao Tome and Principe 16.56 compare
- 175 China 16.36 compare
- 176 Saudi Arabia 16.35 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)
- Population growth rate -0.512 (2100)
- Population density 506.27 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 66.77 million (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 16.61 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 49.25 in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.61 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).