Share urban and rural population in India
India: Share urban and rural population was 35.69 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share urban and rural population in India, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
India recorded 35.69 for share urban and rural population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share urban and rural population in India peaked at 35.69 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 17.19, in 1950.
That places India 197th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Share urban and rural population in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 17.19 | — |
| 1951 | 17.33 | +0.8% |
| 1952 | 17.42 | +0.6% |
| 1953 | 17.5 | +0.5% |
| 1954 | 17.57 | +0.4% |
| 1955 | 17.62 | +0.3% |
| 1956 | 17.67 | +0.3% |
| 1957 | 17.72 | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 17.78 | +0.3% |
| 1959 | 17.85 | +0.4% |
| 1960 | 17.93 | +0.4% |
| 1961 | 18.02 | +0.6% |
| 1962 | 18.14 | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 18.28 | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 18.44 | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 18.62 | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 18.81 | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 19.02 | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 19.24 | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 19.47 | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 19.72 | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 19.97 | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 20.28 | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 20.64 | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 21.04 | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 21.48 | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 21.92 | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 22.36 | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 22.78 | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 23.17 | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 23.51 | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 23.79 | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 24.03 | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 24.25 | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 24.46 | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 24.65 | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 24.84 | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 25.02 | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 25.2 | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 25.39 | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 25.58 | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 25.78 | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 25.98 | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 26.18 | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 26.37 | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 26.57 | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 26.76 | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 26.97 | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 27.18 | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 27.41 | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 27.65 | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 27.9 | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 28.18 | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 28.47 | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 28.77 | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 29.09 | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 29.43 | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 29.78 | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 30.14 | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 30.52 | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 30.9 | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 31.27 | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 31.59 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 31.91 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 32.23 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 32.55 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 32.87 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 33.18 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 33.5 | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 33.81 | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 34.13 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 34.44 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 34.76 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 35.07 | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 35.38 | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 35.69 | +0.9% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 35.69 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.87, 70% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 35.69 is below the median for South Asia, which is 39.1, 91% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17.57 | 17.19 | 17.85 | 10 |
| 1960s | 18.6 | 17.93 | 19.47 | 10 |
| 1970s | 21.34 | 19.72 | 23.17 | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.51 | 23.51 | 25.39 | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.48 | 25.58 | 27.41 | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.99 | 27.65 | 30.52 | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.38 | 30.9 | 33.81 | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.91 | 34.13 | 35.69 | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
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 urban and rural population in India?
- Share urban and rural population in India was 35.69 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share urban and rural population recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 35.69 in 2025.
- What is the lowest share urban and rural population recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.19 in 1950.
- How does India rank for share urban and rural population?
- India ranks 197th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share urban and rural population rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. 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 Share urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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