Number of people living in urban and rural areas in India
India: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 522.44 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
522.44 million people
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
2nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
522.44 million people
in 2025
All-time low
59.52 million people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in India, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
India recorded 522.44 million people for number of people living in urban and rural areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in India peaked at 522.44 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 59.52 million people, in 1950.
That places India 2nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in India, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 59.52 million people | — |
| 1951 | 61.32 million people | +3.0% |
| 1952 | 63.05 million people | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 64.78 million people | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 66.53 million people | +2.7% |
| 1955 | 68.32 million people | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 70.16 million people | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 72.01 million people | +2.6% |
| 1958 | 73.93 million people | +2.7% |
| 1959 | 75.98 million people | +2.8% |
| 1960 | 78.15 million people | +2.9% |
| 1961 | 80.49 million people | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 82.97 million people | +3.1% |
| 1963 | 85.59 million people | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 88.38 million people | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 91.26 million people | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 94.20 million people | +3.2% |
| 1967 | 97.31 million people | +3.3% |
| 1968 | 100.57 million people | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 103.96 million people | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 107.62 million people | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 111.47 million people | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 115.67 million people | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 120.42 million people | +4.1% |
| 1974 | 125.64 million people | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 131.29 million people | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 137.19 million people | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 143.28 million people | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 149.38 million people | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 155.50 million people | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 161.59 million people | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 167.39 million people | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 173.10 million people | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 178.84 million people | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 184.65 million people | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 190.50 million people | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 196.41 million people | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 202.41 million people | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 208.51 million people | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 214.78 million people | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 221.25 million people | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 227.87 million people | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 234.60 million people | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 241.38 million people | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 248.19 million people | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 255.12 million people | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 262.21 million people | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 269.46 million people | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 276.91 million people | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 284.56 million people | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 292.48 million people | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 300.76 million people | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 309.26 million people | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 317.91 million people | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 326.85 million people | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 335.95 million people | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 345.19 million people | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 354.60 million people | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 364.12 million people | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 374.01 million people | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 384.29 million people | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 394.44 million people | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 403.93 million people | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 413.50 million people | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 422.93 million people | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 432.24 million people | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 441.69 million people | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 451.16 million people | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 460.49 million people | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 469.69 million people | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 478.69 million people | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 487.09 million people | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 495.41 million people | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 504.30 million people | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 513.33 million people | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 522.44 million people | +1.8% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 522.44 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million people, 78.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 522.44 million people is above the median for South Asia, which is 12.30 million people, 42.5× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 67.56 million people | 59.52 million people | 75.98 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 90.29 million people | 78.15 million people | 103.96 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 129.75 million people | 107.62 million people | 155.50 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 187.82 million people | 161.59 million people | 214.78 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 252.15 million people | 221.25 million people | 284.56 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 332.11 million people | 292.48 million people | 374.01 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 427.44 million people | 384.29 million people | 469.69 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 500.21 million people | 478.69 million people | 522.44 million people | 6 |
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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in India?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in India was 522.44 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 522.44 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.52 million people in 1950.
- How does India rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- India ranks 2nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.