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
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.
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
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 236,763 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
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.