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