Urban population, per square kilometre in India
India: Urban population, per square kilometre was 169.62 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
169.62 units per square kilometre
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
44th
of 216 countries
All-time high
169.62 units per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
27.07 units per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Urban population, per square kilometre in India, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
India recorded 169.62 units per square kilometre for urban population, per square kilometre in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population, per square kilometre in India peaked at 169.62 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 27.07 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
India ranks 44th of 216 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population, per square kilometre in India, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 27.07 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 27.91 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1963 | 28.79 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 29.73 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 30.7 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 31.68 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1967 | 32.73 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1968 | 33.83 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 34.97 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 36.2 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 37.49 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 38.91 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 40.5 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1974 | 42.26 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 44.16 units per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 46.14 units per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 48.19 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 50.24 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 52.3 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 54.35 units per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 56.3 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 58.22 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 60.15 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 62.1 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 64.07 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 66.06 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 68.08 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 70.13 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 72.24 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 74.41 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 76.64 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 78.9 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 81.19 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 83.48 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 85.81 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 88.19 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 90.63 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 93.13 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 95.71 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 98.37 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 101.16 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 104.02 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 106.92 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 109.93 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 112.99 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 116.1 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 119.26 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 122.47 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 125.8 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 129.25 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 132.67 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 135.86 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 139.07 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 142.25 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 145.38 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 148.56 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 151.74 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 154.88 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 157.97 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 161 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 163.83 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 166.63 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 169.62 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 30.82 units per square kilometre | 27.07 units per square kilometre | 34.97 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 43.64 units per square kilometre | 36.2 units per square kilometre | 52.3 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 63.17 units per square kilometre | 54.35 units per square kilometre | 72.24 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 84.81 units per square kilometre | 74.41 units per square kilometre | 95.71 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 111.7 units per square kilometre | 98.37 units per square kilometre | 125.8 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 143.76 units per square kilometre | 129.25 units per square kilometre | 157.97 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 165.27 units per square kilometre | 161 units per square kilometre | 169.62 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
- 41 Switzerland 191.65 units per square kilometre compare
- 42 Dominican Republic 170.11 units per square kilometre compare
- 43 Gambia 170.09 units per square kilometre compare
- 45 Marshall Islands 169.03 units per square kilometre compare
- 46 Sao Tome and Principe 164.99 units per square kilometre compare
- 47 Rwanda 163.22 units per square kilometre compare
More climate change data for India
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 27.69 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 602,760 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 105,678 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 497,082 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 398.78 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 17,753 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 279,594 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 176,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 103,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 664.21 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population, per square kilometre in India?
- Urban population, per square kilometre in India was 169.62 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 169.62 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.07 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does India rank for urban population, per square kilometre?
- India ranks 44th out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Is urban population, per square kilometre rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Urban population, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Urban population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Urban population ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Urban population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Urban population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.