Urban population in India
India: Urban population was 522.44 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in India, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in India is 522.44 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in India peaked at 522.44 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 78.15 million, in 1960.
That places India 2nd out of 218 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 population in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 78.15 million | — |
| 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 12.15 million, 43.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 in India?
- Urban population in India was 522.44 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 522.44 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.15 million in 1960.
- How does India rank for urban population?
- India ranks 2nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban 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 World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.