Share of population living in urban and rural areas in India
India: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 83.4% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in India, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban and rural areas in India is 83.4%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in India peaked at 83.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 50.7%, in 1950.
India ranks 64th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 50.7% | — |
| 1955 | 53.6% | +5.6% |
| 1960 | 56.6% | +5.5% |
| 1965 | 59.5% | +5.2% |
| 1970 | 62.2% | +4.4% |
| 1975 | 64.9% | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 67.1% | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 69.9% | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 72.6% | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 75.3% | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 77.6% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 79.2% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 80.5% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 81.8% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 83.4% | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 52.2% | 50.7% | 53.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 58.0% | 56.6% | 59.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 63.5% | 62.2% | 64.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 68.5% | 67.1% | 69.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 74.0% | 72.6% | 75.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 78.4% | 77.6% | 79.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 81.2% | 80.5% | 81.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 83.4% | 83.4% | 83.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
- 61 Saudi Arabia 83.6% compare
- 62 China 83.6% compare
- 63 Sao Tome and Principe 83.4% compare
- 65 Gabon 83.1% compare
- 66 Tajikistan 82.8% compare
- 67 Somalia 82.7% compare
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in India?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in India was 83.4% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 83.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.7% in 1950.
- How does India rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- India ranks 64th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.