Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in India
India: Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 265.71 million people in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in India, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
India recorded 265.71 million people for number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in India peaked at 265.71 million people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 20.31 million people, in 1950.
India ranks 2nd of 182 countries on this measure, 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 | 22.53 million people | 20.31 million people | 24.75 million people | 2 |
| 1960s | 33.16 million people | 29.72 million people | 36.60 million people | 2 |
| 1970s | 49.28 million people | 45.09 million people | 53.48 million people | 2 |
| 1980s | 76.49 million people | 67.57 million people | 85.41 million people | 2 |
| 1990s | 119.06 million people | 107.10 million people | 131.03 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 173.34 million people | 160.48 million people | 186.19 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 225.27 million people | 212.27 million people | 238.27 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 265.71 million people | 265.71 million people | 265.71 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.8635 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.6189 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0088 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.3046 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.2053 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 233.06 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in India?
- Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in India was 265.71 million people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 265.71 million people in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.31 million people in 1950.
- How does India rank for number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- India ranks 2nd out of 182 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.