Urban area over the long-term in India
India: Urban area over the long-term was 42,636 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
42,636 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
3rd
of 202 countries
All-time high
42,636 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
2,365 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in India, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
In 2025, urban area over the long-term in India stood at 42,636 km² per grid cell. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 40.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in India peaked at 42,636 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,365 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places India 3rd out of 202 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 area over the long-term in India, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 2,365 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 2,549 km² per grid cell | +7.8% |
| 1200 | 2,741 km² per grid cell | +7.5% |
| 1300 | 2,939 km² per grid cell | +7.2% |
| 1400 | 3,144 km² per grid cell | +7.0% |
| 1500 | 3,356 km² per grid cell | +6.7% |
| 1600 | 3,962 km² per grid cell | +18.1% |
| 1700 | 4,520 km² per grid cell | +14.1% |
| 1710 | 4,587 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1720 | 4,653 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1730 | 4,718 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1740 | 4,781 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1750 | 4,842 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1760 | 4,903 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1770 | 4,962 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1780 | 5,019 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1790 | 5,075 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1800 | 5,129 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1810 | 5,223 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1820 | 4,813 km² per grid cell | -7.8% |
| 1830 | 5,071 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1840 | 4,563 km² per grid cell | -10.0% |
| 1850 | 4,993 km² per grid cell | +9.4% |
| 1860 | 4,774 km² per grid cell | -4.4% |
| 1870 | 4,358 km² per grid cell | -8.7% |
| 1880 | 4,529 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1890 | 5,471 km² per grid cell | +20.8% |
| 1900 | 6,067 km² per grid cell | +10.9% |
| 1910 | 5,316 km² per grid cell | -12.4% |
| 1920 | 5,758 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1930 | 6,545 km² per grid cell | +13.7% |
| 1940 | 7,617 km² per grid cell | +16.4% |
| 1950 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1951 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1965 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1969 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 7,972 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 8,181 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 8,441 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 8,728 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 9,044 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 9,391 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 9,742 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 10,068 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 10,409 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 10,763 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 11,131 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 11,514 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 11,912 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 12,325 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 12,754 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 13,199 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 13,654 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 14,110 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 14,582 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 15,065 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 15,565 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 16,078 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 16,607 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 17,151 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 17,706 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 18,270 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 18,872 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 19,491 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 20,126 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 20,780 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 21,450 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 22,129 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 22,829 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 23,542 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 24,274 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 25,020 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 26,032 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 27,067 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 28,135 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 29,226 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 30,339 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 31,483 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 32,652 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 33,843 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 35,133 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 36,371 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 37,583 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 38,819 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 40,073 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 41,344 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 42,636 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 42,636 km² per grid cell is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 837.49 km² per grid cell, 50.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- India's 42,636 km² per grid cell is above the median for South Asia, which is 680.09 km² per grid cell, 62.7× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 2,365 km² per grid cell | 2,365 km² per grid cell | 2,365 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 2,549 km² per grid cell | 2,549 km² per grid cell | 2,549 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 2,741 km² per grid cell | 2,741 km² per grid cell | 2,741 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 2,939 km² per grid cell | 2,939 km² per grid cell | 2,939 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 3,144 km² per grid cell | 3,144 km² per grid cell | 3,144 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 3,356 km² per grid cell | 3,356 km² per grid cell | 3,356 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 3,962 km² per grid cell | 3,962 km² per grid cell | 3,962 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 4,520 km² per grid cell | 4,520 km² per grid cell | 4,520 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 4,587 km² per grid cell | 4,587 km² per grid cell | 4,587 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 4,653 km² per grid cell | 4,653 km² per grid cell | 4,653 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 4,718 km² per grid cell | 4,718 km² per grid cell | 4,718 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 4,781 km² per grid cell | 4,781 km² per grid cell | 4,781 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 4,842 km² per grid cell | 4,842 km² per grid cell | 4,842 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 4,903 km² per grid cell | 4,903 km² per grid cell | 4,903 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 4,962 km² per grid cell | 4,962 km² per grid cell | 4,962 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 5,019 km² per grid cell | 5,019 km² per grid cell | 5,019 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 5,075 km² per grid cell | 5,075 km² per grid cell | 5,075 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 5,129 km² per grid cell | 5,129 km² per grid cell | 5,129 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 5,223 km² per grid cell | 5,223 km² per grid cell | 5,223 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 4,813 km² per grid cell | 4,813 km² per grid cell | 4,813 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 5,071 km² per grid cell | 5,071 km² per grid cell | 5,071 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 4,563 km² per grid cell | 4,563 km² per grid cell | 4,563 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 4,993 km² per grid cell | 4,993 km² per grid cell | 4,993 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 4,774 km² per grid cell | 4,774 km² per grid cell | 4,774 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 4,358 km² per grid cell | 4,358 km² per grid cell | 4,358 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 4,529 km² per grid cell | 4,529 km² per grid cell | 4,529 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 5,471 km² per grid cell | 5,471 km² per grid cell | 5,471 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 6,067 km² per grid cell | 6,067 km² per grid cell | 6,067 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 5,316 km² per grid cell | 5,316 km² per grid cell | 5,316 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 5,758 km² per grid cell | 5,758 km² per grid cell | 5,758 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 6,545 km² per grid cell | 6,545 km² per grid cell | 6,545 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 7,617 km² per grid cell | 7,617 km² per grid cell | 7,617 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 7,972 km² per grid cell | 7,972 km² per grid cell | 7,972 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 7,972 km² per grid cell | 7,972 km² per grid cell | 7,972 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 8,223 km² per grid cell | 7,972 km² per grid cell | 9,044 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 11,001 km² per grid cell | 9,391 km² per grid cell | 12,754 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 15,372 km² per grid cell | 13,199 km² per grid cell | 17,706 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 21,176 km² per grid cell | 18,270 km² per grid cell | 24,274 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 29,893 km² per grid cell | 25,020 km² per grid cell | 35,133 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 39,471 km² per grid cell | 36,371 km² per grid cell | 42,636 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
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 urban area over the long-term in India?
- Urban area over the long-term in India was 42,636 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 42,636 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,365 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does India rank for urban area over the long-term?
- India ranks 3rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.