China vs India: Population in the largest city
China
3.3%
in 2025
India
6.6%
in 2025
China rank
153rd
India rank
151st
Population in the largest city over time
- China
- India
How they compare
India currently reports 6.6% against 3.3% in China, a difference of 3.3%.
That makes India's figure about 2.0 times China's.
Across all 66 years both countries report, India has been ahead every year.
China ranks 153rd and India ranks 151st of 153 countries.
India has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | India | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.1% | 7.3% | 2.2% | India |
| 1970s | 3.7% | 6.3% | 2.6% | India |
| 1980s | 2.9% | 5.6% | 2.7% | India |
| 1990s | 3.1% | 5.5% | 2.5% | India |
| 2000s | 3.1% | 5.6% | 2.5% | India |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 6.0% | 3.0% | India |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 6.5% | 3.4% | India |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population in the largest city, China or India?
- India, at 6.6% against 3.3% in China as of 2025.
- What is the difference in population in the largest city between China and India?
- 3.3%, with India ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and India?
- 66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
- How do China and India rank globally for population in the largest city?
- China ranks 153rd and India ranks 151st of 153 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.