Population in largest city in India
India: Population in largest city was 34.67 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
34.67 million
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
2nd
of 153 countries
All-time high
34.67 million
in 2025
All-time low
5.91 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in India, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in largest city in India is 34.67 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and up 34.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in India peaked at 34.67 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.91 million, in 1960.
That places India 2nd out of 153 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.
Population in largest city in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.91 million | — |
| 1961 | 6.05 million | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 6.18 million | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 6.31 million | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 6.45 million | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 6.59 million | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 6.73 million | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 6.88 million | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 7.02 million | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 7.18 million | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 7.33 million | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 7.49 million | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 7.65 million | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 7.82 million | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 7.99 million | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 8.17 million | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 8.34 million | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 8.53 million | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 8.71 million | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 8.90 million | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 9.20 million | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 9.51 million | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 9.79 million | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 10.08 million | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 10.38 million | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 10.69 million | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 11.00 million | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 11.32 million | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 11.66 million | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 12.00 million | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 12.36 million | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 12.71 million | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 13.05 million | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 13.40 million | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 13.76 million | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 14.14 million | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 14.52 million | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 14.91 million | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 15.31 million | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 15.72 million | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 16.15 million | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 16.50 million | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 16.96 million | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 17.52 million | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 18.09 million | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 18.69 million | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 19.31 million | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 19.95 million | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 20.61 million | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 21.29 million | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 21.99 million | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 22.71 million | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 23.46 million | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 24.24 million | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 25.04 million | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 25.87 million | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 26.72 million | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 27.60 million | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 28.51 million | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 29.40 million | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 30.29 million | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 31.18 million | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 32.07 million | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 32.94 million | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 33.81 million | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 34.67 million | +2.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 34.67 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.61 million, 13.3× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.53 million | 5.91 million | 7.18 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.09 million | 7.33 million | 8.90 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.56 million | 9.20 million | 12.00 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.99 million | 12.36 million | 15.72 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.50 million | 16.15 million | 21.29 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.55 million | 21.99 million | 29.40 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.49 million | 30.29 million | 34.67 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More urban development data for India
- Population in the largest city 6.6% (2025)
- Population density 483.68 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 54.05 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1696 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 248.30 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 2.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 79.61 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 185.3 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 2,241 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in India?
- Population in largest city in India was 34.67 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 34.67 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.91 million in 1960.
- How does India rank for population in largest city?
- India ranks 2nd out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.