Rural population (% of total population) in India was reported at 63.13 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Over 909 million people in India lived in rural areas in 2023, a decrease from 2022. Urban India, although far behind with over 508 million people, had a higher year-on-year growth rate during the measured period.

India: Rural population, percent of total population: The latest value from 2023 is 63.64 percent, a decline from 64.13 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 38.64 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for India from 1960 to 2023 is 73.97 percent. The minimum value, 63.64 percent, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 82.08 percent was recorded in 1960.

Rural population growth (annual %) in India was reported at 0.11312 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Rural population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Rural India was mainly made up of men and women between 15 and 59 years old in 2020. Compared to urban centers, children up to ages ** had a higher share in rural areas during the same time period.

Rural population in India was reported at 916019293 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

India Census: Population: Rural: Female data was reported at 405,967,794.000 Person in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 360,948,755.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: Rural: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 383,458,274.500 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 405,967,794.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 360,948,755.000 Person in 2001. India Census: Population: Rural: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAB001: Census: Population.

The statistic displays the number of elderly people living in rural and urban areas in India between 1961 and 2011. In 2011, over 30 million people with the age of 60 years or above were living in urban areas in India. A large number of elderly population are living in rural areas.

India Census: Population: Rural: Age: Total data was reported at 833,748,852.000 Person in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 742,490,639.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: Rural: Age: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 742,490,639.000 Person from Mar 1991 (Median) to 2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 833,748,852.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 622,796,324.000 Person in 1991. India Census: Population: Rural: Age: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAD003: Census: Population: by Single Age: Rural.

India Census: Population: Rural: Male: Age: 25 data was reported at 9,850,468.000 Person in 2011. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10,733,195.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: Rural: Male: Age: 25 data is updated yearly, averaging 10,733,195.000 Person from Mar 1991 (Median) to 2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11,446,255.000 Person in 1991 and a record low of 9,850,468.000 Person in 2011. India Census: Population: Rural: Male: Age: 25 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAD003: Census: Population: by Single Age: Rural.

In 1951, India’s rural population was approximately 298.6 million, while the urban population was just 62.4 million. In 2011, the rural and urban populations of India rose to 833.7 million and 377.1 million, respectively. The rural population steadily increased by approximately 179% over 60 years. However, the urban population experienced a dramatic rise. It increased by approximately 504% during the same timeframe.

Access to electricity, rural (% of rural population) in India was reported at 99.2 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Access to electricity, rural (% of rural population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

The statistic illustrates the share of elderly people living in India in 2011. over nine percent of the female elderly population were living in rural areas in India. Conversely, the share of male population living in the rural areas was lower at slightly over eight percent

India Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Rural data was reported at 103,504,739.000 Person in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 88,794,744.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Rural data is updated yearly, averaging 96,149,741.500 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 103,504,739.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 88,794,744.000 Person in 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE001: Census: Population: by Religion.

In 2011, the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of rural inhabitants. Bihar stood second in line with approximately 92 million people living in the rural areas during the same time period.

This scatter chart displays rural population (people) against urban population (people) in India. The data is filtered where the date is 2023. The data is about countries per year.

Urban population (% of total population) in India was reported at 36.87 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Urban population (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

India People Practicing Open Defecation: Rural: % of Rural Population data was reported at 17.006 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 20.380 % for 2021. India People Practicing Open Defecation: Rural: % of Rural Population data is updated yearly, averaging 54.448 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2022, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 91.486 % in 2000 and a record low of 17.006 % in 2022. India People Practicing Open Defecation: Rural: % of Rural Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.World Bank.WDI: Social: Access to Services. People practicing open defecation refers to the percentage of the population defecating in the open, such as in fields, forest, bushes, open bodies of water, on beaches, in other open spaces or disposed of with solid waste.;WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org).;Weighted average;This is a disaggregated indicator for Sustainable Development Goal 6.2.1 [https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/].

Forecast: Share of Rural Population Using at Least Basic Drinking Water Services in India 2023 - 2027 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

In 2023, approximately ** percent of the population in Papua New Guinea were living in rural areas. In comparison, approximately ***** percent of the population in Japan were living in rural areas that year. Urbanization and development Despite the desirable outcomes that urbanization entails, these rapid demographic shifts have also brought about unintended changes. For instance, in countries like India, rapid urbanization has led to unsustainable and crowded cities, with **** of the urban population in India estimated to live in slums. In China, population shifts from rural to urban areas have aggravated regional economic disparities. For example, the migration of workers into coastal cities has made possible the creation of urban clusters of immense economic magnitude, with the Yangtze River Delta city cluster accounting for about a ******of the country’s gross domestic product. Megacities and their future Home to roughly 60 percent of the world’s population, the Asia-Pacific region also shelters most of the globe’s largest urban agglomerations. Megacities, a term used for cities or urban areas with a population of over ten million people, are characterized by high cultural diversity and advanced infrastructure. As a result, they create better economic opportunities, and they are often hubs of innovation. For instance, many megacities in the Asia-Pacific region offer high local purchasing power to their residents. Despite challenges like pollution, income inequality, or the rising cost of living, megacities in the Asia-Pacific region have relatively high population growth rates and are expected to expand.