The population density of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh in India recorded 829 people for every square kilometer in 2011, the latest available census. This was a doubling compared to the value in 1981.

According to the 2011 census, the population density in the Indian state of Maharashtra was 365 individuals per square kilometer. Located on the Deccan Plateau, it is the second-most populous state in the country. A steady increase in the population of the state can be attributed to growing urban districts such as Mumbai and Pune, with diverse employment opportunities in several sectors.

India's economic powerhouse

With a contribution of over 22 trillion Indian rupees in the financial year 2017, the state of Maharashtra had the highest gross state domestic product in the country. A per capita income of over 175 thousand Indian rupees was estimated across the state for the preceding year. Based on its economic model, the state was a highly preferred destination for domestic and foreign investments.

The most populous Indian state

Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra, was the most populous city after Delhi. As the country's economic core, it serves as the financial and commercial capital while providing numerous job opportunities. Many are attracted to this dream city in search of a lucrative career and to make it big in the world-famous Bollywood film industry.

The southern state of Tamil Nadu in India recorded a population density of 555 people for every square kilometer according to the country's latest census in 2011. This was a significant increase compared to a decade earlier where the figure stood at 480.

India population density for 2021 was 473.42, a 0.8% increase from 2020.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>India population density for 2020 was <strong>469.66</strong>, a <strong>0.96% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>India population density for 2019 was <strong>465.19</strong>, a <strong>1.03% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
<li>India population density for 2018 was <strong>460.45</strong>, a <strong>1.09% increase</strong> from 2017.</li>
</ul>Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.

The north-western state of Rajasthan in India recorded a population density of 200 people for every square kilometer according to the country's latest census in 2011. This was an increase compared to a decade earlier where the figure stood at 165.

The western state of Gujarat in India recorded a population density of 308 people for every square kilometer according to the country's latest census in 2011. This was a significant increase compared to a decade earlier where the figure stood at 258.

Population density of Maharashtra soared by 15.87% from 315 people per square kilometer in 2001 to 365 people per square kilometer in 2011. Since the 23.08% surge in 1961, population density rocketed by 185.16% in 2011. Notes: a. Includes estimated population of Paomata, Mao Maram and Purul sub-divisions of Senapati District of Manipur for 2001. b. For working out the density of India and Jammu & Kashmir the entire area and population of those portions of Jammu & Kashmir which are under illegal occupation of Pakistan and China have not been taken into account. c. India figures include estimated figures for those of the three sub-divisions viz. Mao Maram, Paomata and Purul of Senapati district of Manipur as population census 2001 in these three subdivisions were cancelled due to technical and administrative reasons although a population census was carried out in this sub-division as per schedule.

According to the latest Indian census in 2011, every square kilometer in the southern state of Karnataka was inhabited by 319 people, up from 101 in 1951. The highest population density in the state was in Bangalore.

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Delhi, India metro area from 1950 to 2025.

In 2022, the population density in India remained nearly unchanged at around 479.43 inhabitants per square kilometer. Still, the population density reached its highest value in the observed period in 2022. Population density is calculated by dividing the total population by the total land area, to show the average number of people living there per square kilometer of land.Find more key insights for the population density in countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

This study contains selected electoral and demographic national data for nine nations in the 1950s and 1960s. The data were prepared for the Data Confrontation Seminar on the Use of Ecological Data in Comparative Cross-National Research held under the auspices of the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research on April 1-18, 1969. One of the primary concerns of this international seminar was the need for cooperation in the development of data resources in order to facilitate exchange of data among individual scholars and research groups. Election returns for two or more national and/or local elections are provided for each of the nine nations, as well as ecological materials for at least two time points in the general period of the 1950s and 1960s. While each dataset was received at a single level of aggregation, the data have been further aggregated to at least a second level of aggregation. In most cases, the data can be supplied at the commune or municipality level and at the province or district level as well. Part 1 (Germany, Regierungsbezirke), Part 2 (Germany, Kreise), Part 3 (Germany, Lander), and Part 4 (Germany, Wahlkreise) contain data for all kreise, laender (states), administrative districts, and electoral districts for national elections in the period 1957-1969, and for state elections in the period 1946-1969, and ecological data from 1951 and 1961. Part 5 (France, Canton), and Part 6 (France, Departemente) contain data for the cantons and departements of two regions of France (West and Central) for the national elections of 1956, 1962, and 1967, and ecological data for the years 1954 and 1962. Data are provided for election returns for selected parties: Communist, Socialist, Radical, Federation de Gauche, and the Fifth Republic. Included are raw votes and percentage of total votes for each party. Ecological data provide information on total population, proportion of total population in rural areas, agriculture, industry, labor force, and middle class in 1954, as well as urbanization, crime rates, vital statistics, migration, housing, and the index of "comforts." Part 7 (Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture), Part 8 (Japan, House of Representatives Time Series), Part 9 (Japan, House of (Councilors (Time Series)), and Part 10 (Japan, Prefecture) contain data for the 46 prefectures for 15 national elections between 1949 and 1968, including data for all communities in the prefecture of Kanagawa for 13 national elections, returns for 8 House of Representatives' elections, 7 House of Councilors' elections, descriptive data from 4 national censuses, and ecological data for 1950, 1955, 1960, and 1965. Data are provided for total number of electorate, voters, valid votes, and votes cast by such groups as the Jiyu, Minshu, Kokkyo, Minji, Shakai, Kyosan, and Mushozoku for the Communist, Socialist, Conservative, Komei, and Independent parties for all the 46 prefectures. Population characteristics include age, sex, employment, marriage and divorce rates, total number of live births, deaths, households, suicides, Shintoists, Buddhists, and Christians, and labor union members, news media subscriptions, savings rate, and population density. Part 11 (India, Administrative Districts) and Part 12 (India, State) contain data for all administrative districts and all states and union territories for the national and state elections in 1952, 1957, 1962, 1965, and 1967, the 1958 legislative election, and ecological data from the national censuses of 1951 and 1961. Data are provided for total number of votes cast for the Congress, Communist, Jan Sangh, Kisan Mazdoor Praja, Socialist, Republican, Regional, and other parties, contesting candidates, electorate, valid votes, and the percentage of valid votes cast. Also included are votes cast for the Rightist, Christian Democratic, Center, Socialist, and Communist parties in the 1958 legislative election. Ecological data include total population, urban population, sex distribution, occupation, economically active population, education, literate population, and number of Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jainis, Moslems, Sikhs, and other religious groups. Part 13 (Norway, Province), and Part 14 (Norway, Commune) consist of the returns for four national elections in 1949, 1953, 1957, and 1961, and descriptive data from two national censuses. Data are provided for the total number

From 1950 to 2011, the share of elderly population from 15 to 59 years and above 60 years of age, saw a steady increase in the country. By contrast, a stark decline in the population in the age group from 0 to 14 years could be observed over the same time period.

With almost all major religions being practiced throughout the country, India is known for its religious diversity. Islam makes up the highest share among minority faiths in the country. According to the Indian census of 2011, the Muslim population in Uttar Pradesh more than 35 million, making it the state with the most Muslims.

Socio-economic conditions of Muslims
Muslims seem to lag behind every other religious community in India in terms of living standards, financial stability, education and other aspects, thereby showing poor performance in most of the fields. According to a national survey, 17 percent of the Muslims were categorized under the lowest wealth index, which indicates poor socio-economic conditions.

Growth of Muslim population in India
Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions worldwide. According to India’s census, the Muslim population has witnessed a negative decadal growth of more than 16 percent from 1951 to 1960, presumably due to the partitions forming Pakistan and Bangladesh. The population showed a positive and steady growth since 1961, making up 14 percent of the total population of India . Even though people following Islam were estimated to grow significantly, they would still remain a minority in India compared to 1.3 billion Hindus by 2050.

The median age in India was 27 years old in 2020, meaning half the population was older than that, half younger. This figure was lowest in 1970, at 18.1 years, and was projected to increase to 47.8 years old by 2100. Aging in India India has the second largest population in the world, after China. Because of the significant population growth of the past years, the age distribution remains skewed in favor of the younger age bracket. This tells a story of rapid population growth, but also of a lower life expectancy. Economic effects of a young population Many young people means that the Indian economy must support a large number of students, who demand education from the economy but cannot yet work. Educating the future workforce will be important, because the economy is growing as well and is one of the largest in the world. Failing to do this could lead to high youth unemployment and political consequences. However, a productive and young workforce could provide huge economic returns for India.