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 August 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 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 growth (annual %) in India was reported at 0.09713 % in 2024, 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 July of 2025.

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 August 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.

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.

Historical dataset showing India rural population by year from 1960 to 2023.

India Census: Population: Rural data was reported at 833,748,852.000 Person in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 742,617,747.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: Rural data is updated yearly, averaging 329,471,274.500 Person from Mar 1901 (Median) to 2011, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 833,748,852.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 212,544,454.000 Person in 1901. India Census: Population: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.GAB001: Census: Population.

In 1951, India’s total rural population was approximately 298 million, while the urban population was only about 62 million. By 2011, these numbers grew to around 833 million and 377 million, respectively. This represents a 179% increase in rural population and a staggering 504% increase in urban population over the 60-year period.

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 July of 2025.

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.

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 August of 2025.

This horizontal bar chart displays rural population (people) by region using the aggregation sum in India. The data is filtered where the date is 2023. The data is about countries per year.

India Census: Population: Rural: Female: Age: 25 data was reported at 9,030,764.000 Person in 2011. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9,846,486.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: Rural: Female: Age: 25 data is updated yearly, averaging 9,846,486.000 Person from Mar 1991 (Median) to 2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11,438,732.000 Person in 1991 and a record low of 9,030,764.000 Person in 2011. India Census: Population: Rural: Female: 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.

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.

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.

This horizontal bar chart displays rural population (people) by capital city using the aggregation sum in India. The data is about countries per year.

The dataset contains Decade and State wise Urban, Rural, Total Population and Decadal Growth Rate

Note: 1. The Population figures exclude population of areas under unlawful occupation of Pakistan and China, where Census could not be taken. 2. In Arunachal Pradesh, the census was conducted for the first time in 1961. 3. Population data of Assam include Union Territory of Mizoram, which was carved out of Assam after the 1971. 4. The 1981 Census could not be held in Assam. Total Population for 1981 has been worked out by Interpolation. 5. The 1991 Census could not be held in Jammu & Kashmir. Total Population for 1991 has been worked out by Interpolation. 6. India and Manipur figures include estimated Population for those of the three sub-divisions viz., Mao Maram,Paomata and Purul of Senapati district of Manipur as census result of 2001 in these three sub-divisions were cancelled due to technical and administrative reasons