India has a population density of 1,264 people per square mile compared to the World's average of 141.6 people. India has 24,387 sq ft of land per person. In the list of countries ranked from the most to the least densely populated, India ranked 19th out of 197.
India has 17.8% of the world's population and 2% of all countries' land area.
Population density in India compared to the World's average
India
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 1,264 ppl/mi² | 141.6 ppl/mi² |
| Population density rank | 19/197 | N/A |
| Population |
1474115403
|
8266870341
|
| Land area | 1,147,955 sq mi | 57,506,055 sq mi |
| Land area per capita | 22,057 sq ft | 196,901 sq ft |
| Rural population | 63.1% | 42.3% |
| Urban population | 36.9% | 57.7% |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 10.7% | 28.6% |
India population density by year chart
The chart below plots how population density in India has been changing over time. From 2004 to 2024, population density increased by 27.7%. The population density rank was 17th 21 years ago and is 19th today.
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,264 | 19 |
| 2023 | 1,253 | 19 |
| 2022 | 1,242 | 19 |
| 2021 | 1,232 | 19 |
| 2020 | 1,222 | 19 |
| 2019 | 1,210 | 19 |
| 2018 | 1,197 | 18 |
| 2017 | 1,184 | 18 |
| 2016 | 1,171 | 18 |
| 2015 | 1,157 | 18 |
| 2014 | 1,143 | 18 |
| 2013 | 1,129 | 18 |
| 2012 | 1,114 | 18 |
| 2011 | 1,099 | 18 |
| 2010 | 1,083 | 17 |
| 2009 | 1,068 | 17 |
| 2008 | 1,052 | 17 |
| 2007 | 1,037 | 17 |
| 2006 | 1,022 | 17 |
| 2005 | 1,006 | 17 |
| 2004 | 990 | 17 |
| 2003 | 973 | 17 |
| 2002 | 956 | 17 |
| 2001 | 939 | 17 |
| 2000 | 922 | 17 |
| 1999 | 904 | 16 |
| 1998 | 887 | 17 |
| 1997 | 870 | 17 |
| 1996 | 853 | 17 |
| 1995 | 837 | 17 |
| 1994 | 820 | 17 |
| 1993 | 803 | 18 |
| 1992 | 787 | 18 |
| 1991 | 770 | 19 |
| 1990 | 753 | 20 |
| 1989 | 737 | 20 |
| 1988 | 721 | 20 |
| 1987 | 705 | 20 |
| 1986 | 689 | 19 |
| 1985 | 673 | 19 |
| 1984 | 658 | 19 |
| 1983 | 642 | 19 |
| 1982 | 627 | 20 |
| 1981 | 613 | 20 |
| 1980 | 599 | 21 |
| 1979 | 585 | 21 |
| 1978 | 571 | 22 |
| 1977 | 558 | 22 |
| 1976 | 545 | 22 |
| 1975 | 533 | 21 |
| 1974 | 520 | 22 |
| 1973 | 508 | 22 |
| 1972 | 497 | 22 |
| 1971 | 486 | 23 |
| 1970 | 476 | 23 |
| 1969 | 465 | 24 |
| 1968 | 455 | 24 |
| 1967 | 446 | 24 |
| 1966 | 436 | 24 |
| 1965 | 427 | 24 |
| 1964 | 417 | 24 |
| 1963 | 408 | 25 |
| 1962 | 398 | 27 |
| 1961 | 389 | 27 |
Share of urban population by year chart
The following chart shows the share of the urban population in India from 1960 to 2024: 17.9% of population lived in urban areas in 1960, 27.7% in 2000, and in 2024 the share of the urban population was 36.9%.
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 36.9% | 162 |
| 2023 | 36.4% | 162 |
| 2022 | 35.9% | 163 |
| 2021 | 35.4% | 163 |
| 2020 | 34.9% | 163 |
| 2019 | 34.5% | 163 |
| 2018 | 34% | 162 |
| 2017 | 33.6% | 162 |
| 2016 | 33.2% | 162 |
| 2015 | 32.8% | 162 |
| 2014 | 32.4% | 163 |
| 2013 | 32% | 162 |
| 2012 | 31.6% | 162 |
| 2011 | 31.3% | 161 |
| 2010 | 30.9% | 162 |
| 2009 | 30.6% | 162 |
| 2008 | 30.2% | 162 |
| 2007 | 29.9% | 162 |
| 2006 | 29.6% | 160 |
| 2005 | 29.2% | 160 |
| 2004 | 28.9% | 161 |
| 2003 | 28.6% | 161 |
| 2002 | 28.2% | 161 |
| 2001 | 27.9% | 161 |
| 2000 | 27.7% | 162 |
| 1999 | 27.5% | 161 |
| 1998 | 27.2% | 161 |
| 1997 | 27% | 161 |
| 1996 | 26.8% | 161 |
| 1995 | 26.6% | 161 |
| 1994 | 26.4% | 161 |
| 1993 | 26.2% | 161 |
| 1992 | 26% | 160 |
| 1991 | 25.8% | 160 |
| 1990 | 25.5% | 161 |
| 1989 | 25.3% | 160 |
| 1988 | 25.1% | 159 |
| 1987 | 24.8% | 159 |
| 1986 | 24.6% | 157 |
| 1985 | 24.3% | 157 |
| 1984 | 24.1% | 157 |
| 1983 | 23.9% | 156 |
| 1982 | 23.6% | 152 |
| 1981 | 23.4% | 152 |
| 1980 | 23.1% | 152 |
| 1979 | 22.7% | 152 |
| 1978 | 22.4% | 150 |
| 1977 | 22% | 149 |
| 1976 | 21.7% | 149 |
| 1975 | 21.3% | 148 |
| 1974 | 21% | 148 |
| 1973 | 20.7% | 148 |
| 1972 | 20.3% | 149 |
| 1971 | 20% | 149 |
| 1970 | 19.8% | 148 |
| 1969 | 19.6% | 147 |
| 1968 | 19.4% | 145 |
| 1967 | 19.2% | 145 |
| 1966 | 19% | 146 |
| 1965 | 18.8% | 146 |
| 1964 | 18.6% | 145 |
| 1963 | 18.4% | 144 |
| 1962 | 18.2% | 143 |
| 1961 | 18% | 139 |
| 1960 | 17.9% | 136 |
Densely populated cities
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population density in other countries
people per square mile
Population density
Relevant pages:
India topic pages:
Population density comparisons
