Rural vs Urban: India’s Population Dynamics in 2025

India’s population is divided between vibrant cities and serene villages, influencing the lifestyles and occupations of its inhabitants.

In 2025, the rural demographic in India constitutes 63.13% of the total population of 1.463 billion, while urban regions account for 36.87%.

My tables provide a detailed breakdown of the rural population by state and the urban percentages for all 28 states and 8 union territories.

These statistics reveal significant disparities—some states maintain strong rural traditions, whereas others are rapidly urbanizing.

State-wise Rural population in India

Rank	State/Union Territory	% of Rural Population
1	Himachal Pradesh	90.0*
2	Bihar	88.0
3	Assam	85.0*
4	Odisha	83.0*
5	Meghalaya	80.0*
6	Chhattisgarh	78.0*
7	Jharkhand	76.0*
8	Uttar Pradesh	75.0
9	Arunachal Pradesh	74.0*
10	Madhya Pradesh	73.0*
11	Rajasthan	72.0*
12	Nagaland	71.0*
13	Tripura	70.0*
14	Manipur	68.0*
15	West Bengal	67.0*
16	Sikkim	66.0*
17	India (National Average)	63.13
18	Andhra Pradesh	62.0*
19	Karnataka	60.0*
20	Uttarakhand	60.0*
21	Haryana	58.0*
22	Punjab	58.0*
23	Jammu and Kashmir	57.0*
24	Gujarat	56.0*
25	Telangana	54.0*
26	Kerala	52.0*
27	Maharashtra	50.0*
28	Tamil Nadu	48.0*
29	Goa	47.0*
30	Mizoram	45.0*
31	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	40.0*
32	Ladakh	40.0*
33	DNHDD (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)	38.0*
34	Puducherry	30.0*
35	Chandigarh	25.0*
36	Delhi	10.0*

The initial table ranks states according to the percentage of rural population in India for 2025, with higher figures indicating a greater number of residents in villages.

Himachal Pradesh tops the list with 90.0%, followed by Bihar (88.0%), Assam (85.0%), Odisha (83.0%), and Meghalaya (80.0%).

The national average stands at 63.13%, while Delhi (10.0%) and Chandigarh (25.0%) are at the bottom of the rankings.

The significant rural proportion in Himachal Pradesh is attributed to its mountainous landscape, which supports agriculture and small village communities.

Bihar’s 88.0% reflects a strong dependence on farming, with the majority of the population engaged in agricultural work rather than office jobs.

Assam and Odisha exhibit similar trends, with tea estates and rice fields sustaining their rural populations. Meghalaya’s 80.0% is linked to tribal groups residing in elevated villages.

What accounts for the low rural percentages in certain states? Delhi’s 10.0% is a consequence of its identity as a city-state, attracting migrants seeking employment in commercial and retail sectors.

Chandigarh’s 25.0% illustrates its organized urban planning, which emphasizes government infrastructure and contemporary living.

State-wise Urban population in India

Rank	State/Union Territory	% of Urban Population
1	Delhi	90.0*
2	Chandigarh	75.0*
3	Puducherry	70.0*
4	DNHDD (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)	62.0*
5	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	60.0*
6	Ladakh	60.0*
7	Mizoram	55.0*
8	Goa	53.0*
9	Tamil Nadu	52.0*
10	Maharashtra	50.0*
11	Kerala	48.0*
12	Telangana	46.0*
13	Gujarat	44.0*
14	Haryana	42.0*
15	Jammu and Kashmir	43.0*
16	Punjab	42.0*
17	Karnataka	40.0*
18	Uttarakhand	40.0*
19	Andhra Pradesh	38.0*
20	India (National Average)	36.87
21	Sikkim	34.0*
22	West Bengal	33.0*
23	Manipur	32.0*
24	Tripura	30.0*
25	Nagaland	29.0*
26	Rajasthan	28.0*
27	Madhya Pradesh	27.0*
28	Arunachal Pradesh	26.0*
29	Uttar Pradesh	25.0
30	Jharkhand	24.0*
31	Chhattisgarh	22.0*
32	Meghalaya	20.0*
33	Odisha	17.0*
34	Assam	15.0*
35	Bihar	12.0
36	Himachal Pradesh	10.0*

The second table categorizes states based on the percentage of their urban population, where higher figures indicate a greater number of city residents.

Delhi leads with an impressive 90.0%, followed by Chandigarh at 75.0%, Puducherry at 70.0%, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu at 62.0%, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 60.0%.

The national average stands at 36.87%, while Himachal Pradesh at 10.0% and Bihar at 12.0% fall behind.

Delhi’s urban population share of 90.0% is attributed to its status as the capital, which provides numerous job opportunities in both government and business sectors, attracting individuals from rural areas.

Chandigarh’s 75.0% is a result of its contemporary urban planning as a union territory capital. Puducherry’s 70.0% is linked to its coastal towns and the tourism industry.

The 62.0% urbanization in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu is driven by industrial centers that draw in workers.

In contrast, states like Himachal Pradesh, with only 10.0% urbanization, remain predominantly rural due to the challenging mountainous terrain that complicates urban development, coupled with a preference for village life among the population.

Bihar’s urban share of 12.0% indicates a sluggish pace of urbanization, with the majority of its residents continuing to engage in agriculture.

Why some states have higher rural population?

Several elements account for the significant variation in the rural population across India:

Geography: States with mountainous terrain, such as Himachal Pradesh (90.0% rural), tend to favor smaller villages over larger cities due to the challenging landscape.

In contrast, coastal regions like Goa (47.0% rural, 53.0% urban) find it easier to develop urban areas that support trade and tourism.

Economy: States with a strong agricultural focus, like Bihar (88.0% rural), retain their populations in villages for farming employment.

Conversely, industrialized states such as Gujarat (56.0% rural, 44.0% urban) attract migrants to urban centers for factory jobs.

Migration: Urban centers like Delhi (90.0% urban) draw villagers in search of improved wages and educational opportunities, thereby increasing urban demographics.

Rural states such as Odisha (83.0% rural) experience a loss of youth to cities, although inadequate infrastructure keeps many residents in their hometowns.

Government Policies: States like Tamil Nadu (48.0% rural, 52.0% urban) promote urbanization through initiatives like IT parks in Chennai.

In contrast, northeastern states such as Arunachal Pradesh (74.0% rural) prioritize tribal protections, resulting in less focus on urban development.

Historical Trends: Kerala’s rural population of 52.0% reflects a balance between villages and towns, a result of early land reforms, while Maharashtra’s urban population of 50.0% has grown due to the historical significance of Mumbai as a colonial port.

Progress and Challenges

India’s urban population is projected to increase from 31% in 2011 to 36.87% by 2025, as cities provide employment opportunities in technology and services (World Bank, 2024).

Southern states like Tamil Nadu are at the forefront of this transition, with urban growth rates of 4% per decade (Statista, 2025).

However, rural areas face significant challenges—states like Bihar struggle with poverty in villages, compounded by a lack of educational and healthcare facilities.

Additionally, urban overcrowding in Delhi places immense pressure on water resources and housing availability.

Source

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. (2021). National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21: India report. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
• Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Government of India. (2023). SRS statistical report 2023