[takeaways] • India is now the world's most populous country, home to roughly 1.48 billion people — about 17.8% of everyone on Earth.
• Despite the huge numbers, India's population growth has slowed dramatically, down to around 0.87% a year from over 2% in the mid-1990s.
• Most Indians don't live in cities — only around 37.6% of the population is urban, versus 83.1% in the US. • Delhi (23.3 million+) and Mumbai (21.7 million+) are India's most populous cities, with five more — Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad — topping 10 million residents each.
• Only China comes close to India's population; the US, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Brazil round out the world's seven most populous countries.
• A SIMOVO eSIM for India keeps you connected to maps and translation apps in even the busiest cities. [/takeaways]
As of the time of publishing, India is officially the most populous country in the world — which is an incredible feat, considering it is not the largest country on the planet! Approximately 1.48 billion people currently live in India, meaning if you intend to travel here, you're likely to be rubbing shoulders with a lot of locals and tourists!
In this guide, we take a look at India's population, including its most densely populated cities, and how it compares to other nations that, too, have more citizens than most.
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India's population in context
India's population of 1.48 billion people is, at the time of writing, above and beyond the biggest volume of people settled in any recognized country worldwide. According to Worldometer, however, the population growth has actually slowed down over the past few decades, and only increased slightly in 2023.
As of this article's last update, India's huge population is still growing, but at a rate of around 0.87%. This rate was more than double in the mid-1990s.
Even so, it's an incredible feat, given that the population of India is still approximately 17.8% of the entire global population! That means almost one in five people live here — compare that to the USA, which is supposedly home to around 4% of the world's population. That's less than one in 20 people, globally.
India population density
When looking at India's total population, it's also worth considering its density per square km or per square mile. Again, according to Worldometer, there are 497 people to every square km, or 1,286 people to every square mile.
To put that into perspective, let's look at the USA again — where there are 38 people per square km, or 99 people per square mile, with a total population of more than 349 million people.
This is even more mind boggling when you consider the country's sizes. The USA's total land area is around 9.1 million square km, or 3.5 million square miles. India, meanwhile, is just 2.9 million square km, or 1.1 million square miles! India is less than a third of the USA's size, but more than four times the people.
That means there are a lot of people to squeeze in — and if you have ever explored Indian cities and transit systems before, you'll know firsthand that this is an incredibly densely populated region.
Where do most people live in India?
It's easy to assume that most of India's growing population lives in the cities, but Worldometer says otherwise. In fact, only around 37.6% of India's populace lives in what's regarded as urban areas.
In the US, meanwhile, the number is much higher. Around 83.1% of US citizens live in urban zones, meaning that the more rural reaches of the nation are much less crowded. In India, the population is spread much more evenly.
According to World Population Review, Delhi is the most populated city in India right now, home to more than 23.3 million people. That's more than the individual populations of Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Malawi, Chile, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Belgium… and the list goes on!
The second-most populous city in India is Mumbai, with more than 21.7 million people living there at the time of writing. If you're interested in seeing what Mumbai has to offer, just remember that you'll be joining a population the equivalent size of Kazakhstan or Chad — packed into a relatively small space!
Other highly populated cities in India include Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad, all of which have more than 10 million citizens each.
The least-populated cities in India include Kavaratti, with just over 13,000 people, Leh, with over 34,000 people, and Daman, with over 60,000 citizens. In fact, these three cities are the only ones in India with populations lower than 100,000! WPR's list accounts for 312 other Indian cities, all with populations in six figures or more.
And yet, Delhi isn't the most populated city in the world. That honor is still Shanghai's, in China, with more than 24.7 million citizens at the time of writing. Of the top ten most populous cities worldwide, only three aren't in China or India (they're in the DR Congo, Pakistan, and Turkey).
Other countries with large populations
As it happens, India isn't the only country with a surprisingly large population. As you've likely worked out by now, China is close behind with around 1.412 billion citizens — and only India and China have more than a billion citizens each.
The USA is actually in third place, as Worldometer states, with a population of just over 349 million — a fraction of China's and India's totals. Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Brazil all have more than 200 million citizens each, while Bangladesh, Russia, and Ethiopia complete the top ten.
The five territories noted by Worldometer as having the least number of people are Holy See, Niue, Tokelau, the Falkland Islands, and Montserrat.
If you're wondering where some of the biggest destinations we've covered in the SIMOVO Journal place, Japan is 12th, Turkey is 18th, Germany is 19th, the United Kingdom is 22nd, and France is 23rd. Surprisingly, despite its size ranking it as the second-biggest country on the planet, Canada is only the 38th most populous — with over 40 million citizens.
For perspective, Delhi and Mumbai have more citizens combined than Canada, total. Incredible!
Tips for traveling to India as a newbie
If you've never visited India before and have yet to experience its fabulous sights, sounds, and tastes — or the hustle and bustle of its cities — here are some simple tips to keep in mind and to practice before you land.
[warning]Always drink bottled water when visiting India — and the same applies to rinsing out your mouth and using ice. Unfortunately, the tap water here isn't guaranteed safe, so unless you can be sure that any water you use is filtered or from bottled sources, it's just not worth the risk.[/warning] [warning]Always make sure that you're cleared to visit India after visiting your doctor or physician. They will let you know what vaccinations and medications are recommended for traveling to the region. Ideally, let your physician know that you're traveling at least two months before your trip.[/warning] [tip title="Download an eSIM before you land"]Make sure to download an eSIM for India from SIMOVO to save money on high roaming costs and to save on the hassle of hunting down WiFi hotspots.[/tip] [tip title="Follow the longest lines for street food"]When checking out food in India from street vendors, make a beeline for those stalls with the longest lines — these are likely to be the tastiest and the most trustworthy.[/tip] [tip title="Use ride-hailing apps in big cities"]Navigating street transit can be difficult, so try to use ride-hailing apps like Uber if you're exploring India's biggest cities.[/tip] [tip title="Carry cash for small businesses and street vendors"]You can use cards to pay at upscale restaurants and resorts, but make sure you keep cash to hand if you'd like to buy from small businesses and street food vendors.[/tip] [tip title="Dress conservatively and remove shoes where expected"]Follow a conservative dress code and always remove shoes when you enter certain buildings, such as homes and holy places.[/tip] [tip title="Use your right hand for eating and greeting"]Use your right hand to eat, greet, and pass items — the left hand is generally considered unclean in India.[/tip] [faq] [q]How many people live in India?[/q] [a]Approximately 1.48 billion, making it the world's most populous country.[/a] [q]Is India more populous than China?[/q] [a]Yes — India has around 1.48 billion people, compared to China's roughly 1.412 billion.[/a] [q]What is the most populated city in India?[/q] [a]Delhi, with more than 23.3 million residents, followed by Mumbai with more than 21.7 million.[/a] [q]Do most people in India live in cities?[/q] [a]No — only around 37.6% of India's population lives in urban areas, compared to 83.1% in the US.[/a] [q]What's the least populated city in India?[/q] [a]Kavaratti, with just over 13,000 people, is the least-populated city on record, followed by Leh and Daman.[/a] [/faq] [esim flag="🇮🇳" label="India" data="10GB · 30 days" price="$18.50" href="/products/india" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No contract"]Get connected before you touch down in India[/esim]
