India Emerges as a Top Driver of Global Urban Growth in 2025: UN Report

India is emerging as one of the strongest contributors to global urban expansion in 2025, according to the United Nations’ World’s Cities in 2025 report, reflecting a long-term worldwide shift towards city-based living. 

India’s Growing Role in the Global Urban Landscape 

Urban areas now accommodate around 45% of the world’s population in 2025, a sharp rise from 20% in 1950, underlining the growing economic and social importance of cities.  

India plays a major role in this trend, with 5 megacities, each having more than 10 million people. New Delhi, with an estimated population exceeding 30 million, ranks among the world’s 4 largest cities, alongside Jakarta, Dhaka, and Tokyo.  

Kolkata features in the global top 10, while Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai continue to act as major urban centres driving growth and employment. 

Revised Measurement Reshapes City Population Estimates 

A key shift in the latest UN assessment is the adoption of the “Degree of Urbanization” method, which defines cities using population size and density rather than administrative limits. This approach captures densely inhabited areas that function as part of a city but fall outside official boundaries.  

As a result, population figures for many Asian cities, including those in India, have increased, allowing for more realistic and consistent global comparisons. The report also highlights Asia’s dominance, with nine of the world’s ten largest cities located in the region and nearly 60% of all megacities found there. 

Smaller Cities Drive the Next Phase of Urban Growth 

Despite the focus on megacities, the report shows that most urban expansion is taking place in smaller and medium-sized cities. Nearly 96% of cities worldwide have populations below 1 million.  

In India, these cities are growing faster than major metros, supported by internal migration, emerging economic opportunities and improved connectivity.  

Kozhikode in Kerala stands out as one of the few rapidly expanding cities globally with a population above 5 million.  

Looking ahead, with India’s urban population projected to exceed 44% by 2050, the emphasis will increasingly be on building cities that are inclusive, resilient and liveable. 

Read More: Economic Survey 2025-26: India Among Top Global Destinations for Private Infrastructure Investment! 

Conclusion  

The UN report highlights that India’s urban future will be shaped not only by large metros but also by expanding medium and small cities. As urbanisation accelerates, the focus must shift towards inclusive planning, resilient infrastructure and improved liveability to ensure sustainable growth across all city sizes. 

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