India is the second-largest country worldwide concerning population, with around 1.3 billion citizens. There are 39 cities in India, and some have a much larger population than others.
With a fast-growing population, India may overtake other countries in ranking for having the most citizens. Based on 2024 population reviews, here is the largest city in India now and five potential cities that could rank higher in 2050.
The Largest City in India Now
Bustling Delhi includes New Delhi, which contributes to its place as the largest city in India.
©Arkadij Schell/iStock via Getty Images
The largest city based on population is Delhi, with 33,807,403 citizens. Delhi contains New Delhi, the national capital of India.
Top 5 Biggest Potential Cities in India in 2050
1. Mumbai
In addition to its status as India’s biggest city, Mumbai is also one of the wealthiest cities in the world, with a reported 46,000 millionaires.
©vu3kkm/iStock via Getty Images
Mumbai is currently the second most populated city in India, with 21,673,149 citizens. However, 2050 population estimates show it’ll likely rank first by 2050 with an estimated 42,403,631 citizens.
2. Delhi
Delhi is India’s second most populated city and the National Capital Territory.
©AlexAnton/Shutterstock.com
With a population of 33,807,403 citizens, Delhi is India’s most populated city in 2024. It is also India’s National Capital Territory (NCT), including Old and New Delhi. The population estimate for Delhi in 2050 is 36,156,789, ranking second to Mumbai.
3. Kolkata
Kolkata can be crowded during busy parts of the day.
©iStock.com/Roop_Dey
With a population of 15,570,786, Kolkata is India’s third most populated city in 2024. This crowded city has busy streets, and the population is growing fast. By 2050, Kolkata will likely have around 33,042,208 citizens, so it’ll maintain its rank.
4. Chennai
While Chennai is currently India’s fifth most populated city, it’ll likely rise to fourth place by 2050.
©iStock.com/AthulKrishnan
Chennai has 12,053,697 citizens now, making it the fifth most populated city and the capital of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the top tourist cities and is where much of the country’s automobile industry is based. By 2050, it will likely be the fourth most populated in India, with an estimated 16,278,430 citizens.
5. Bangalore
By 2050, Bangalore will likely be India’s fifth most populated city rather than maintain its current rank of third.
©iStock.com/Noppasin
The population in Bangalore is 14,008,262, making it the fourth most populated city in India and the capital of Karnataka. As the technology hub of India, many major IT companies opened in the area, and more will likely follow suit.
However, even with the booming IT industry, Bangalore will likely fall to the fifth most populated city in 2050, with 15,619,514. While Bangalore continues to grow, the growth rate is higher for other cities, which helps them up in rank.
Summary of the Largest City in India Now and in 2050
| Rank in 2050 | Rank Now | City | Estimated Population in 2050 | Population in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Mumbai | 42,403,631 | 21,673,149 |
| 2 | 1 | Delhi | 36,156,789 | 33,807,403 |
| 3 | 3 | Kolkata | 33,042,208 | 15,570,786 |
| 4 | 5 | Chennai | 16,278,430 | 12,053,697 |
| 5 | 4 | Bangalore | 15,619,514 | 14,008,262 |
The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Sanjog Mhatre
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