Largest City in India Now and in 2050
India is the second-largest country worldwide concerning population, with around 1.3 billion citizens. There are 39 cities in India, with some having 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
Mumbai is the most populated city in India and will likely maintain its rank.
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The largest city based on population is Mumbai (previously called Bombay), with 12,691,836 citizens. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and leads India’s economic, financial, and entertainment industries. It is often referred to as the financial capital of India.
Top 5 Biggest Potential Cities in India in 2050
1. Mumbai
Mumbai will likely still be the biggest in India in 2050, with an estimated 42,403,631 citizens. Other cities have high population growth rates, but not enough to surpass Mumbai.
2. Delhi
Delhi is India’s second most populated city and the National Capital Territory.
©AlexAnton/Shutterstock.com
With a population of 10,927,986 citizens, Delhi is India’s second most populated city. 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, still ranking second to Mumbai.
3. Kolkata
Kolkata can be crowded during busy parts of the day.
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With a population of 4,631,392, Kolkata is India’s fourth 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, making it India’s third most populated.
4. Chennai
While Chennai is currently India’s fifth most populated city, it’ll likely be the fourth by 2050.
©iStock.com/AthulKrishnan
Chennai has 4,328,063 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 maintaining its current rank of third.
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The population in Bangalore is 5,104,047, making it the third 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, helping them move up in ranks.
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 | 1 | Mumbai | 42,403,631 | 12,691,836 |
| 2 | 2 | Delhi | 36,156,789 | 10,927,986 |
| 3 | 4 | Kolkata | 33,042,208 | 4,631,392 |
| 4 | 5 | Chennai | 16,278,430 | 4,328,063 |
| 5 | 3 | Bangalore | 15,619,514 | 5,104,047 |
The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Sanjog Mhatre
