1. 4th International Conference on Population Geographies, Hong Kong
Urbanisation And Growth of Million + Cities in India Greetings from India
4th International Conference on Population Geographies, Hong Kong
Dr U V Somayajulu
Mr Tilak Mukherji
TNS India

2. Background
Growth of Urban Centres and concentration of population in urban areas is major transformation in 20th century
Urban population is growing 3 times faster than rural areas
By 2030, three fifth of World Population will be urban
By 2030, three fifth of World’s Urban Population will be in less developed region
India, the second most populous country, is home to large urban population

3. This Paper Analyses Trends and patterns of urbanisation in India
Distribution of Urban Population
Growth of Towns of Different size including Million + cities
Based on the Indian Census data

4. Brief Profile of India Population (2007) 1135.6 millions
Urban Population (2007)
329.3 millions
% Urban Population (2007) 29
Life Exp at Birth (2004)
63 years
IMR (per 1000LB) (2004) 62
% population below poverty line(2003) 31

5. Definition of Urban Areas
All the places with municipality, corporation etc.,
All other places with
Minimum population of 5000
At least 75% male working population in non agricultural pursuits
Density of population of at least 400 persons/Sq Km

6. Definition of Urban Agglomeration
The concept of “Town Group” introduced in 1961 census to understand urban spread
Refined in 1971 with the concept of ‘Urban Agglomeration’ to better understand urban contingents, processes and trends of urbanisation
An Urban Agglomeration constitutes:
A city or Town with continuous outgrowth, the outgrowth being outside the statutory limits but falling within boundaries of adjoining village(s)
Two or more adjoining towns with their outgrowths
A city and one or more adjoining towns with or without all of which form a continuous spread

7. Trends of (Urban) Population (in Millions, Pre Independence)

8. Trends of (Urban) Population (In Millions, Post Independence)

9. Level of Urbanisation

10. Projected India’s Urban Population
Year
Urban Population (‘000s)
Level of Urbanisation(%)
2005
330.12 31
2010
380.21 33
2015
435.11 36
2025
565.80 43
2030
634.05 46

11. No. of UAs/Towns

12. Classification of Towns/UAs
100,000 and above
Class II
50,000 – 99,999
Class III
20,000 – 49,999
Class IV
10,000 – 19,999
Class V
5, ,999
Class VI
<5,000

13. Distribution of Towns by Town Class
Year
Class I
Class II
Class III
Class IV
Class V
Class VI
1901 24 43
130
391
744
479
1911 23 40
135
364
707
485
1921 29 45
145
370
734
571
1931 35 56
183
434
800
509
1941 49 74
242
498
920
407
1951 76 91
327
608
1124
569
1961
102
129
437
719
711
172
1971
148
173
558
827
623
147
1981
216
220
738
1053
739
229
1991
296
341
927
1135
725
185
2001
433
1386
1560
1057
227

14. Distribution of Urban Population by Town Class(%)
Year
Class I
Class II
Class III
Class IV
Class V
Class VI
1901
26.00
11.29
15.64
20.83
20.14
6.10
1911
27.48
10.51
16.40
19.73
19.31
6.57
1921
29.70
10.39
15.92
18.29
18367
7.03
1931
31.20
11.65
16.80
18.00
17.14
5.21
1941
38.23
11.42
16.35
15.78
15.08
3.14
1951
44.63
9.96
15.72
13.63
12.97
3.09
1961
51.42
11.23
16.94
12.77
6.87
0.77
1971
57.42
10.92
16.01
10.94
4.45
0.44
1981
60.42
11.63
19.33
9.54
3.58
0.50
1991
65.42
10.95
13.19
7.77
2.06
0.29
2001
61.48
12.30
15.00
8.08
2.85

15. Million + Cities/UAs Year No. of UAs/Cities
Population of million + UAs/Cities as % of India’s Population
Population of Million + Cities as % of India’s Urban Population
1901 1
0.63
5.84
1911 2
1.10
10.65
1921
1.25
11.14
1931
1.22
10.18
1941
1.67
12.02
1951 5
3.25
18.81
1961 7
4.12
22.93
1971 9
5.08
25.51
1981 12
6.16
26.41
1991 23
8.37
32.54
2001 32
9.98
34.97

16. Largest UAs of India Year UA World Rank Population Popula- tion
UA Rank/
1950
Calcutta
10th
4.1 Mn
Bombay
18th
2.9 Mn
1960
13th
5.5 Mn
1970
14th
6.9 Mn
17th
5.8 Mn
Delhi 28th 3.5 Mn
1980
9th
9.0 Mn
15th
8.1 Mn
Delhi 23rd 5.6 Mn
1995
5th
15.1 Mn
8th
11.9 Mn
Delhi
9.9 Mn
2000
3rd
18.0 Mn
12.9 Mn
Delhi 14th 11.7 Mn
2010
2nd
23.7 Mn
15.6 Mn
Delhi 11th 15.2 Mn
Hyderabad 25th 9.4 Mn
2015
26.2 Mn
Hyderabad
24th
17.3 Mn
10.5 Mn
Delhi 11th 16.9 Mn

17. Growth of Mumbai Metro Popn (Mn) Island City Outer City Suburbs
Metropolitan Mumbai
1981
3.3
4.9
1.7
9.9
1991
3.2
6.8
3.5
13.4
2001
8.6
5.8
17.7
% Share
33.2
50.1
16.8
100
23.7
50.5
25.8
18.8
48.5
32.7
% Change
-3.4
36.2
108.1
35.1
4.8
27.2
67.7
32.3
1.3
42.3
71.3
44.1

18. Concluding Remarks - 1
Urban Popn in India experienced 11 fold increase during , while the total popn increased by 4 times
The total number of towns/UAs increased in case of all size classes, except class VI
Class III, IV and V towns accounting for 3/4th of total number of towns, account for only 1/4th of urban population. Class I towns account for 3/5th of Indian urban popn
During past decade, population share of medium and small towns increased slightly while that of the large towns declined slightly
Analysis of latest data on trends of migration can throw more light on this aspect as the migration to large cities/towns might be on decline

19. Concluding Remarks - 2
All the towns/ UAs experienced considerable increase in population during , but recorded decline during
The No. of million + towns increased significantly in the recent decades, which account for about 1/10th of country’s popn and 1/3 of urban popn
By 2015, India is expected to have 4 of its UAs (Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad) in the group of world’s largest UAs; Mumbai, continues as the 2nd most populous UA with a population of 26.2 million
As a consequence of urbanisation, which is due to rural-urban or (semi) urban –urban migration, No. of towns/UAs with slums, No. of slums and the slum popn is increasing

20. Concluding Remarks - 3
The studies on quality of life in urban India indicate need to provide basic infrastructure and improve access to basic services (safe drinking water, transport, electricity etc)
Need research to understand trends and patterns of different migration streams and assess their contribution for growth of different town size class
Urban planning in medium and small towns needs emphasis as they are likely to grow in the coming days
Studies are also needed to understand growth of slums and slum population and their quality of life

21. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION