History
India’s population, 1901 to 2036
India counted 23,83,96,327 people in 1901 and 1,21,08,54,977 in 2011, a 5.1-fold rise. Growth peaked at 24.80% in the decade to 1971 and has slowed every decade since. The official projection reaches 151.83 crore by 2036.
- Census → Official projection
- UN / World Bank (mid-year)
- Census
- Official projection
152 cr 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Census → Official projection | UN / World Bank (mid-year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 23,83,96,327 | – |
| 1911 | 25,20,93,390 | – |
| 1921 | 25,13,21,213 | – |
| 1931 | 27,89,77,238 | – |
| 1941 | 31,86,60,580 | – |
| 1951 | 36,10,88,090 | – |
| 1960 | – | 43,59,90,338 |
| 1961 | 43,92,34,771 | – |
| 1965 | – | 49,01,40,146 |
| 1970 | – | 54,58,64,268 |
| 1971 | 54,81,59,652 | – |
| 1975 | – | 61,13,09,535 |
| 1980 | – | 68,73,54,025 |
| 1981 | 68,33,29,097 | – |
| 1985 | – | 77,26,47,793 |
| 1990 | – | 86,49,72,221 |
| 1991 | 84,64,21,039 | – |
| 1995 | – | 96,03,01,044 |
| 2000 | – | 1,05,79,22,733 |
| 2001 | 1,02,87,37,436 | – |
| 2005 | – | 1,15,46,76,322 |
| 2010 | – | 1,24,34,81,564 |
| 2011 | 1,21,08,54,977 | – |
| 2015 | – | 1,32,80,24,498 |
| 2016 | 1,29,02,35,000 | – |
| 2020 | – | 1,40,26,17,695 |
| 2021 | 1,36,13,43,000 | – |
| 2025 | – | 1,46,38,65,525 |
| 2026 | 1,42,34,35,000 | – |
| 2031 | 1,47,55,19,000 | – |
| 2036 | 1,51,82,88,000 | – |
* Official projection
Every census since 1901
| 1901 | 23,83,96,327 | 23.84 crore | – |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | 25,20,93,390 | 25.21 crore | +5.75% |
| 1921 | 25,13,21,213 | 25.13 crore | −0.31% |
| 1931 | 27,89,77,238 | 27.9 crore | +11.00% |
| 1941 | 31,86,60,580 | 31.87 crore | +14.22% |
| 1951 | 36,10,88,090 | 36.11 crore | +13.31% |
| 1961 | 43,92,34,771 | 43.92 crore | +21.64% |
| 1971 | 54,81,59,652 | 54.82 crore | +24.80% |
| 1981 | 68,33,29,097 | 68.33 crore | +24.66% |
| 1991 | 84,64,21,039 | 84.64 crore | +23.87% |
| 2001 | 1,02,87,37,436 | 102.87 crore | +21.54% |
| 2011 | 1,21,08,54,977 | 121.09 crore | +17.70% |
- • 1911–1921 is the only decade India’s population fell, after the 1918 influenza pandemic and famine.
- • Figures are on India’s present boundaries, as published in Census 2011 Table A-2.
- • 2026 and later years are official projections, not counts.