Where did India's population grow, and where did it shrink?

Over the past three decades, India’s population has experienced remarkable changes, with growth and decline playing out across the country in fine detail. Smaller towns and peri-urban regions — non-urban landscape that surrounds or is adjacent to a metropolitan area — have also grown, reflecting the spillover effects of urbanisation Urban areas have seen significant growth, with large clusters around existing metropolises and industrial hubs. Smaller towns and peri-urban regions — non-urban landscape that surrounds or is adjacent to a metropolitan area — have also grown, reflecting the spillover effects of urbanisation Rural decline: Many rural areas show decreased population density, particularly in regions with low economic development or harsh environmental conditions. Out-migration from rural zones to urban areas has been a key driver of this decline Many rural areas show decreased population density, particularly in regions with low economic development or harsh environmental conditions. This reflects balanced population retention, likely due to local economic opportunities Coastal growth: Coastal regions have emerged as hotspots for population growth, driven by industrialisation, trade, and urbanisation in port cities Coastal regions have emerged as hotspots for population growth, driven by industrialisation, trade, and urbanisation in port cities Uneven growth patterns: The data shows stark contrasts in growth, with some areas witnessing rapid population increases while others experience stagnation or decline within a few kilometres What the data says The GHSL data, derived from satellite imagery and census records, provides an unparalleled look at population changes at the one-kilometre resolution: Growth areas are depicted in shades of blue, highlighting regions of increased population density Declining zones are marked in red, signalling population loss Stable areas are yellow, representing little to no change in density This high-resolution view moves beyond state or district boundaries, offering a bottom-up perspective on demographic shifts.