By Editor As per some recent data, India is the most populated country in the world with almost 1.46 billion people living within the borders of our one of the most diverse nations in the world. But you’ll be shocked to know that as many as 65% of people still live in the rural parts of India, which means, only 35% of India is urbanised. Looking at that, it is safe to say that there are some states that are least urbanised than the others, and that is why we’re up to this list of the Top 10 Least Urbanised States In India 2025 today. So, let’s just get to it then.
1. Himachal Pradesh
To start with, the lowest urbanisation rate of 10.5% in Himachal Pradesh makes it the leading state in this aspect. This tells us that a whopping 90% of the 7 million people here live in the rural environment. The mountainous nature of the state also explains a lot. Vertical and rocky mountains are not the best places to build communities, and besides, most people are happier working in the agrarian sector, producing apples, and at the same time, giving services in the tourism industry. Every major urban spot in the state is filled with trees and plants, especially Shimla, which is the largest; meanwhile, the rest of the area is almost entirely made up of small, beautiful villages.
2. Bihar
The following will be the discussion of Bihar, with its urban occupied area in percentage standing at 11.8%. When it comes to the people living in Bihar, a staggering 130 million number is recorded, of which around 88% live in villages. The plain lands of this state are very suitable for the production of rice and at the same time wheat, hence, agriculture is the very main way of making a living. The urban facilities are scarce right now, so as a result of it, this area is mostly the source of jobs and residences, thus the village life still continues to be strong.
3. Assam
With the urbanization rate of 14.5%, Assam stands at the third position. Among the 35 million population, nearly 85% are from rural areas. Think of tea gardens and river valleys that are characteristic of this state. The folk of this area are generally occupied with farming and fishing rather than city life. Guwahati is the main city, but the frequent floods and still-standing forests don’t allow for the growth of very large cities in the area.
4. Odisha
Odisha has its urbanisation rate at 17.2% among the 48 million persons that form the population of this very Indian state. This, in turn, translates to a figure of over 80% staying in rural areas. The coastal and forested areas are the best places for doing mining and growing paddy. There aren’t many industrial cities, so the traditional rural jobs are the ones dominating most of the state’s districts. It’s all about keeping it simple and village-centric.
5. Meghalaya
Meghalaya has been ranked the fifth most highly urbanised state with 20.5%. Only about 80% of the 3.5 million people in the state of Meghalaya actually live in rural areas. The terrain, with its high altitude, and high rainfall, is neither suitable for farmers nor for agriculture. Shillong, aka the capital city, is the main urban centre but thick forests and a strong local culture counteracted quick urban growth. This is definitely an unusual and unique situation.
6. Uttar Pradesh
It is expected that Uttar Pradesh gets a 22.8% urbanization rate in 2025. The entire population of this state was around 240 million people, of whom roughly 77 percent live in the countryside. The flat lands cover the majority of the district and are good for sugar cane and wheat, hence most people in that area still keep farming as their main source of living. West of Lucknow and further from Kanpur, there are just a handful of major cities, so the rural setup is the dominant feature of the state’s economic activities.
7. Arunachal Pradesh
The state of Arunachal Pradesh has an urbanization rate of 23.4%. About 76%, or more than 1.7 million, residents are still living in rural areas. The thick forests and difficult terrain are the perfect environments for tribal communities and small local agro-based economies. The largest urban area is Itanagar, though the state’s geographic isolation and rich biodiversity have kept the pace of city development very low.
8. Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is urbanized at a rate of 23.8% coming in at the eighth position on this list today. Of its 30 million inhabitants, about 76% remain in the rural areas. The villages in the state are mainly dependent on mining and work related to the forest. Although Raipur is a major center located in Chhattisgarh, the tribal regions and agriculture are so strong that only a few people move. The most important issue is to maintain the traditional culture and resources at the same time.
9. Jharkhand
Jharkhand’s urbanisation rate stands at 24.5%. Approximately 40 million inhabitants, and more than 75% of the population, are scattered throughout the rural regions of Jharkhand. Because of the plateau terrains, rural industries take over the role of the city in the production of coal and iron primarily. Although Ranchi and Jamshedpur have already become big cities, growth from rural industries has become the prevalent source. Cities are still the core of the state.
10. Rajasthan
Capping off the list is Rajasthan with a 25.2% urbanisation rate. The population of 80 million is majorly rural, with about 75% of people living in small towns and villages. The unproductive lands like the deserts, are rendered useful for camel breeding and dry agricultural activity. Even if Jaipur is a major city, the arid climate and cultural heritage are the factors that keep village life still being the backbone of the region.
Conclusion
There you have it. See, sure, these states may be the least urbanised ones, but there is continuous growth happening, and sure enough, that urbanised rate will go up for these in the coming few years or so. And that’ll certainly up the number of people living in the urban city nationwide.