evidence: What India Becoming the World's Most Populous Country Means Continued population growth in India and depopulation in China mean that India is now assuming the throne as the world’s most populous country. From population size alone, not much can be inferred about India’s future, but a deeper dive into its demographic dynamics shows that the country’s leaders need to move quickly to make the most of their favorable age structure and maximize the country’s opportunity for accelerated economic growth. [...] India is still relatively rural, although Indian cities are steadily growing. Delhi has been one of the world’s fastest growing cities, but on the whole India’s urbanization has lagged compared to what is expected given India’s global prominence. The United Nations places India’s urbanization at only 33 percent—China’s urbanization, in contrast, is 65 percent. Urbanization has historically been a key indicator of economic potential because it concentrates services, ideas, and jobs, so India’s low urbanization places a ceiling on their economic growth. Using recent urban data, one spatial modeling study projected five key Indian cities to grow an average of 1.5 to 2 times in the next decade. India’s National Commission on Population expects to reach over 38 percent by the middle of next decade, but that is still quite low. So, India has high urban growth potential, but is far behind the curve.