India Has Far More Million-Plus Cities Than the UK

Yes, India has significantly more cities with populations over 1 million than the United Kingdom.

• India: ~53 cities >1 million (2021 Census estimates; 46 in 2011 Census). Megacities: Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata (>10M).
• United Kingdom: ~20–25 cities >1 million depending on definition (city proper vs. built-up area vs. metro). London (~9M), Birmingham (~1.1M), Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry, Bradford, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Southampton, Plymouth, Stoke, Wolverhampton.

India's urbanization (35% urban, 480M urban residents) vs UK's (84% urban, 56M) and vastly larger total population (1.43B vs 67M) drive the disparity. India adds ~1 new million-city every 1–2 years; UK adds ~1 per decade.

Note: Definitions vary. UK "city" status is ceremonial (granted by monarch); population metrics use "built-up area subdivisions" (ONS) or "primary urban areas" (Centre for Cities). India uses Census "Urban Agglomerations" or "Municipal Corporations."