For India, Esri provides a standard demographics dataset sourced from data supplied by Michael Bauer Research GmbH, an advanced demographics dataset sourced from data supplied by Esri India, and an ArcGIS Places dataset sourced from data supplied by Esri India. Visit Where to find Esri Location Data to learn more about using standard and advanced demographics and ArcGIS Places.
Release dates
- The standard demographics dataset was updated in February 2025; the vintage is 2024.
- The advanced demographics dataset was updated in February 2025; the vintage is 2011 with projected populations from 2011-2036.
- The ArcGIS Places dataset was updated in May 2024. This is an annual dataset.
Settlement points
- Esri's Indian standard demographics settlement points use the 2023 European Commission Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL). More information about the data can be found here: https://ghslsys.jrc.ec.europa.eu.
- Esri's Indian advanced demographics settlement points use the 2022 European Commission Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL). More information about the data can be found here: https://ghslsys.jrc.ec.europa.eu. The data was verified using the latest Esri imagery and Michael Bauer Research 2021 population.
Base level geography
The Indian ArcGIS Places base level geography is geocoded points.
Geography levels
| Esri geography name | Local geography name | Standard demographics feature count | Advanced demographics feature count |
|---|---|---|---|
Country | भारत | 1 | 1 |
States | राज्य | 36 | 36 |
Districts | जज़िले | 785 | 787 |
Parliamentary Constituencies | None | — | 544 |
Subdistricts | तहसील | 7,097 | 6,979 |
Assembly Constituencies | None | — | 4,129 |
Villages and Wards | None | — | 660,793 |
Pincodes | None | — | 19,824 |
Visualize demographic data categories
The data browser is a visualization tool to help you explore the data categories available in this country or region's standard and advanced demographics. See Use the data browser to learn more about this visualization tool.
Standard demographics use cases
The Esri standard demographics dataset for India is updated with Michael Bauer Research GmbH data updates to this region, approximately every two years. See the Standard demographics related links section below for a complete list of variables, release notes, and a sample report.
Example use cases that may help you understand India's standard demographics include the following:
Total Population
 | What is measured: The total number of individuals living in a specific area. How you use it: Population counts are often used by local and national governments for policy planning, resource allocation, and to make informed decisions based on the needs of different population groups within a country or region. You can use this data to explore the allocation of public services, economic development, political representation, social research, and resources available for disaster preparedness. |
Population Density
 | What is measured: The number of people per unit of area (sq. mile or sq. kilometer). How you use it: Population Density is typically used for national and local projects such as infrastructure design, urban planning to allocate and distribute public services, and to assess the environmental impact of human activity based on where people are concentrated. |
Population per Mill
 | What is measured: The number of individuals in a region per thousand. How you use it: Population per Mill is used to understand the comparative distribution of population around a country or region based on a per-thousand ratio. This data is used to support market trend analysis, infrastructure planning, and regional and national policy development. Population distribution is often used in health care to track disease prevalence or vaccination rates. |
Male/Female Population Totals
 | What is measured: The total number of males and females in a region's population. How you use it: Male and Female Population counts provide insight into gender balance, which is used for informed decision-making in areas like education, workforce planning, health care, and skills training. This data is also used to help interpret complex results, such as health-care outcomes, crime statistics, targeted marketing campaigns, and housing shortages. |
Population Totals by Age and Gender
 | What is measured: The distribution of regional population across age groups and gender. How you use it: Male and Female Population by Age counts can be used to help predict future social and economic trends and to plan for future resource allocation based on age groups in fields such as education, health care, and the labor force. This data is important for identifying potential challenges related to shifts in age or gender ratios within different age brackets. |
Total Households
 | What is measured: The total number of households in a region. How you use it: Total Household counts can help you understand the composition of a country's population based on how many people live in a single dwelling or housing unit. This data assists with informed decision-making in areas like government policy, business strategy, community planning, and social research. You can use household counts to identify community needs, allocate public policy funds, perform business market analysis, and design targeted social programs. Local authorities use household counts to plan for community development projects, considering factors like housing availability and density. |
Average Household Size
 | What is measured: The median or average size of households (people who share the same living quarters) in a region. How you use it: Average Household Size data helps you to understand the overall population structure and informs policy decisions related to housing, resource allocation, and service provisioning. This data is used to analyze economic trends, specifically consumption patterns, based on the number of people sharing living spaces in a region. |
Purchasing Power
 | What is measured: The ability of individuals or households to buy goods and services in a region. Purchasing Power data consists of four metrics:
How you use it: Purchasing Power data can help improve understanding of the potential consumer market in a country or region, specifically to determine pricing strategies and market potential options. This data can be used to develop targeted product, business, and sales strategies when entering a new market or expanding within an existing one. |
Consumer Spending
 | What is measured: The amount of money spent by consumers on goods and services in a region. Consumer Spending data consists of four metrics:
How you use it: Consumer Spending data can be used to understand economic health, consumer behaviors, regional buying trends, and the preferences of different population segments across a country. This data can be used to inform marketing, product development, investment, and public policy strategies based on factors like age, income level, and geographic location data. Consumer Spending data can support market analysis initiatives, economic forecasting, investment planning, and policy development. |
Standard demographics related links
Refer to the following content:
- Release notes (PDF)
- Variable list (CSV)
- Sample report (PDF)
- Demographic map layers
Advanced demographics sample questions and use cases
India's advanced demographics provide additional insight about this region for most data categories. You can find a range of information about Indian regional population and population projections; households, housing characteristics, and dwelling conditions; marital status; access to services, facilities, and resources; education; employment; and income. See the Advanced demographics related links section below for the complete list of variables, release notes, and a sample report.
Some sample questions that could be answered using Indian advanced demographics include the following:
- Which regions have the greatest need for additional healthcare or education services?
- What is the projected population growth in major Indian cities over the next decade?
- What are the primary spending habits of young adults in major metropolitan areas?
- Which areas require additional infrastructure development to support population growth?
- Which occupations have the highest employment rates?
A selection of example use cases that may help you understand Indian advanced demographics include the following:
Household Water Source
 | What is measured: Regional households based on the source of household drinking water, such as treated tap water or an uncovered well. How you use it: Indian households grouped by the source of household water can be used by local and national policymakers to identify those regions with limited access to clean drinking water and to inform infrastructure development projects and interventions that improve public health in those areas. This data can also inform studies that assess the impact of climate change on water availability, helping researchers predict potential scarcity related to weather pattern fluctuations and develop mitigation strategies. Studying the correlation between different water sources and disease prevalence can inform public health policies focused on water quality improvement. |
Household Assets
| What is measured: Regional households based on the availability of specific assets, such as internet service, modes of transportation, or a mobile telephone. How you use it: Indian household assets data can be used to inform infrastructure planning and policy development to improve access to common regional services. This data is used by local and regional planning departments to assess and mitigate the material and economic barriers that deter some regional households from accessing specific assets or services. |
Income Housing Characteristics
| What is measured: Regional households based on housing unit condition or composition. For example, the number of households in this region with household roof material made from grass, thatch, or bamboo. How you use it: Indian households by housing characteristics data can be used to provide insight into local livelihoods, such as traditional craftsmanship or modern construction practices. Understanding housing conditions can also help to inform public health or disaster risk management interventions to identify those locations most vulnerable to regional environmental challenges. Housing characteristics data also helps to identify areas that may benefit from infrastructure or urban planning initiatives. |
Advanced demographics related links
Refer to the following content:
ArcGIS Places example use cases
The ArcGIS Places dataset for India—sourced from data supplied by Esri India—contains information about more than 9 million places, including destinations such as shopping centers, hotels, banks, public parks, and more. Attributes may include the address, category, and details such as affiliated brands or building names, when available. See the Introduction to ArcGIS Places or Esri India topics for more information.
Some example use cases that may help you understand the ArcGIS Places dataset for India include the following:
- Businesses may use the ArcGIS Places dataset for India to locate competitors, perform site selections, identify marketing opportunities, and perform proximity analysis.
- Urban planners may leverage the ArcGIS Places dataset for India to understand the distribution of amenities and services within a city, aiding in effective zoning and infrastructure development.
- Retailers may use this dataset to assess how well their venues perform and to conduct market research.
- Emergency services may utilize the ArcGIS Places dataset for India to identify critical facilities such as hospitals, fire stations, and schools, enhancing response times and resource allocation during emergencies.
- Tourism industry professionals can use the ArcGIS Places dataset for India to create travel guides that highlight points of interest, helping visitors navigate local attractions.
- Environmental study researchers can use the ArcGIS Places dataset for India to study the impact of human activities on the environment by analyzing the proximity of certain points of interest to natural resources or protected areas.
ArcGIS Places related links
Refer to the Esri India POI Nearby restaurants sample infographic (PDF) for an example of how to use the Esri India ArcGIS Places dataset in an infographic.