Tamil Nadu: tops the list of urbanised states

According to the 2011 Census data, "More people in Tamil Nadu have moved from rural to urban areas the last 10 years compared to other states".

Tamil Nadu tops the list of urbanised states with 48.45% of its population living in urban areas , followed by Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

But according to the 1991 Census, In the last 20 years, the rate of urbanization in Tamil Nadu has been rapid. only 34.15% of the total population in Tamil Nadu was classified as urban but in 2011, it has risen to 48.45%, an increase of 14.3%.
Since the 2001 census, the percentage of urban population has risen by 4.41%.

The data shows that Goa is the most urbanised state with 62.17% of the population living in urban areas. But if one goes by geographical area and total population , Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised state. In Kerala, 47.72% of people live in urban areas and in Maharashtra 45.23%.

The 2011 Census directorate classifies an area as urban if it fulfills one of two conditions. Any area that comes under a corporation, municipality or town panchayat is automatically classified as urban.

Districts adjoining Chennai, Coimbatore and port towns like Tuticorin are now urbanised. In Thanjavur , the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu, 35.39% of the population is urban but Kanyakumari district, which has no major industry, has more than 80% of the population in urban areas, mainly on account of its connections to the old Travancore princely state.

In absolute numbers, Maharashtra has more than five crore people living in urban areas, higher than other states. Uttar Pradesh has four crore people in cities, and Tamil Nadu comes in third with more than three crore. All the Union Territories are urbanised with Delhi's tally standing at 97.5% and Puducherry at 68.31%.