At a glance
India vs China: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator |  India |  China | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 1,480,389,026 | 1,411,975,609 | India 1× |
| Population growth rate % per year | +0.9 | -0.2 | +1.1 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 450.32026 | 147.72026 | +302.7 |
| Surface area km² | 3,287,2602023 | 9,562,9102023 | China 2.9× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 162024 | 6.82024 | +9.2 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 6.62024 | 7.82024 | -1.2 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | -0.3 | -0.2 | -0.1 |
| Urban population % of population | 35.72025 | 66.32025 | -30.7 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 106.4 | 103.6 | +2.8 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 72.22024 | 782024 | -5.8 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 1.962024 | 1.012024 | +0.95 |
| Median age years | 29.2 | 40.6 | -11.4 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 20.9 | 5.4 | +15.5 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 24.22025 | 15.42025 | +8.8 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 7.42025 | 14.92025 | -7.5 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $3.96T2025 | $19.50T2025 | China 4.9× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $2,7022025 | $13,8622025 | China 5.1× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 4.22025 | 4.62025 | -0.4 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 2.42025 | 0.12025 | +2.3 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 3,153.82024 | 13,1252024 | China 4.2× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 2.172024 | 9.322024 | -7.14 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 7632023 | 2,8512023 | China 3.7× |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 34.92021 | 15.22021 | +19.7 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 24.52023 | 242023 | +0.5 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 1,0142022 | 1,9922022 | China 2× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 44.82022 | 20.22022 | +24.6 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 702025 | 91.62025 | -21.6 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 79.42024 | 131.82024 | -52.4 |
▲ marks the higher value (for death rate, infant mortality, unemployment, inflation, CO₂ and water stress: the lower value). "Difference" is the ratio for absolute measures and India minus China for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
India compared with China
India has a live population of about 1,480,389,026 (#1 in the world) and China about 1,411,975,609 (#2), so India has 1 times as many people as China. India is growing at 0.9% a year and China at -0.2%.
By area China is larger: 9,562,910 km² against 3,287,260 km², which gives population densities of 450.3 people per km² in India and 147.7 in China.
India's economy is worth $3.96T (2025) and China's $19.50T (2025); per person that is $2,702 in India versus $13,862 in China, so the average China resident produces 5.1 times as much.
Life expectancy is 72.2 years in India and 78 in China; women have 2 children on average in India compared with 1 in China; the median age is 29.2 versus 40.6 years.
35.7% of India's people live in cities against 66.3% in China; 70% use the internet in India and 91.6% in China; CO₂ emissions per person are 2.2 t in India and 9.3 t in China.
Population over time
Life expectancy & fertility
Birth & death rates
Age structure
CO₂ emissions
Energy use & renewables
Forest area
Urban population
Water resources & stress
Economy
Unemployment & inflation
Internet & mobile
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, India or China?
By population India is bigger: 1,480,389,026 people versus 1,411,975,609 (live estimates, October 2026). By area China is larger (9,562,910 km² vs 3,287,260 km²).
Which has the larger economy, India or China?
China: GDP of $19,498,039,388,043 versus $3,956,067,115,772 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2025).
Where do people live longer, India or China?
Life expectancy at birth is 72.2 years in India and 78 years in China, a difference of 5.8 years in favour of China.
How are these comparisons calculated?
Live populations extrapolate the UN World Population Prospects baseline with each country's growth rate; every other figure is the latest value published by World Bank Open Data (or the UN for median age, infant mortality and migration). Each row shows the year of the figure, and the charts below overlay the full historical series of both countries.
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