Updated
Overview
India has 53 times the population of Australia: 1.46 billion people against 27.61 million (2025).
India's economy is 2.2 times the size of Australia's, at $3.96T versus $1.80T.
Per person, Australia is the wealthier of the two: $65,130 against $2,702 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | India | Australia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.96T | $1.80T | 2025 | $3.91T / $1.75T |
| GDP per capita | $2,702 | Higher: $65,130 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.6% | 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.4% | 2.9% | 2025 | 5.0% / 3.2% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 4.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 23 | 90 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $255 | Higher: $4,436 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $55 | Higher: $2,655 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.45 | $5.95 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.46 billion | 27.61 million | 2025 | 1.42 billion / 27.49 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.8 yrs | 38.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.64 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.2 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 36% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 70% | Higher: 96% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 3,287,590 km² | 7,692,024 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 445.3/km² | 3.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 3,193 Mt | Lower: 387 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 14.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $86.13B | $33.82B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 3.1 million | 60,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
India is growing much faster: 7.6% annual GDP growth versus 1.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.4% in India and 2.9% in Australia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in India: a price level of 23 versus 90 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Australia: $4,436 against $255 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
India is the far younger society: median age 28.8 versus 38.3 years.
Life expectancy is 10.8 years longer in Australia (83.1 vs 72.2).
Australia is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 36%.
Internet adoption is higher in Australia (96% vs 70% of the population).
Geography
By land area, India is 57% smaller than Australia: 3,287,590 km² versus 7,692,024 km².
India is far more densely settled: 445 people per km² against 4.
Military
India spends 2.5 times as much on defence as Australia: $86.13B versus $33.82B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
India fields the larger armed forces: 3.1 million personnel against 60,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is India bigger than Australia?
- Australia is larger by land area. India covers 3,287,590 km² while Australia covers 7,692,024 km², so Australia is 2.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, India or Australia?
- India has the larger population: 1.46 billion versus 27.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is India richer than Australia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Australia is richer: $65,130 against $2,702. Total GDP tells a different story: $3.96T for India versus $1.80T for Australia.
- Who spends more on their military, India or Australia?
- India spends more: $86.13B versus $33.82B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).