Updated
Overview
India has 18 times the population of Germany: 1.46 billion people against 83.49 million (2025).
Germany's economy is 28% larger than India's, at $5.05T versus $3.96T.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $2,702 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | India | Germany | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $3.96T | Higher: $5.05T | 2025 | $3.91T / $4.66T |
| GDP per capita | $2,702 | Higher: $60,496 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.6% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.4% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 5.0% / 2.3% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 3.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 23 | 80 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $255 | Higher: $4,647 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $55 | Higher: $2,442 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.45 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.46 billion | 83.49 million | 2025 | 1.42 billion / 84.01 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 0.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.8 yrs | 45.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.46 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.2 yrs | Higher: 80.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 36% | 82% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 70% | Higher: 93% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 3,287,590 km² | 357,114 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 445.3/km² | 233.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 3,193 Mt | Lower: 572 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 6.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $86.13B | $88.46B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 3.1 million | 183,000 | 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 0.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.4% in India and 2.2% in Germany.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in India: a price level of 23 versus 80 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Germany: $4,647 against $255 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
India is the far younger society: median age 28.8 versus 45.5 years.
Life expectancy is 8.6 years longer in Germany (80.8 vs 72.2).
Germany is considerably more urbanized: 82% of people live in cities, against 36%.
Internet adoption is higher in Germany (93% vs 70% of the population).
Geography
By land area, India is 9.2 times the size of Germany: 3,287,590 km² versus 357,114 km².
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $86.13B (India) and $88.46B (Germany).
India fields the larger armed forces: 3.1 million personnel against 183,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is India bigger than Germany?
- India is larger by land area. India covers 3,287,590 km² while Germany covers 357,114 km², so India is 9.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, India or Germany?
- India has the larger population: 1.46 billion versus 83.49 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is India richer than Germany?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $2,702. Total GDP tells the same story: $3.96T for India versus $5.05T for Germany.
- Who spends more on their military, India or Germany?
- Germany spends more: $88.46B versus $86.13B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).