Updated
Overview
India has 5.1 times the population of Indonesia: 1.46 billion people against 285.72 million (2025).
India's economy is 2.7 times the size of Indonesia's, at $3.96T versus $1.45T.
Per person, Indonesia is the wealthier of the two: $5,060 against $2,702 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | India | Indonesia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.96T | $1.45T | 2025 | $3.91T / $1.40T |
| GDP per capita | $2,702 | Higher: $5,060 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.6% | 5.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.4% | Lower: 1.9% | 2025 | 5.0% / 3.7% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 3.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 23 | 29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $255 | $182 | 2025 / 2023 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $55 | Higher: $320 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.45 | $2.38 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.46 billion | 285.72 million | 2025 | 1.42 billion / 283.59 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.8 yrs | 30.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 2.10 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 72.2 yrs | 71.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 36% | 59% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 70% | Higher: 73% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 3,287,590 km² | 1,904,569 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 445.3/km² | 150.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 3,193 Mt | Lower: 812 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 2.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $86.13B | $11.04B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 0.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 3.1 million | 676,000 | 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 faster: 7.6% annual GDP growth versus 5.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.4% in India and 1.9% in Indonesia.
Average monthly earnings favour India: $255 against $182 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 28.8 (India) and 30.4 (Indonesia).
Indonesia is considerably more urbanized: 59% of people live in cities, against 36%.
Geography
By land area, India is 73% larger than Indonesia: 3,287,590 km² versus 1,904,569 km².
India is far more densely settled: 445 people per km² against 150.
Military
India spends 7.8 times as much on defence as Indonesia: $86.13B versus $11.04B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, India carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 0.8%.
India fields the larger armed forces: 3.1 million personnel against 676,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is India bigger than Indonesia?
- India is larger by land area. India covers 3,287,590 km² while Indonesia covers 1,904,569 km², so India is 73% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, India or Indonesia?
- India has the larger population: 1.46 billion versus 285.72 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is India richer than Indonesia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Indonesia is richer: $5,060 against $2,702. Total GDP tells a different story: $3.96T for India versus $1.45T for Indonesia.
- Who spends more on their military, India or Indonesia?
- India spends more: $86.13B versus $11.04B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).