Updated
Overview
India has 81 times the population of the Netherlands: 1.46 billion people against 18.09 million (2025).
India's economy is 3.0 times the size of the Netherlands', at $3.96T versus $1.33T.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $2,702 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | India | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.96T | $1.33T | 2025 | $3.91T / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $2,702 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.6% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.4% | 3.3% | 2025 | 5.0% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 23 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $255 | Higher: $6,402 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $55 | Higher: $2,538 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.45 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.46 billion | 18.09 million | 2025 | 1.42 billion / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.8 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.2 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 36% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 70% | Higher: 97% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 3,287,590 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 445.3/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 3,193 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $86.13B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 3.1 million | 41,000 | 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 1.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.4% in India and 3.3% in the Netherlands.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in India: a price level of 23 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $255 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
India is the far younger society: median age 28.8 versus 41.5 years.
Life expectancy is 9.7 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 72.2).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 36%.
Internet adoption is higher in the Netherlands (97% vs 70% of the population).
Geography
By land area, India is 79 times the size of the Netherlands: 3,287,590 km² versus 41,850 km².
Military
India spends 3.7 times as much on defence as the Netherlands: $86.13B versus $23.18B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
India fields the larger armed forces: 3.1 million personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is India bigger than the Netherlands?
- India is larger by land area. India covers 3,287,590 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so India is 79 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, India or the Netherlands?
- India has the larger population: 1.46 billion versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is India richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $2,702. Total GDP tells a different story: $3.96T for India versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, India or the Netherlands?
- India spends more: $86.13B versus $23.18B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).