Updated
Overview
India has 240 times the population of Singapore: 1.46 billion people against 6.11 million (2025).
India's economy is 6.6 times the size of Singapore's, at $3.96T versus $603.87B.
Per person, Singapore is the wealthier of the two: $98,814 against $2,702 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | India | Singapore | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.96T | $603.87B | 2025 | $3.91T / $547.39B |
| GDP per capita | $2,702 | Higher: $98,814 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.6% | 5.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.4% | Lower: 0.9% | 2025 | 5.0% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 23 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $255 | Higher: $3,483 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $55 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.45 | $5.77 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.46 billion | 6.11 million | 2025 | 1.42 billion / 6.08 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.8 yrs | 36.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 0.96 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.2 yrs | Higher: 83.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 36% | 100% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 70% | Higher: 94% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 3,287,590 km² | 719 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 445.3/km² | 8499.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 3,193 Mt | Lower: 54 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 9.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $86.13B | $15.06B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 2.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 3.1 million | 59,000 | 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 5.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.4% in India and 0.9% in Singapore.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in India: a price level of 23 versus 60 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Singapore: $3,483 against $255 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
India is the younger society: median age 28.8 versus 36.2 years.
Life expectancy is 11.1 years longer in Singapore (83.3 vs 72.2).
Singapore is considerably more urbanized: 100% of people live in cities, against 36%.
Internet adoption is higher in Singapore (94% vs 70% of the population).
Geography
By land area, India is 4,572 times the size of Singapore: 3,287,590 km² versus 719 km².
Singapore is far more densely settled: 8500 people per km² against 445.
Military
India spends 5.7 times as much on defence as Singapore: $86.13B versus $15.06B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
India fields the larger armed forces: 3.1 million personnel against 59,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is India bigger than Singapore?
- India is larger by land area. India covers 3,287,590 km² while Singapore covers 719 km², so India is 4,572 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, India or Singapore?
- India has the larger population: 1.46 billion versus 6.11 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is India richer than Singapore?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Singapore is richer: $98,814 against $2,702. Total GDP tells a different story: $3.96T for India versus $603.87B for Singapore.
- Who spends more on their military, India or Singapore?
- India spends more: $86.13B versus $15.06B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).