Updated
Overview
India has 21 times the population of the United Kingdom: 1.46 billion people against 69.49 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $3.96T for India and $4.00T for the United Kingdom.
Per person, the United Kingdom is the wealthier of the two: $57,602 against $2,702 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | India | United Kingdom | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $3.96T | Higher: $4.00T | 2025 | $3.91T / $3.64T |
| GDP per capita | $2,702 | Higher: $57,602 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.6% | 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.4% | 3.9% | 2025 | 5.0% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.2% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 23 | 89 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $255 | Higher: $3,567 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $55 | Higher: $2,532 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.45 | $7.40 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.46 billion | 69.49 million | 2025 | 1.42 billion / 68.75 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.8 yrs | 40.1 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.54 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.2 yrs | Higher: 81.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 36% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 70% | Higher: 95% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 3,287,590 km² | 242,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 445.3/km² | 286.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 3,193 Mt | Lower: 313 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 4.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $86.13B | $81.76B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 3.1 million | 153,000 | 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 3.9% in the United Kingdom.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in India: a price level of 23 versus 89 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United Kingdom: $3,567 against $255 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
India is the far younger society: median age 28.8 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 9.2 years longer in the United Kingdom (81.4 vs 72.2).
The United Kingdom is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 36%.
Internet adoption is higher in the United Kingdom (95% vs 70% of the population).
Geography
By land area, India is 14 times the size of the United Kingdom: 3,287,590 km² versus 242,900 km².
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $86.13B (India) and $81.76B (the United Kingdom).
India fields the larger armed forces: 3.1 million personnel against 153,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is India bigger than the United Kingdom?
- India is larger by land area. India covers 3,287,590 km² while the United Kingdom covers 242,900 km², so India is 14 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, India or the United Kingdom?
- India has the larger population: 1.46 billion versus 69.49 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is India richer than the United Kingdom?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Kingdom is richer: $57,602 against $2,702. Total GDP tells the same story: $3.96T for India versus $4.00T for the United Kingdom.
- Who spends more on their military, India or the United Kingdom?
- India spends more: $86.13B versus $81.76B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).