Updated
Overview
India has 4.3 times the population of the United States: 1.46 billion people against 341.78 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 7.8 times the size of India's, at $30.77T versus $3.96T.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $2,702 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | India | United States | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $3.96T | Higher: $30.77T | 2025 | $3.91T / $29.18T |
| GDP per capita | $2,702 | Higher: $90,027 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.6% | 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.4% | 2.9% | 2025 / 2024 | 5.0% / — |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 4.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 23 | 100 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $255 | Higher: $6,273 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $55 | Higher: $1,257 | 2024 / 2026 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.45 | $6.22 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.46 billion | 341.78 million | 2025 | 1.42 billion / 338.02 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.8 yrs | 38.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.62 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.2 yrs | Higher: 78.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 36% | 80% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 70% | Higher: 95% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 3,287,590 km² | 9,833,517 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 445.3/km² | 34.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 3,193 Mt | 4,904 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 14.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $86.13B | $997.31B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 3.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 3.1 million | 1.4 million | 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 2.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.4% in India and 2.9% in the United States.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in India: a price level of 23 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $255 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
India is the far younger society: median age 28.8 versus 38.5 years.
Life expectancy is 6.7 years longer in the United States (78.9 vs 72.2).
The United States is considerably more urbanized: 80% of people live in cities, against 36%.
Internet adoption is higher in the United States (95% vs 70% of the population).
Geography
By land area, India is 67% smaller than the United States: 3,287,590 km² versus 9,833,517 km².
India is far more densely settled: 445 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 12 times as much on defence as India: $997.31B versus $86.13B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 2.3%.
India fields the larger armed forces: 3.1 million personnel against 1.4 million (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is India bigger than the United States?
- The United States is larger by land area. India covers 3,287,590 km² while the United States covers 9,833,517 km², so the United States is 3.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, India or the United States?
- India has the larger population: 1.46 billion versus 341.78 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is India richer than the United States?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $2,702. Total GDP tells the same story: $3.96T for India versus $30.77T for the United States.
- Who spends more on their military, India or the United States?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $86.13B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).