What is the population of India in 2026?
India has a population of 1,463,865,525 people (2025 estimate), which is 1st in the world and about 17.64% of the global total.
Officially Republic of India
Population 2025
1,463,865,525
17.64% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+0.89%
+12,984,487 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
484/km²
2,973,190 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
28.8 years
Life expectancy 72.2 years
Our World in Data, 2025About India
India, officially the Republic of India, is the world's most populous country and the seventh-largest by land area. A federal republic governed under a parliamentary system, India is a pluralistic, multilingual, and multi-ethnic society. Its economy is the world's fifth-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity. From the ancient Indus Valley Civilization to modern technological powerhouses like Bangalore and Hyderabad, India represents one of humanity's oldest and most continuously evolving civilizations.
Country Facts
- Capital
- New Delhi
- Continent
- Asia
- ISO codes
- IN · IND
- Demonym
- Indian
- Currency
- Indian rupee (INR ₹)
- Government
- Constitutional republic, Democratic republic, Federal republic +2 more
- State inception
- 1947
- Time zone
- UTC+05:30
- Driving side
- Left
- Calling code
- +91
- Internet TLD
- .in
- Land neighbours
- 6
Languages
- English
- Hindi
- Tamil
Religions
- Hinduism (79.8%)
- Islam (14.2%)
- Christianity (2.3%)
- Sikhism (1.7%)
- Buddhism (0.7%)
- Jainism (0.4%)
Demographics
India surpassed China as the world's most populous nation in 2023. With a median age of 28.4 years, India has one of the youngest populations among major economies. Approximately 65% of Indians are under 35, presenting both opportunities and challenges. The country is highly diverse with 22 officially recognized languages and hundreds of dialects. Hindi and English serve as official languages, while states have their own official languages.
Economy
India's economy has transformed from primarily agricultural to services-dominated, with IT and software services being major contributors. The country is a global hub for outsourcing and has a rapidly growing startup ecosystem. Agriculture still employs about 42% of the workforce despite contributing only 18% of GDP. Manufacturing is being prioritized through initiatives like 'Make in India' to create jobs and reduce import dependency.
Major exports
- Refined petroleum
- Diamonds
- Pharmaceuticals
- IT services
- Jewelry
- Rice
- Automobiles
- Textiles
Major imports
- Crude petroleum
- Gold
- Electronics
- Coal
- Machinery
- Fertilizers
- Organic chemicals
Health
Education
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Geography
India occupies most of the Indian subcontinent, bordered by the Himalayas to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south. The country features diverse landscapes: the Thar Desert in the west, the fertile Indo-Gangetic plains in the north, coastal plains along the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, and the Deccan Plateau in the south. The Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus are major river systems.
Natural resources
- Coal
- Iron ore
- Manganese
- Mica
- Bauxite
- Rare earth elements
- Titanium
- Chromite
- Natural gas
- Diamonds
- Petroleum
Climate
- Tropical monsoon in south, temperate in north
Military
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 24.6%
- Age 15–64
- 68.2%
- Age 65+
- 7.1%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 12,893 | 20,419 |
| 95-99 | 119,656 | 178,968 |
| 90-94 | 594,804 | 879,272 |
| 85-89 | 1,863,044 | 2,613,279 |
| 80-84 | 4,098,890 | 5,163,753 |
| 75-79 | 7,793,934 | 9,016,761 |
| 70-74 | 14,224,239 | 15,290,501 |
| 65-69 | 20,613,163 | 21,207,801 |
| 60-64 | 26,519,323 | 26,456,423 |
| 55-59 | 32,137,630 | 31,528,369 |
| 50-54 | 38,222,139 | 36,894,344 |
| 45-49 | 44,391,111 | 41,973,609 |
| 40-44 | 51,622,180 | 48,012,516 |
| 35-39 | 57,979,905 | 53,665,702 |
| 30-34 | 61,846,646 | 56,880,627 |
| 25-29 | 65,258,361 | 59,211,688 |
| 20-24 | 68,155,217 | 61,835,077 |
| 15-19 | 66,730,580 | 60,645,954 |
| 10-14 | 65,253,770 | 59,483,836 |
| 5-9 | 61,965,433 | 56,915,848 |
| 0-4 | 58,920,509 | 54,737,622 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 346,278,821 |
| 1960 | 435,990,338 |
| 1970 | 545,864,268 |
| 1980 | 687,354,025 |
| 1990 | 864,972,221 |
| 2000 | 1,057,922,733 |
| 2010 | 1,243,481,564 |
| 2020 | 1,402,617,695 |
| 2030 | 1,525,138,844 |
| 2040 | 1,622,580,039 |
| 2050 | 1,679,589,259 |
| 2060 | 1,700,951,714 |
| 2070 | 1,689,202,539 |
| 2080 | 1,645,548,761 |
| 2090 | 1,580,305,096 |
| 2100 | 1,505,251,761 |
History
India's history spans over 5,000 years, from the Indus Valley Civilization through the Vedic period, Maurya and Gupta empires, Mughal rule, British colonization, and independence in 1947. The partition created India and Pakistan, leading to one of history's largest mass migrations. Since independence, India has maintained its democratic traditions, becoming the world's largest democracy with over 900 million eligible voters.
Culture
Indian culture is one of the world's oldest and most diverse. It has contributed yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, classical dance forms, and major world religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Bollywood produces the most films annually of any country. Indian cuisine, music, textiles, and festivals have global influence. The concept of 'unity in diversity' captures India's cultural philosophy.
Current Challenges
India faces challenges including income inequality, infrastructure gaps, air pollution in major cities, water scarcity, and the need to create millions of jobs annually for its young population. Healthcare and education access remain uneven. Climate change poses significant risks given the country's large agricultural sector and vulnerability to monsoon variations.
Future Outlook
India is projected to become the world's third-largest economy by 2030. Its young, increasingly educated population and growing middle class present enormous economic opportunities. Digital transformation, renewable energy investment, and manufacturing growth are key focus areas. Population growth is slowing as fertility rates decline, suggesting India will peak around 1.7 billion before beginning to decline mid-century.
Highlights
What India Is Known For
- World's largest democracy
- Birthplace of four major religions
- Home to 37 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- World's largest film industry by output
- Third-largest scientific and technical workforce
Interesting Facts About India
- India has the world's largest postal network with over 155,000 post offices
- The game of chess was invented in India
- India was the first country to mine diamonds
- Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world
- India has the world's largest vegetarian population
- The number system, including zero, was invented in India
- India's Kumbh Mela gathering is visible from space
How India Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
- India1.46B
- China1.41B
- United States341.8M
- Indonesia285.7M
- Pakistan255.2M
- Nigeria237.5M
- Brazil212.8M
- Bangladesh175.7M
- Russia143.5M
- Ethiopia135.5M
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
Major Cities in India
9 metropolitan areas in our city dataset.
Countries Bordering India
6 land borders.
India Population FAQ
Is the population of India growing or shrinking?
India's population is growing at +0.89% per year, a change of roughly 12,984,487 people annually.
What is the capital of India?
The capital of India is New Delhi.
What is the largest city in India?
Delhi is the largest metropolitan area in India, with about 32.9M people.
How densely populated is India?
India has 484/km² across 2,973,190 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in India?
Life expectancy at birth in India is 72.2 years (2024).
What is the median age in India?
The median age in India is 28.8 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is India in?
India is in Asia.