#1 in world Asia UN member

India

New Delhi Asia Southern Asia

India is a federal parliamentary republic in Southern Asia, bordering six countries and featuring a coastline of 7000 km (4350 mi). Current estimates show a population of approximately 1.48 billion people, supported by an estimated GDP per capita of 3056 USD.

Where is India?

India

Continent
Asia
Country
India
Coordinates
20.00°, 77.00°

Population Details

Population
1B
Area
3,287,263 km²
Density per km²
449 / km²
Growth rate
+0.89%
Annual growth
+13M people
Daily growth
+36K people
World population share
18.20%

Population Trend

Historical series from 1960 to 2026

Start 436M Latest 1B

Population & Social Snapshot

Age structure, urbanization, and benchmark indicators for India

Age Distribution

0-14 years 364M
15-64 years 1B
65+ years 106M

Urbanization

35.4% Urban
523M
Urban 523M
Rural 954M

Health & Education Benchmarks

Life Expectancy at Birth -2%
72.2 years
World avg: 74.0 years
Fertility Rate -17%
1.96 births per woman
World avg: 2.35 births per woman
Infant Mortality Rate +25%
23.3 per 1,000 live births
World avg: 18.6 per 1,000 live births
Literacy Rate (Adults) -13%
78.2 % of adults
World avg: 89.5 % of adults
Internet Users -24%
70.0 % of population
World avg: 91.9 % of population

Demographics

Quick Facts

Capital
New Delhi
Region
Asia
Area
3,287,263 km²
Languages
English, Hindi, Tamil
Currency
Indian rupee (₹)
Timezones
UTC+05:30
UN Member
Yes

Economy

Recent data indicates a total nominal GDP of approximately 3.91 trillion USD, ranking India as global 5 of 212. While the annual GDP growth rate remains strong at 6.5%, the GDP per capita ranks global 159 of 212. The labor market currently shows an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which ranks global 116 of 186 when measured from lowest to highest. Key economic sectors include a robust services industry, particularly in technology and telecommunications, alongside a large agricultural base and expanding manufacturing hubs.

Society

Life expectancy in India is approximately 72.2 years, placing the nation at a rank of global 135 of 215. Recent data shows an adult literacy rate of 78.2%, which ranks global 124 of 170. Additionally, the internet penetration rate stands at 70%, ranking India global 134 of 212 for internet users as a percentage of the population. Educational and social initiatives are highly localized due to the nation's diverse ethnic composition and the use of multiple official languages such as English, Hindi, and Tamil.

Climate & Environment

India experiences a diverse climate ranging from tropical in the south to temperate and alpine in the Himalayan north, where Kanchenjunga reaches 8586 m (28169 ft). The country is heavily influenced by the seasonal monsoon, which provides critical rainfall necessary for its vast agricultural sector and hydroelectric power generation.

Government & Politics

Government Type
federal parliamentary republic
Independence
1947-08-15 (United Kingdom)

India is a federal parliamentary republic that operates under a constitution established after its independence from the United Kingdom. The political system divides power between the central government and the states, with a President serving as the ceremonial head of state and a Prime Minister acting as the head of government with executive authority. The bicameral parliament consists of the Rajya Sabha, representing the states, and the Lok Sabha, which is elected directly by the people. As a prominent UN member, the country plays a major role in regional and global geopolitics. The legal system is based on English common law, featuring an independent judiciary led by the Supreme Court. Political life is characterized by a vibrant multi-party system that manages the interests of a population that is 79.8% Hindu and 14.2% Muslim. Military expenditure is maintained at 2.27% of the GDP to ensure security along its borders with 6 neighboring nations.

History

The history of India is rooted in the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the oldest urban cultures in the world. Over millennia, the subcontinent was the seat of influential empires such as the Maurya, Gupta, and Mughal dynasties, which shaped its diverse cultural and religious landscape. In the 1600s, European powers began establishing trading posts, eventually leading to nearly 2 centuries of British colonial rule under the British Raj. A long struggle for self-determination, led by figures like Mahatma Gandhi through non-violent resistance, culminated in the country becoming an independent nation on 15 August 1947. This transition involved the partition of the subcontinent, leading to the creation of Pakistan. Since then, the nation has transitioned from a socialist-leaning economy toward a market-oriented global power following significant reforms in the early 1990s. Modern development has been marked by rapid urbanization, with 35.3% of the population living in cities, and a major push toward digital integration that has brought 70% of the population online. Today, it stands as the world's most populous country, balancing ancient traditions with modern advancements in space exploration, technology, and industry while maintaining a literacy rate of 78.16% and a life expectancy of 72.235 years.

Notable Facts

  • The country is home to Kanchenjunga, which reaches an elevation of 8586 m (28169 ft), making it the highest point in the nation and the third-highest peak globally.
  • With an estimated 2026 population of 1476898062, the nation holds the rank of 1 globally, representing a significant portion of the world's total population.
  • The geography features a vast coastline of 7000 km (4350 mi), providing extensive access to the Indian Ocean and major international maritime trade routes.
  • Natural resource wealth includes significant deposits of coal, iron ore, and bauxite, alongside being the world's largest producer of mica.
  • The nation is characterized by extreme linguistic diversity, with English, Hindi, and Tamil serving as major languages for administration, education, and commerce.

Geography

Highest Point
Kanchenjunga (8,586 m)
Lowest Point
Indian Ocean (0 m)
Coastline
7,000 km

Explore weather and climate data for cities in India

Monthly averages for New Delhi

January best
Excellent
Temp
18°C / 9°C
Feels Like
17°C / 7°C
Rain
4days (38 mm) Good
Sun
9.2h Good
Humidity
82% Humid
February best
Excellent
Temp
25°C / 12°C
Feels Like
24°C / 11°C
Rain
2days (22 mm) Excellent
Sun
10.2h Excellent
Humidity
70% Muggy
March best
Excellent
Temp
30°C / 17°C
Feels Like
31°C / 18°C
Rain
5days (36 mm) Good
Sun
11.4h Excellent
Humidity
61% Muggy
April
Good
Temp
37°C / 23°C
Feels Like
38°C / 22°C
Rain
3days (8 mm) Excellent
Sun
11.9h Excellent
Humidity
41% Moderate
May
Poor
Temp
38°C / 26°C
Feels Like
41°C / 28°C
Rain
7days (46 mm) Good
Sun
12.3h Excellent
Humidity
49% Moderate
June
Poor
Temp
38°C / 29°C
Feels Like
43°C / 32°C
Rain
9days (64 mm) Wet
Sun
11.7h Excellent
Humidity
57% Moderate
July
Wet
Temp
34°C / 28°C
Feels Like
42°C / 34°C
Rain
21days (208 mm) Wet
Sun
8.9h Good
Humidity
79% Humid
August
Poor
Temp
33°C / 28°C
Feels Like
40°C / 33°C
Rain
17days (152 mm) Wet
Sun
8.8h Good
Humidity
80% Humid
September
Poor
Temp
34°C / 26°C
Feels Like
39°C / 32°C
Rain
12days (157 mm) Wet
Sun
9.7h Good
Humidity
79% Humid
October
Fair
Temp
32°C / 21°C
Feels Like
35°C / 23°C
Rain
3days (52 mm) Excellent
Sun
10.5h Excellent
Humidity
70% Muggy
November best
Excellent
Temp
28°C / 14°C
Feels Like
27°C / 14°C
Rain
1days (4 mm) Excellent
Sun
10.4h Excellent
Humidity
69% Muggy
December best
Excellent
Temp
22°C / 10°C
Feels Like
21°C / 9°C
Rain
1days (9 mm) Excellent
Sun
9.5h Good
Humidity
74% Muggy
Month Temp Feels Like Rain Sun Humidity Status Details
January best 18°C / 9°C 17°C / 7°C 4days (38 mm) Good 9.2h Good 82% Humid Excellent View Details
February best 25°C / 12°C 24°C / 11°C 2days (22 mm) Excellent 10.2h Excellent 70% Muggy Excellent View Details
March best 30°C / 17°C 31°C / 18°C 5days (36 mm) Good 11.4h Excellent 61% Muggy Excellent View Details
April 37°C / 23°C 38°C / 22°C 3days (8 mm) Excellent 11.9h Excellent 41% Moderate Good View Details
May 38°C / 26°C 41°C / 28°C 7days (46 mm) Good 12.3h Excellent 49% Moderate Poor View Details
June 38°C / 29°C 43°C / 32°C 9days (64 mm) Wet 11.7h Excellent 57% Moderate Poor View Details
July 34°C / 28°C 42°C / 34°C 21days (208 mm) Wet 8.9h Good 79% Humid Wet View Details
August 33°C / 28°C 40°C / 33°C 17days (152 mm) Wet 8.8h Good 80% Humid Poor View Details
September 34°C / 26°C 39°C / 32°C 12days (157 mm) Wet 9.7h Good 79% Humid Poor View Details
October 32°C / 21°C 35°C / 23°C 3days (52 mm) Excellent 10.5h Excellent 70% Muggy Fair View Details
November best 28°C / 14°C 27°C / 14°C 1days (4 mm) Excellent 10.4h Excellent 69% Muggy Excellent View Details
December best 22°C / 10°C 21°C / 9°C 1days (9 mm) Excellent 9.5h Good 74% Muggy Excellent View Details

Temperature

48°C 42°C 36°C 30°C 24°C 18°C 12°C 6°C 0°C JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
HighLow

Line chart showing monthly temperatures. Jan: 18°C / 9°C . Feb: 25°C / 12°C . Mar: 30°C / 17°C . Apr: 37°C / 23°C . May: 38°C / 26°C . Jun: 38°C / 29°C . Jul: 34°C / 28°C . Aug: 33°C / 28°C . Sep: 34°C / 26°C . Oct: 32°C / 21°C . Nov: 28°C / 14°C . Dec: 22°C / 10°C .

Rainfall

0 mm 36 mm 72 mm 108 mm 144 mm 180 mm JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Rainfall

Bar chart showing monthly rainfall. Jan: 38 mm. Feb: 22 mm. Mar: 36 mm. Apr: 8 mm. May: 46 mm. Jun: 64 mm. Jul: 208 mm. Aug: 152 mm. Sep: 157 mm. Oct: 52 mm. Nov: 4 mm. Dec: 9 mm.

Frequently Asked Questions

The population of India is approximately 1B (2024).

The capital of India is New Delhi.

India's GDP per capita is $3.1K (2024).

Life expectancy in India is 72.24 years (2024).

India covers 3,287,263 km² (1,269,219 sq mi).

India is densely populated, with 449 people per km² — above the global average of 60.

India's population is growing steadily at 0.9% per year, in line with global averages.

Based on GDP per capita, India falls in the lower-middle GDP-per-person tier at $3.1K. Official World Bank income groups use Atlas-method GNI per capita, so this is a GDP-based comparison rather than an official income-group label.

India reports a low intentional homicide rate of 2.8 per 100,000 people, below the global average.

India has 3 official languages: English, Hindi, Tamil.

India uses the Indian rupee (₹) as its sole official currency.

The best months to visit India are January, February, March, November, December, based on climate data for the capital.

India is the most populous country in the world, with current estimates showing a population of approximately 1.48 billion people. This represents a rank of global 1 of 215 and regional 1 of 49 in Asia according to recent data. The nation continues to see steady growth with an annual population growth rate of 0.9%.

Latest data shows India's nominal GDP at approximately 3.91 trillion USD, which ranks as global 5 of 212 and regional 3 of 48. While the total economy is substantial, the current estimated GDP per capita is 3056 USD, which ranks global 159 of 212 and subregional 5 of 9.

Current estimates indicate an adult literacy rate of 78.2% across the country. This figure places India at a rank of global 124 of 170 for literacy. The government continues to focus on educational reforms and digital literacy to bridge the gap between urban and rural populations across various linguistic groups.

Approximately 70% of the Indian population uses the internet, reflecting a significant digital transformation. This penetration rate ranks India global 134 of 212 for internet users as a percentage of the population. Expansion of affordable mobile data and infrastructure has fueled this connectivity, particularly among the large youth demographic.

Life expectancy at birth in India is approximately 72.2 years, according to the latest available data. This ranks the nation global 135 of 215. Improvements in healthcare infrastructure and nutrition, along with expanded medical coverage, have contributed to a steady increase in this indicator over recent decades.

The unemployment rate in India is 4.2%, which ranks the country global 116 of 186. The workforce is shifting from traditional agriculture toward services and manufacturing. Economic growth of 6.5% annually supports the creation of new opportunities in technology hubs and industrial corridors throughout the country.

The latest ranking places India at global 1 of 215 countries, making it the most populous nation on Earth. It also holds the regional (Asia) 1 of 49 and subregional (Southern Asia) 1 of 9 ranks. This position reflects its status as a global demographic leader, recently surpassing all other nations.

The population density of India is currently estimated at 496.7 people per km² (1,286.4 sq mi). This density ranks India at global 24 of 215 countries and regional (Asia) 10 of 49. While urban centers are extremely crowded, the national average is distributed across 3,287,263 km² (1,269,219 sq mi) of land.

India's population is currently increasing at an annual growth rate of 0.89%. While the total number of inhabitants continues to rise, the rate of growth has slowed significantly over the last several decades. Recent data indicates the country is transitioning toward a more stable demographic profile as fertility levels continue to decline.

The fertility rate in India is currently 1.96 births per woman, according to the latest official 2024 data. This figure is significant because it has fallen below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. This decline is attributed to increased female education, better healthcare access, and widespread family planning initiatives.

Approximately 35.4% of India's population lives in urban areas, according to recent figures. While the urbanization rank is global 181 of 215, the absolute number of urban residents is among the largest in the world. The country continues to experience rapid urban growth as people migrate for industrial and service jobs.

All Indicators

Explore India's data across 50+ indicators

Last updated: