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India vs Nepal
Side-by-side comparison of India and Nepal from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
India scores 56.6 in the NationsTree Index (64th in the world) and Nepal scores 44.6 (111th), a gap of 12.0 points. Their trees are 80 m and 7.8 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
India has 49 times the population of Nepal. India is 22 times larger than Nepal by land area. India has an economy 94 times the size of Nepal (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: India 1.5 billion and Nepal 29.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $11,748 in India and $6,175 in Nepal (2025, international dollars). People in India live on average 1.6 years longer (72.2 vs 70.6 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, India ranks higher in the world on 23 and Nepal on 14. India is clearly stronger in tourism, military and infrastructure & digital. Nepal is clearly stronger in environment & energy.
As a nation, India is the older of the two (statehood since 322 BC, 2,347 years), compared with Nepal (since 1768). Over the last five years Nepal improved faster (direction score 97 vs 97 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between India and Nepal.
Indiabetter
18.6%
35th of 168
Nepal
0.6%
152nd of 168
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Indiabetter
3.20
46th of 164
Nepal
2.19
139th of 164
Government budget balanceEconomy
India
-7.4%
175th of 192
Nepalbetter
-1.8%
71st of 192
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Indiabetter
62.6
64th of 205
Nepal
36.6
162nd of 205
UnemploymentEconomy
Indiabetter
4.2%
71st of 187
Nepal
10.5%
152nd of 187
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
India overtook Nepal in life expectancy in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
India has been ahead of Nepal in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1993.
India has been ahead of Nepal in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
IndiaNepal All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | India | Nepal |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 3,287,2637th/216 · 2024 | 147,18194th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 2,973,1907th/216 · 2024 | 143,35093rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 1.5 bn1st/217 · 2025 | 29.6 m52nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.89%109th/217 · 2025 | -0.11%179th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 488.025th/216 · 2024 | 206.866th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 35.7%182nd/217 · 2025 | 67.0%99th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 24.2%101st/217 · 2025 | 28.1%81st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 7.4%121st/217 · 2025 | 6.6%133rd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.96 trn6th/210 · 2025 | $45.49 bn103rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $17.20 trn3rd/199 · 2025 | $182.90 bn82nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $14.70 trn3rd/199 · 2025 | $156.29 bn82nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,702166th/210 · 2025 | $1,536182nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $11,748136th/199 · 2025 | $6,175159th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,760156th/201 · 2025 | $1,570172nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 7.6%15th/210 · 2025 | 4.4%65th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.4%75th/180 · 2025 | 2.7%81st/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.2%71st/187 · 2025 | 10.5%152nd/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 46.5%2018 | 39.9%16th/55 · 2021 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 84.3%153rd/189 · 2025 | 47.4%80th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -7.4%175th/192 · 2025 | -1.8%71st/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 16.2%49th/197 · 2025 | 21.6%32nd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.2%83rd/200 · 2025 | 12.1%174th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.5%57th/192 · 2025 | 5.0%152nd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 49.3%148th/200 · 2025 | 54.4%124th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $880.74 bn10th/182 · 2025 | $4.02 bn137th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $949.66 bn7th/182 · 2025 | $15.34 bn103rd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 22.3%133rd/183 · 2025 | 8.8%178th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 24.0%155th/183 · 2025 | 33.7%118th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 46.3%151st/183 · 2025 | 42.6%156th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 13.1%42nd/170 · 2025 | 0.0%158th/170 · 2022 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 70.1%41st/171 · 2025 | 47.5%68th/171 · 2022 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 11.9%106th/171 · 2025 | 49.4%31st/171 · 2022 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.8%75th/171 · 2025 | 1.4%121st/171 · 2022 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 18.6%35th/168 · 2024 | 0.6%152nd/168 · 2022 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.7%87th/191 · 2025 | 6.6%28th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%142nd/196 · 2025 | 0.1%173rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 3.2%85th/209 · 2021 | 0.5%132nd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.33%60th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.08%62nd/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 1.28%5th/195 · 2021 | 0.01%55th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 1.32%41st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.16%102nd/209 · 2021 | 0.49%69th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 51.7%6th/206 · 2024 | 12.6%83rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,014127th/183 · 2022 | 6,67059th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 17.9 m14th/194 · 2019 | 230,000148th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $13.41 bn13th/175 · 2020 | $238.0 m117th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.8%112th/168 · 2020 | 13.4%45th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 26.9 m7th/107 · 2019 | 1.2 m62nd/107 · 2017 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 72.2137th/217 · 2024 | 70.6150th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 26.6134th/196 · 2024 | 25.1131st/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.72115th/174 · 2020 | 1.01106th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.698th/145 · 2021 | 0.5135th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 94%66th/193 · 2024 | 97%29th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 52.7%111th/153 · 2023 | 33.9%127th/153 · 2021 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 79.6%128th/173 · 2025 | 90.4%102nd/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 77.2%2011 | 43.5%2010 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.8%125th/217 · 2025 | 10.1%131st/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.3%171st/193 · 2023 | 6.2%100th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 78.2%69th/98 · 2024 | 68.7%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 34.4%103rd/150 · 2025 | 21.3%121st/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.685130th/193 · 2023 | 0.622145th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 23.01st/108 · 2023 | 30.024th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 2.6%68th/108 · 2023 | 2.4%65th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 99.9%123rd/215 · 2024 | 97.9%142nd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 76.4%79th/150 · 2024 | 16.5%143rd/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 62.8%69th/144 · 2024 | 53.4%80th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 70.0%124th/186 · 2025 | 46.3%151st/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 79167th/210 · 2024 | 100138th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 3.2147th/208 · 2024 | 10.1119th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.2046th/164 · 2022 | 2.19139th/164 · 2018 |
| Rail lines route-km | 68,1034th/82 · 2021 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 180.4 m4th/161 · 2023 | 4.3 m64th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.1793rd/203 · 2024 | 0.5444th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 34.9%69th/212 · 2021 | 73.7%24th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 54.1190th/200 · 2023 | 53.2189th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 24.4%121st/214 · 2024 | 43.6%70th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 777107th/149 · 2024 | 451123rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 62.664th/205 · 2025 | 36.6162nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 42.4112th/207 · 2025 | 32.5153rd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 56.5106th/207 · 2025 | 53.6117th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 55.0162nd/207 · 2025 | 57.8149th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 52.6109th/205 · 2025 | 44.2149th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 54.9110th/205 · 2025 | 54.6112th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.883rd/145 · 2022 | 2.169th/145 · 2020 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $92.06 bn5th/156 · 2025 | $428.3 m108th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.3%47th/156 · 2025 | 1.0%117th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 8.2%38th/154 · 2025 | 4.5%93rd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 3.1 m1st/170 · 2020 | 112,00052nd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.58%103rd/168 · 2020 | 1.40%44th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.9 bn2nd/163 · 2025 | 6.0 m125th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 81.0 m28th/65 · 2025 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.65%56th/110 · 2020 | 0.30%2010 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 63,2175th/137 · 2024 | 202017 |
| Scientific articles articles | 228,1743rd/197 · 2023 | 1,59177th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, India or Nepal?
India has the larger population: 1.5 bn (2025) compared with 29.6 m for Nepal (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, India or Nepal?
India is larger: 3,287,263 km² (2024) compared with 147,181 km² for Nepal (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, India or Nepal?
India has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $17.20 trn intl. (2025) compared with $182.90 bn intl. for Nepal (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, India or Nepal?
India has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $11,748 intl. (2025) compared with $6,175 intl. for Nepal (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in India or Nepal?
India has the higher life expectancy at birth: 72.2 years (2024) compared with 70.6 years for Nepal (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, India or Nepal?
India spends more on the military: $92.06 bn (2025) compared with $428.3 m for Nepal (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, India or Nepal?
India: 56.6 points (64th in the world); Nepal: 44.6 points (111th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Canada
Indonesia
Italy
Mexico
Sri LankaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). India vs Nepal — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/india-vs-nepal. Data as of 26 October 2026.