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India vs Sri Lanka
Side-by-side comparison of India and Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka scores 50.1 (88th), a gap of 6.5 points. Their trees are 80 m and 11 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
India has 67 times the population of Sri Lanka. India is 50 times larger than Sri Lanka by land area. India has an economy 46 times the size of Sri Lanka (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: India 1.5 billion and Sri Lanka 21.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $17,065 in Sri Lanka and $11,748 in India (2025, international dollars). People in Sri Lanka live on average 5.4 years longer (77.7 vs 72.2 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, India ranks higher in the world on 13 and Sri Lanka on 23. India is clearly stronger in science & innovation, tourism and land & people. Sri Lanka is clearly stronger in society & health and environment & energy.
As a nation, Sri Lanka is the older of the two (statehood since 377 BC, 2,402 years), compared with India (since 322 BC). Over the last five years India improved faster (direction score 97 vs 48 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between India and Sri Lanka.
Indiabetter
18.6%
35th of 168
Sri Lanka
1.5%
140th of 168
Access to electricityInfrastructure & digital
India
99.9%
123rd of 215
Sri Lankabetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Government budget balanceEconomy
India
-7.4%
175th of 192
Sri Lankabetter
-2.3%
86th of 192
Under-5 mortalitySociety & health
India
26.6
134th of 196
Sri Lankabetter
5.9
49th of 196
InflationEconomy
India
2.4%
75th of 180
Sri Lankabetter
-4.8%
2nd of 180
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
India overtook Sri Lanka in the NationsTree Index in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Sri Lanka has been ahead of India in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
India has been ahead of Sri Lanka in 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
IndiaSri Lanka 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 | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 3,287,2637th/216 · 2024 | 65,610123rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 2,973,1907th/216 · 2024 | 61,860123rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 1.5 bn1st/217 · 2025 | 21.8 m62nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.89%109th/217 · 2025 | -0.73%206th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 488.025th/216 · 2024 | 354.333rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 35.7%182nd/217 · 2025 | 20.5%212th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 24.2%101st/217 · 2025 | 21.7%110th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 7.4%121st/217 · 2025 | 12.5%82nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.96 trn6th/210 · 2025 | $108.83 bn72nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $17.20 trn3rd/199 · 2025 | $371.27 bn62nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $14.70 trn3rd/199 · 2025 | $317.26 bn61st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,702166th/210 · 2025 | $5,002140th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $11,748136th/199 · 2025 | $17,065115th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,760156th/201 · 2025 | $4,670132nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 7.6%15th/210 · 2025 | 5.0%54th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.4%75th/180 · 2025 | -4.8%2nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.2%71st/187 · 2025 | 4.0%68th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 46.5%2018 | 73.5%2015 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 84.3%153rd/189 · 2025 | 96.8%164th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -7.4%175th/192 · 2025 | -2.3%86th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 16.2%49th/197 · 2025 | 8.4%81st/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.2%83rd/200 · 2025 | 25.4%78th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.5%57th/192 · 2025 | 17.1%34th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 49.3%148th/200 · 2025 | 54.6%123rd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $880.74 bn10th/182 · 2025 | $20.64 bn90th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $949.66 bn7th/182 · 2025 | $24.86 bn88th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 22.3%133rd/183 · 2025 | 19.0%149th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 24.0%155th/183 · 2025 | 22.8%158th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 46.3%151st/183 · 2025 | 41.8%157th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 13.1%42nd/170 · 2025 | 3.6%81st/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 70.1%41st/171 · 2025 | 63.7%49th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 11.9%106th/171 · 2025 | 29.0%51st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.8%75th/171 · 2025 | 0.5%153rd/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 18.6%35th/168 · 2024 | 1.5%140th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.7%87th/191 · 2025 | 1.6%61st/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%142nd/196 · 2025 | 1.0%146th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 3.2%85th/209 · 2021 | 0.1%159th/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 | 0.00%68th/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 | 0.08%117th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 51.7%6th/206 · 2024 | 22.2%46th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,014127th/183 · 2022 | 2,38093rd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 17.9 m14th/194 · 2019 | 540,000119th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $13.41 bn13th/175 · 2020 | $1.08 bn69th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.8%112th/168 · 2020 | 8.2%66th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 26.9 m7th/107 · 2019 | 305,00088th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 72.2137th/217 · 2024 | 77.778th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 26.6134th/196 · 2024 | 5.949th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.72115th/174 · 2020 | 1.14102nd/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.698th/145 · 2021 | 3.941st/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 | 82.7%67th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 79.6%128th/173 · 2025 | 88.0%109th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 77.2%2011 | 37.5%37th/55 · 2019 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.8%125th/217 · 2025 | 19.0%78th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.3%171st/193 · 2023 | 3.7%165th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 78.2%69th/98 · 2024 | 92.7%47th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 34.4%103rd/150 · 2025 | 20.7%122nd/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.685130th/193 · 2023 | 0.77689th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 23.01st/108 · 2023 | 37.72019 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 2.6%68th/108 · 2023 | 2.7%2019 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 99.9%123rd/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 76.4%79th/150 · 2024 | 46.9%113th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 62.8%69th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 70.0%124th/186 · 2025 | 54.6%145th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 79167th/210 · 2024 | 13353rd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 3.2147th/208 · 2024 | 8.5122nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.2046th/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 68,1034th/82 · 2021 | 1,56259th/82 · 2019 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 180.4 m4th/161 · 2023 | 3.9 m67th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.1793rd/203 · 2024 | 1.0664th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 34.9%69th/212 · 2021 | 48.8%51st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 54.1190th/200 · 2023 | 22.7133rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 24.4%121st/214 · 2024 | 34.4%98th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 777107th/149 · 2024 | 439124th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 62.664th/205 · 2025 | 49.7118th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 42.4112th/207 · 2025 | 42.3113th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 56.5106th/207 · 2025 | 55.2112th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 55.0162nd/207 · 2025 | 64.9120th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 52.6109th/205 · 2025 | 50.3120th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 54.9110th/205 · 2025 | 57.9102nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.883rd/145 · 2022 | 3.385th/145 · 2019 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $92.06 bn5th/156 · 2025 | $1.39 bn77th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.3%47th/156 · 2025 | 1.3%98th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 8.2%38th/154 · 2025 | 4.9%81st/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 3.1 m1st/170 · 2020 | 317,00022nd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.58%103rd/168 · 2020 | 3.74%11th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.9 bn2nd/163 · 2025 | 11.0 m105th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 81.0 m28th/65 · 2025 | 8.0 m1998 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.65%56th/110 · 2020 | 0.11%94th/110 · 2022 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 63,2175th/137 · 2024 | 25359th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 228,1743rd/197 · 2023 | 2,32270th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, India or Sri Lanka?
India has the larger population: 1.5 bn (2025) compared with 21.8 m for Sri Lanka (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, India or Sri Lanka?
India is larger: 3,287,263 km² (2024) compared with 65,610 km² for Sri Lanka (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, India or Sri Lanka?
India has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $17.20 trn intl. (2025) compared with $371.27 bn intl. for Sri Lanka (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, India or Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $17,065 intl. (2025) compared with $11,748 intl. for India (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in India or Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has the higher life expectancy at birth: 77.7 years (2024) compared with 72.2 years for India (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, India or Sri Lanka?
India spends more on the military: $92.06 bn (2025) compared with $1.39 bn for Sri Lanka (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, India or Sri Lanka?
India: 56.6 points (64th in the world); Sri Lanka: 50.1 points (88th). 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
NepalSources
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 Sri Lanka — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/india-vs-sri-lanka. Data as of 26 October 2026.