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India vs United States
Side-by-side comparison of India and United States from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
United States
North America · nation age 250 years
In short
United States scores 72.3 in the NationsTree Index (30th in the world) and India scores 56.6 (64th), a gap of 15.7 points. Their trees are 80 m and 115 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
India has 4.3 times the population of United States. United States is 3.0 times larger than India by land area. The economy of United States is 79% larger than that of India (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: India 1.5 billion and United States 341.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $90,027 in United States and $11,748 in India (2025, international dollars). People in United States live on average 6.7 years longer (78.9 vs 72.2 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, India ranks higher in the world on 7 and United States on 30. India is clearly stronger in main industries. United States is clearly stronger in society & health, infrastructure & digital and institutions & safety.
As a nation, India is the older of the two (statehood since 322 BC, 2,347 years), compared with United States (since 1776). Over the last five years India improved faster (direction score 97 vs 24 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between India and United States.
Indiabetter
23.0
1st of 108
United States
41.8
91st of 108
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
India
54.1
190th of 200
United Statesbetter
7.0
25th of 200
GNI per person (Atlas)Economy
India
$2,760
156th of 201
United Statesbetter
$88,810
6th of 201
GDP per personEconomy
India
$2,702
166th of 210
United Statesbetter
$90,027
11th of 210
Completed lower secondary, 25+Society & health
India
52.7%
111th of 153
United Statesbetter
96.6%
21st of 153
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
United States has been ahead of India in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1993.
United States has been ahead of India in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
India has been ahead of United States in 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
IndiaUnited States 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 | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 3,287,2637th/216 · 2024 | 9,831,5103rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 2,973,1907th/216 · 2024 | 9,147,4203rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 1.5 bn1st/217 · 2025 | 341.8 m3rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.89%109th/217 · 2025 | 0.52%134th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 488.025th/216 · 2024 | 37.2166th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 35.7%182nd/217 · 2025 | 80.2%57th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 24.2%101st/217 · 2025 | 17.1%152nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 7.4%121st/217 · 2025 | 18.4%45th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.96 trn6th/210 · 2025 | $30.77 trn1st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $17.20 trn3rd/199 · 2025 | $30.77 trn2nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $14.70 trn3rd/199 · 2025 | $26.29 trn2nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,702166th/210 · 2025 | $90,02711th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $11,748136th/199 · 2025 | $90,02712th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,760156th/201 · 2025 | $88,8106th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 7.6%15th/210 · 2025 | 2.2%139th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.4%75th/180 · 2025 | 2.9%87th/180 · 2024 |
| Unemployment % | 4.2%71st/187 · 2025 | 4.2%70th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 46.5%2018 | 115.8%53rd/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 84.3%153rd/189 · 2025 | 124.4%179th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -7.4%175th/192 · 2025 | -7.1%173rd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 16.2%49th/197 · 2025 | 0.9%172nd/197 · 2021 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.2%83rd/200 · 2025 | 17.6%145th/200 · 2021 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.5%57th/192 · 2025 | 10.5%93rd/192 · 2021 |
| Services % of GDP | 49.3%148th/200 · 2025 | 76.3%16th/200 · 2021 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $880.74 bn10th/182 · 2025 | $3.22 trn2nd/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $949.66 bn7th/182 · 2025 | $4.11 trn1st/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 22.3%133rd/183 · 2025 | 11.0%173rd/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 24.0%155th/183 · 2025 | 14.0%179th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 46.3%151st/183 · 2025 | 25.0%180th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 13.1%42nd/170 · 2025 | 17.3%38th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 70.1%41st/171 · 2025 | 54.9%63rd/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 11.9%106th/171 · 2025 | 9.0%118th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.8%75th/171 · 2025 | 3.0%87th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 18.6%35th/168 · 2024 | 24.3%23rd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.7%87th/191 · 2025 | -3.8%127th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%142nd/196 · 2025 | 1.0%145th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 3.2%85th/209 · 2021 | 1.3%110th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.33%60th/197 · 2021 | 0.61%53rd/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.08%62nd/197 · 2021 | 0.36%43rd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 1.28%5th/195 · 2021 | 0.17%25th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 1.32%41st/209 · 2021 | 0.10%70th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.16%102nd/209 · 2021 | 0.04%133rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 51.7%6th/206 · 2024 | 16.6%65th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,014127th/183 · 2022 | 8,43754th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 17.9 m14th/194 · 2019 | 45.0 m4th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $13.41 bn13th/175 · 2020 | $84.21 bn1st/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.8%112th/168 · 2020 | 3.9%93rd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 26.9 m7th/107 · 2019 | 60.5 m2nd/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 72.2137th/217 · 2024 | 78.961st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 26.6134th/196 · 2024 | 6.553rd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.72115th/174 · 2020 | 3.6839th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.698th/145 · 2021 | 2.767th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 94%66th/193 · 2024 | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 52.7%111th/153 · 2023 | 96.6%21st/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 79.6%128th/173 · 2025 | 97.5%72nd/173 · 2022 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 77.2%2011 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.8%125th/217 · 2025 | 28.5%46th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.3%171st/193 · 2023 | 16.7%3rd/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 78.2%69th/98 · 2024 | — |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 34.4%103rd/150 · 2025 | 79.4%29th/150 · 2022 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.685130th/193 · 2023 | 0.93817th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 23.01st/108 · 2023 | 41.891st/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 2.6%68th/108 · 2023 | 1.1%52nd/108 · 2024 |
| 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 | 97.6%39th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 62.8%69th/144 · 2024 | 97.0%17th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 70.0%124th/186 · 2025 | 94.7%28th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 79167th/210 · 2024 | 113111th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 3.2147th/208 · 2024 | 38.929th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.2046th/164 · 2022 | 3.9016th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 68,1034th/82 · 2021 | 148,5531st/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 180.4 m4th/161 · 2023 | 941.6 m1st/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.1793rd/203 · 2024 | 13.62189th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 34.9%69th/212 · 2021 | 10.9%142nd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 54.1190th/200 · 2023 | 7.025th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 24.4%121st/214 · 2024 | 33.8%102nd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 777107th/149 · 2024 | 6,45410th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 62.664th/205 · 2025 | 76.732nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 42.4112th/207 · 2025 | 65.544th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 56.5106th/207 · 2025 | 71.747th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 55.0162nd/207 · 2025 | 60.3136th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 52.6109th/205 · 2025 | 72.831st/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 54.9110th/205 · 2025 | 69.659th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.883rd/145 · 2022 | 5.8100th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $92.06 bn5th/156 · 2025 | $954.39 bn1st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.3%47th/156 · 2025 | 3.1%27th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 8.2%38th/154 · 2025 | 8.3%37th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 3.1 m1st/170 · 2020 | 1.4 m5th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.58%103rd/168 · 2020 | 0.84%84th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.9 bn2nd/163 · 2025 | 745.0 m13th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 81.0 m28th/65 · 2025 | 14.0 bn1st/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.65%56th/110 · 2020 | 3.45%5th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 63,2175th/137 · 2024 | 270,2952nd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 228,1743rd/197 · 2023 | 430,8432nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, India or United States?
India has the larger population: 1.5 bn (2025) compared with 341.8 m for United States (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, India or United States?
United States is larger: 9,831,510 km² (2024) compared with 3,287,263 km² for India (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, India or United States?
United States has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $30.77 trn intl. (2025) compared with $17.20 trn intl. for India (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, India or United States?
United States has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $90,027 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 United States?
United States has the higher life expectancy at birth: 78.9 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 United States?
United States spends more on the military: $954.39 bn (2025) compared with $92.06 bn for India (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, India or United States?
United States: 72.3 points (30th in the world); India: 56.6 points (64th). 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
Nepal
BermudaSources
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 United States — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/india-vs-united-states. Data as of 26 October 2026.