In 1800, the population of the region of present-day India was approximately 169 million. The population would grow gradually throughout the 19th century, rising to over 240 million by 1900. Population growth would begin to increase in the 1920s, as a result of falling mortality rates, due to improvements in health, sanitation and infrastructure. However, the population of India would see it’s largest rate of growth in the years following the country’s independence from the British Empire in 1948, where the population would rise from 358 million to over one billion by the turn of the century, making India the second country to pass the billion person milestone. While the rate of growth has slowed somewhat as India begins a demographics shift, the country’s population has continued to grow dramatically throughout the 21st century, and in 2020, India is estimated to have a population of just under 1.4 billion, well over a billion more people than one century previously. Today, approximately 18% of the Earth’s population lives in India, and it is estimated that India will overtake China to become the most populous country in the world within the next five years.

The statistic shows the total population of India from 2019 to 2029. In 2023, the estimated total population in India amounted to approximately 1.43 billion people.

Total population in India

India currently has the second-largest population in the world and is projected to overtake top-ranking China within forty years. Its residents comprise more than one-seventh of the entire world’s population, and despite a slowly decreasing fertility rate (which still exceeds the replacement rate and keeps the median age of the population relatively low), an increasing life expectancy adds to an expanding population. In comparison with other countries whose populations are decreasing, such as Japan, India has a relatively small share of aged population, which indicates the probability of lower death rates and higher retention of the existing population.

With a land mass of less than half that of the United States and a population almost four times greater, India has recognized potential problems of its growing population. Government attempts to implement family planning programs have achieved varying degrees of success. Initiatives such as sterilization programs in the 1970s have been blamed for creating general antipathy to family planning, but the combined efforts of various family planning and contraception programs have helped halve fertility rates since the 1960s. The population growth rate has correspondingly shrunk as well, but has not yet reached less than one percent growth per year.

As home to thousands of ethnic groups, hundreds of languages, and numerous religions, a cohesive and broadly-supported effort to reduce population growth is difficult to create. Despite that, India is one country to watch in coming years. It is also a growing economic power; among other measures, its GDP per capita was expected to triple between 2003 and 2013 and was listed as the third-ranked country for its share of the global gross domestic product.

The total population in India was estimated at 1398.6 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - India Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for India (SPPOPGROWIND) from 1961 to 2024 about India, population, and rate.

In 2023, the annual population growth in India was 0.88 percent. Between 1961 and 2023, the figure dropped by 1.52 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Historical dataset showing India population growth rate by year from 1961 to 2023.

Population growth (annual %) in India was reported at 0.89071 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

India Population Projection: Single Year data was reported at 1,667,873,933.000 Person in 2050. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,658,330,351.000 Person for 2049. India Population Projection: Single Year data is updated yearly, averaging 1,394,461,787.000 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 2050, with 50 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,667,873,933.000 Person in 2050 and a record low of 1,019,001,911.000 Person in 2001. India Population Projection: Single Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAI001: Population Projection: Single Year.

The percentage distribution for population projections for the age groups * to * reflected a decrease in the year 2036 in comparison to 2011. This could be attributed to the projected declining fertility rates in the country. By contrast, the age groups from 40-44 to **+ reflected an increase in the population projections in 2036 when compared with 2011. This projected increase in geriatric population within the country could be attributed to advancements made in the field of medical sciences, biotechnology and improved health care.

Population, total in India was reported at 1450935791 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Population, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

India Projection: Population: 10 Years data was reported at 1,522,552,390.000 Person in 2031. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,372,535,298.000 Person for 2021. India Projection: Population: 10 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 1,447,543,844.000 Person from Mar 2021 (Median) to 2031, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,522,552,390.000 Person in 2031 and a record low of 1,372,535,298.000 Person in 2021. India Projection: Population: 10 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAI002: Population Projection: 10 Years: by Age Group.

India Vital Statistics: Natural Growth Rate: per 1000 Population data was reported at 13.500 NA in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.800 NA for 2019. India Vital Statistics: Natural Growth Rate: per 1000 Population data is updated yearly, averaging 18.500 NA from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2020, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22.000 NA in 1971 and a record low of 13.500 NA in 2020. India Vital Statistics: Natural Growth Rate: per 1000 Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.GAH001: Vital Statistics.

Key information about India population

• The India population reached 1,408.0 million people in Mar 2025, compared with the previously reported figure of 1,395.0 million people in Mar 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 1,408.0 million people in Mar 2025 and a record low of 359.0 million people in Mar 1951

The share of projected population increase in Uttar Pradesh, India from 2011 until 2036 is expected to grow by nearly ** percent. By contrast, the estimated population increase in Uttarakhand is expected to be less than *** percent during the same time period.

Why project population?
Population projections for a country are becoming increasingly important now than ever before. They are used primarily by government policy makers and planners to better understand and gauge future demand for basic services that predominantly include water, food and energy. In addition, they also support in indicating major movements that may affect economic development and in turn, employment and labour productivity. Consequently, this leads to amending policies in order to better adapt to the needs of society and to various circumstances.

Demographic projections and health interventions Demographic figures serve the foremost purpose of improving health and health related services among the population. Some of the government interventions include antenatal and neonatal care with the aim of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity rates. In addition, it also focuses on improving immunization coverage across the country. Further, demographic estimates help in better preempting the needs of growing populations, such as the geriatric population within a country.

india - Population Growth for India was 0.88329 % Chg. at Annual Rate in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, india - Population Growth for India reached a record high of 0.88329 in January of 2023 and a record low of 0.79020 in January of 2022. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for india - Population Growth for India - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

India: Percent of world population: The latest value from 2023 is 17.91 percent, a decline from 17.94 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 0.51 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for India from 1960 to 2023 is 16.63 percent. The minimum value, 14.82 percent, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 17.99 percent was recorded in 2014.

Rural population (% of total population) in India was reported at 63.13 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

India Population: Census: Age: 25 to 29 year data was reported at 101,413.965 Person th in 03-01-2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 83,422.000 Person th for 03-01-2001. India Population: Census: Age: 25 to 29 year data is updated decadal, averaging 83,422.000 Person th from Mar 1991 (Median) to 03-01-2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 101,413.965 Person th in 03-01-2011 and a record low of 69,239.000 Person th in 03-01-1991. India Population: Census: Age: 25 to 29 year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAD001: Census: Population: by Age Group.

Historical dataset showing India rural population by year from 1960 to 2023.

India's population demographics - total population, growth rate, age-wise and state-wise population, languages spoken, and religion.