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.

In 2023, India accounted for 17.91 percent of the world's population. India's share of the global population has remained constant, with a decline since 2019.

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.

In 2022, India overtook China as the world's most populous country and now has almost 1.46 billion people. China now has the second-largest population in the world, still with just over 1.4 billion inhabitants, however, its population went into decline in 2023. Global population As of 2025, the world's population stands at almost 8.2 billion people and is expected to reach around 10.3 billion people in the 2080s, when it will then go into decline. Due to improved healthcare, sanitation, and general living conditions, the global population continues to increase; mortality rates (particularly among infants and children) are decreasing and the median age of the world population has steadily increased for decades. As for the average life expectancy in industrial and developing countries, the gap has narrowed significantly since the mid-20th century. Asia is the most populous continent on Earth; 11 of the 20 largest countries are located there. It leads the ranking of the global population by continent by far, reporting four times as many inhabitants as Africa. The Demographic Transition The population explosion over the past two centuries is part of a phenomenon known as the demographic transition. Simply put, this transition results from a drastic reduction in mortality, which then leads to a reduction in fertility, and increase in life expectancy; this interim period where death rates are low and birth rates are high is where this population explosion occurs, and population growth can remain high as the population ages. In today's most-developed countries, the transition generally began with industrialization in the 1800s, and growth has now stabilized as birth and mortality rates have re-balanced. Across less-developed countries, the stage of this transition varies; for example, China is at a later stage than India, which accounts for the change in which country is more populous - understanding the demographic transition can help understand the reason why China's population is now going into decline. The least-developed region is Sub-Saharan Africa, where fertility rates remain close to pre-industrial levels in some countries. As these countries transition, they will undergo significant rates of population growth

Population, female (% of total population) in India was reported at 48.41 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Population, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Population growth rate of India surged by 11.78% from 0.8 % in 2022 to 0.9 % in 2023. Since the 15.49% slump in 2021, population growth rate leapt by 7.37% in 2023. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of the country of origin.

India Population: Census: Age: 5 to 9 Year data was reported at 126,928.126 Person th in 03-01-2011. This records a decrease from the previous number of 128,317.000 Person th for 03-01-2001. India Population: Census: Age: 5 to 9 Year data is updated decadal, averaging 126,928.126 Person th from Mar 1991 (Median) to 03-01-2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 128,317.000 Person th in 03-01-2001 and a record low of 111,295.000 Person th in 03-01-1991. India Population: Census: Age: 5 to 9 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.

India Projection: Population: 10 Years: Age: 30-34 data was reported at 119,390,699.000 Person in 2031. This records an increase from the previous number of 110,920,915.000 Person for 2021. India Projection: Population: 10 Years: Age: 30-34 data is updated yearly, averaging 115,155,807.000 Person from Mar 2021 (Median) to 2031, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 119,390,699.000 Person in 2031 and a record low of 110,920,915.000 Person in 2021. India Projection: Population: 10 Years: Age: 30-34 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.

The average for 2023 based on 196 countries was 0.51 percent. The highest value was in India: 17.91 percent and the lowest value was in Andorra: 0 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Urban population (% of total population) in India was reported at 36.36 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Urban population (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

The median age in India was 27 years old in 2020, meaning half the population was older than that, half younger. This figure was lowest in 1970, at 18.1 years, and was projected to increase to 47.8 years old by 2100. Aging in India India has the second largest population in the world, after China. Because of the significant population growth of the past years, the age distribution remains skewed in favor of the younger age bracket. This tells a story of rapid population growth, but also of a lower life expectancy. Economic effects of a young population Many young people means that the Indian economy must support a large number of students, who demand education from the economy but cannot yet work. Educating the future workforce will be important, because the economy is growing as well and is one of the largest in the world. Failing to do this could lead to high youth unemployment and political consequences. However, a productive and young workforce could provide huge economic returns for India.

India Population: Census: Age: 30 to 34 Year data was reported at 88,594.951 Person th in 03-01-2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 74,274.000 Person th for 03-01-2001. India Population: Census: Age: 30 to 34 Year data is updated decadal, averaging 74,274.000 Person th from Mar 1991 (Median) to 03-01-2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 88,594.951 Person th in 03-01-2011 and a record low of 58,404.000 Person th in 03-01-1991. India Population: Census: Age: 30 to 34 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.

India Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative: Male data was reported at 3.784 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.499 % for 2022. India Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 3.499 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2023, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.784 % in 2023 and a record low of 2.573 % in 2010. India Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Doctoral or equivalent.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed September 30, 2024. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;;

India Population: Census: Age: 20 to 24 Year data was reported at 111,424.222 Person th in 03-01-2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 89,764.000 Person th for 03-01-2001. India Population: Census: Age: 20 to 24 Year data is updated decadal, averaging 89,764.000 Person th from Mar 1991 (Median) to 03-01-2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 111,424.222 Person th in 03-01-2011 and a record low of 74,473.000 Person th in 03-01-1991. India Population: Census: Age: 20 to 24 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.

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

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for India (SLEMPTOTLSPZSIND) from 1991 to 2024 about employment-population ratio, India, employment, and population.

India Census: Population: Age: 85 data was reported at 1,264,798.000 Person in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,127,207.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: Age: 85 data is updated yearly, averaging 1,127,207.000 Person from Mar 1991 (Median) to 2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,264,798.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 887,453.000 Person in 1991. India Census: Population: Age: 85 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAD002: Census: Population: by Single Age.

India Population: Census: Age: 0 to 4 Year data was reported at 112,806.778 Person th in 03-01-2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 110,447.000 Person th for 03-01-2001. India Population: Census: Age: 0 to 4 Year data is updated decadal, averaging 110,447.000 Person th from Mar 1991 (Median) to 03-01-2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 112,806.778 Person th in 03-01-2011 and a record low of 102,378.000 Person th in 03-01-1991. India Population: Census: Age: 0 to 4 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.

India: Population ages 65 and above, percent of total: The latest value from 2023 is 6.92 percent, an increase from 6.7 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 10.17 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for India from 1960 to 2023 is 4.41 percent. The minimum value, 3.3 percent, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 6.92 percent was recorded in 2023.

India rural population for 2023 was 915,129,968, a 0.11% increase from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>India rural population for 2022 was <strong>914,095,397</strong>, a <strong>0.05% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>India rural population for 2021 was <strong>913,674,711</strong>, a <strong>0.1% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>India rural population for 2020 was <strong>912,739,439</strong>, a <strong>0.28% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.