Home / Comparisons / China vs India Population
China vs India Population
India overtook China in 2021. In 1960 China stood at roughly 153% of India’s Population; today the figure is about 96%, and the pair was closest in 2021 (100%).
| Year | China | India | India as % of China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 435,990,338 | 667,070,000 | 153% |
| 1970 | 545,864,268 | 818,315,000 | 150% |
| 1980 | 687,354,025 | 981,235,000 | 143% |
| 1990 | 864,972,221 | 1,135,185,000 | 131% |
| 2000 | 1,057,922,733 | 1,262,645,000 | 119% |
| 2010 | 1,243,481,564 | 1,337,705,000 | 108% |
| 2020 | 1,402,617,695 | 1,411,100,000 | 101% |
| 2025 | 1,463,865,525 | 1,406,585,000 | 96% |
Frequently asked questions
When did India pass China in Population?
In 2021. India’s published Population rose above China’s that year and the lead has held since.
How do China and India compare today?
India is ahead: 1,463,865,525 against 1,406,585,000 — the trailing economy stands at about 96% of the leader.
Are these Population figures nominal or adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — people — with no inflation restatement, no PPP conversion and no interpolation for missing years.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: