India vs China
India
China
| Metric | India | China |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | New Delhi | Beijing |
| Population | 1,463,865,525 | 1,416,096,094 |
| Area (km²) | 3,287,263 | 9,596,961 |
| Population density (/km²) | 445 | 148 |
| GDP per capita (USD) | $2,700 | $13,900 |
| Region | Southern Asia | Eastern Asia |
| Currency | INR | CNY |
| Languages | Hindi, English | Mandarin |
| Main religions | Hinduism, Islam, Christianity | Buddhism, Taoism, Folk religions |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 | UTC+8 |
Green highlights the higher value (or higher GDP per capita). Figures are approximate.
At a glance
India and China are both located in Asia (Southern Asia and Eastern Asia respectively). India has the larger population, while China covers more land area.
For full geographic detail, see the India map and the China map.
Two population giants
India and China are the only countries with more than a billion people each; India overtook China as the world's most populous country in 2023, according to UN estimates. China is nearly three times larger in area, yet much of its west is desert or high plateau, while India's population is spread across fertile plains and coasts. India's population is younger and still growing, while China's has begun to decline.
The disputed Himalayan frontier
The two countries share a long Himalayan border that has never been fully agreed. China administers Aksai Chin, which India claims as part of Ladakh, while India administers Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as "South Tibet". The two fought a short war in 1962, and the de facto boundary is known as the Line of Actual Control. A deadly clash in the Galwan Valley in 2020 led to a military standoff; after a disengagement agreement in 2024, relations began to thaw and direct flights resumed in October 2025 after a five-year gap. Nepal and Bhutan sit along parts of the frontier between them.
Different economic paths
China began market reforms in 1978 and grew into the world's manufacturing centre; its economy is now several times larger than India's, and its income per person is roughly five times higher. India opened up later, from 1991, and its growth has been led more by services such as IT and outsourcing, though it is expanding manufacturing. China is one of India's largest trading partners, and India runs a large trade deficit with it.
Language, belief and politics
China is a one-party state with Mandarin as its national language; India is the world's largest democracy, with Hindi and English used by the central government and 22 languages recognised in its constitution. Buddhism travelled from India to China in the early centuries AD, and Chinese pilgrims such as Xuanzang left valuable accounts of India. Today Hinduism and Islam are India's largest religions, while most Chinese are officially unaffiliated, with Buddhism, Taoism and folk religion the main traditions.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has more people, India or China?
- India. According to UN estimates, India overtook China as the world's most populous country in 2023.
- Where is the India–China border disputed?
- Mainly in two areas: Aksai Chin, administered by China and claimed by India, and Arunachal Pradesh, administered by India and claimed by China. The de facto boundary is called the Line of Actual Control.