Asia · Southern Asia
India Demographics
India is the world’s most populous country, with continued population growth, below-replacement fertility, a large working-age share, and a gradually ageing age structure.
Main data sources used on this page: UN DESA World Population Prospects 2024, UNFPA World Population Dashboard 2025, World Bank World Development Indicators, and UN World Urbanization Prospects through World Bank urban series.
Last updated: June 15, 2026
Core Demographic Indicators
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,463,900,000 | 2025 | UNFPA World Population Dashboard; UN WPP 2024 |
| Total population, World Bank mid-year estimate | 1,450,935,791 | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Population growth rate | 0.9% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Median age | 28.4 years | 2024 | UN WPP-based estimate |
| Total fertility rate | 1.962 births per woman | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Life expectancy at birth, total | 72.235 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Life expectancy at birth, male | 70.73 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Life expectancy at birth, female | 73.86 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Urban population share | 36.87% | 2024 | World Bank WDI; UN World Urbanization Prospects basis |
| Urban population count | 534,916,498 | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Population aged 0-14 | 24.6239% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Population aged 15-64 | 68.22958% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Population aged 65+ | 7.14652% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Female population share | 48.4% | 2024 | World Bank Gender Data Portal / WDI |
| Net migration | -495,753 | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Global population rank | 1 | 2024 | UN WPP 2024 |
Table analysis
- India’s 2025 dashboard population is 1.4639 billion, while the World Bank mid-year estimate for 2024 is 1.4509 billion.
- The 2024 fertility rate of 1.962 births per woman is below the broad replacement-level benchmark of 2.1.
- The working-age share is 68.22958%, much larger than the 65+ share of 7.14652%.
- Net migration is negative in the World Bank series, at -495,753 in 2025.
Population Trend
India Population Trend
Selected mid-year population estimates from 1960 to 2024.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators, population total, mid-year estimates.
Trend analysis
- The selected series rises from 435.99 million in 1960 to 1.4509 billion in 2024.
- Recent annual additions are still large in absolute terms: 2024 is about 12.87 million above 2023 in the World Bank series.
- The trend chart uses historical estimates only; projection values are separated later in the page.
Historical Population Table
| Year | Population | Annual change | Growth rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 435,990,338 | 9,657,890 | 2.38% | UN WPP 2024 / World Bank-compatible series |
| 1965 | 490,140,146 | 10,829,962 | 2.37% | UN WPP 2024 / World Bank-compatible series |
| 1970 | 545,864,268 | 11,144,824 | 2.18% | UN WPP 2024 / World Bank-compatible series |
| 1975 | 611,309,535 | 13,089,053 | 2.29% | UN WPP 2024 / World Bank-compatible series |
| 1980 | 687,354,025 | Data not available | Data not available | World Bank WDI |
| 1990 | 864,972,221 | Data not available | 2.2% | World Bank WDI |
| 2000 | 1,057,922,733 | Data not available | 1.9% | World Bank WDI |
| 2010 | 1,240,613,620 | Data not available | Data not available | World Bank WDI |
| 2020 | 1,402,617,695 | 14,918,639 | 1.1% | World Bank WDI / UN WPP 2024 |
| 2021 | 1,414,203,896 | 11,586,201 | 0.8% | World Bank WDI |
| 2022 | 1,425,423,212 | 11,219,316 | 0.81% | World Bank WDI / UN WPP 2024 |
| 2023 | 1,438,069,596 | 12,646,384 | 0.89% | World Bank WDI / UN WPP 2024 |
| 2024 | 1,450,935,791 | 12,866,195 | 0.89% | World Bank WDI / UN WPP 2024 |
Table analysis
- The table keeps historical estimates separate from future projections.
- Growth remains positive in the recent rows, but the annual rate is far below the rates shown for the 1960s and 1970s.
- Rows with unavailable annual-change fields are left as “Data not available” rather than estimated inside the post.
Broad Age-Sex Structure
India Broad Age Structure
Share of total population by broad age group, 2024.
Source: World Bank WDI, based on UN Population Division age distributions.
| Age group | Population | Share | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | 357,277,017 | 24.6239% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| 15-64 | 989,967,399 | 68.22958% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| 65+ | 103,691,375 | 7.14652% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
Age-sex analysis
- The largest broad group is ages 15-64, at nearly 990.0 million people in 2024.
- The 0-14 population is 357.3 million, while the 65+ population is 103.7 million.
- This is not a full population pyramid because detailed 5-year age-by-sex counts are not included in the current page dataset.
Broad Age-Sex Balance
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Male share | Female share | Sex ratio | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | 186,139,712 | 171,137,305 | 357,277,017 | 52.1% | 47.9% | 108.8 males per 100 females | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| 15-64 | Data not available | Data not available | 989,967,399 | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| 65+ | 49,320,623 | Data not available | 103,691,375 | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
Age-sex analysis
- The under-15 group has a male count of 186.1 million and a female count of 171.1 million in the WDI age-sex series.
- The under-15 sex ratio is 108.8 males per 100 females based on the displayed counts.
- Detailed 5-year age-by-sex counts are not shown here; missing age-sex cells are not estimated.
Fertility, Life Expectancy and Urbanization
Fertility Compared With Replacement Level
Total fertility rate compared with a 2.1 benchmark.
Source: World Bank WDI, 2024. Replacement level is a broad benchmark, not a country-specific threshold.
Chart analysis
- India’s 2024 fertility rate is 1.962 births per woman.
- The displayed value is below the broad replacement-level benchmark of 2.1 births per woman.
Life Expectancy by Sex
Life expectancy at birth, total, male and female, 2024.
Source: World Bank WDI, 2024.
Chart analysis
- Female life expectancy is 73.86 years, compared with 70.73 years for males.
- The female-male gap is about 3.13 years in the displayed 2024 series.
Urban Population Share
Share of population classified as urban under national definitions.
Source: World Bank WDI, based on UN World Urbanization Prospects and national urban definitions.
Chart analysis
- The 2024 urban share is 36.87%.
- The urban population count is 534.9 million in the WDI series.
- Urban shares depend on national definitions of urban areas, so comparisons require definition checks.
Population Projection Scenario
India Population Projection Path
Observed 2024 estimate and selected UN WPP 2024 median projection points.
Source: UN DESA World Population Prospects 2024 median projection. Projection values are scenario-based estimates.
| Year | Projected population | Data type | Scenario | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,450,935,791 | Estimate | Historical estimate | World Bank WDI / UN WPP 2024 |
| 2054 | About 1.69 billion | Projection | UN WPP 2024 median projection | UN DESA WPP 2024 |
| Early 2060s | About 1.7009 billion | Projection peak range | UN WPP 2024 median projection | UN DESA WPP 2024 |
| 2100 | About 1.505 billion | Projection | UN WPP 2024 median projection | UN DESA WPP 2024 |
Projection analysis
- The projection path rises from about 1.45 billion in 2024 toward about 1.7 billion around the early 2060s.
- The same median scenario then shows a decline toward about 1.505 billion by 2100.
- Population projections are scenario-based estimates, not guaranteed predictions.
Population Scale Comparison
Largest-Population Countries: 2024 and 2050
Selected countries from UN WPP 2024 median projection tables.
Source: UN DESA World Population Prospects 2024, selected countries, millions of people.
| Country | 2024 population | 2050 projection | 2100 projection | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 1,451 million | 1,680 million | 1,505 million | UN WPP 2024 median projection |
| China | 1,419 million | 1,360 million | 633 million | UN WPP 2024 median projection |
| Indonesia | 283 million | 320 million | 296 million | UN WPP 2024 median projection |
| Pakistan | 251 million | 372 million | 511 million | UN WPP 2024 median projection |
| Bangladesh | 174 million | 215 million | 209 million | UN WPP 2024 median projection |
Comparison analysis
- India remains first among the selected countries in the 2024, 2050 and 2100 projection points shown here.
- China’s projected path differs sharply from India’s, with a decline from 1,419 million in 2024 to 633 million in 2100.
- Pakistan shows the largest projected proportional rise among the selected comparison countries.
Demographic Overview
India’s population is still rising, with the World Bank series showing 1.4509 billion in 2024 and UNFPA showing 1.4639 billion for 2025.
The 15-64 age group accounts for 68.22958% of the population in 2024, while the 65+ share remains much smaller at 7.14652%.
The total fertility rate is below the 2.1 benchmark, at 1.962 births per woman in 2024.
World Bank urban data classifies 36.87% of India’s population as urban in 2024, equal to about 534.9 million people.
The World Bank net migration series shows a negative balance of -495,753 in 2025.
UN WPP 2024 median projections place India near a population peak of about 1.7 billion around the early 2060s.
Data Sources and Methodology
| Source | Year or release | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| UN DESA World Population Prospects | 2024 revision | Historical population context, projection scenario, global rank and comparison values. |
| UNFPA World Population Dashboard | 2025 dashboard | 2025 headline population value. |
| World Bank World Development Indicators | 2024 and 2025 latest available observations | Population, growth, age shares, fertility, life expectancy, urban population, net migration and sex-share indicators. |
| UN World Urbanization Prospects through World Bank urban series | 2024 WDI observation; WUP-based definition | Urban share and urban population count. |
Method note
- Population estimates are generally mid-year estimates unless a dashboard value states a different reference.
- World Bank WDI values are used where they provide a comparable annual series.
- Projection values are kept in a separate section from observed or estimated historical values.
- Missing values are not filled with interpolated figures inside this page.
Methodological Safety Note
Methodological Safety Note: India’s demographic values can differ by source because resident population, mid-year estimates, census counts, model estimates and projection scenarios are not the same measure. The 2011 Census remains the latest completed national census, while many current values are UN or World Bank estimates. Urban population depends on national urban definitions. Net migration is an estimate of immigrants minus emigrants and may use multi-year demographic methods. Fertility is shown as births per woman, and the 2.1 replacement benchmark is broad rather than country-specific. Age-sex cells are shown only where the displayed dataset supports them; missing male/female age cells are not estimated.
FAQ
What is India’s population?
UNFPA reports India’s 2025 population at 1,463,900,000. The World Bank mid-year estimate for 2024 is 1,450,935,791.
Is India’s fertility rate below replacement level?
Yes. The World Bank WDI value for 2024 is 1.962 births per woman, below the broad replacement-level benchmark of 2.1.
What share of India’s population is working age?
The World Bank WDI 2024 value for ages 15-64 is 68.22958% of the population.
When is India’s population projected to peak?
UN WPP 2024 median projection reporting places India near a population peak of about 1.7 billion around the early 2060s.