United States vs India — Country Comparison

India recently surpassed China as the world's most populous country with approximately 1.4 billion people. The United States is the third most populous country with 338 million — India's population is over 4 times larger, yet it occupies roughly one-third of the US territory (3.3 million km² vs 9.8 million km²).

Economically, the United States has the highest GDP in the Western world at $25.7 trillion, while India ranks third globally at $14.2 trillion (PPP). However, GDP per capita reveals a dramatic gap: approximately $75,500 in the US compared to $9,800 in India, reflecting vast differences in economic development and wealth distribution.

Both nations are geographically diverse with extensive coastlines, varied climates, and significant natural resources. The US covers 9.8 million km², nearly three times India's 3.3 million km².

In technology and infrastructure, the United States leads with approximately 93% internet penetration compared to 56% in India. However, India is the fastest-growing internet market in the world, adding millions of new users annually.

Both countries maintain large military forces. The US spends approximately 3.2% of GDP on defense versus India's 2.0%, but India has more active military personnel (1.5M vs 1.28M), making it one of the largest standing armies in the world.