China's economy is approximately 1.3x larger than India's in nominal GDP ($17.9 trillion vs $13.6 trillion in 2024), but India is growing faster at 6.2% annually compared to China's 5.0%, positioning India to potentially surpass China within 15-20 years. China dominates in manufacturing and exports, while India leads in services and has a younger demographic advantage.
India vs China Economy 2026 — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
World's 5th largest economy with fastest major-economy growth rate and expanding services sector
World's 2nd largest economy and top exporter with mature manufacturing base and high per-capita income
Nominal GDP (2024). GDP Growth Rate (2024). Per Capita GDP. Population. Median Age. Merchandise Exports (2024). FDI Inflows (2024)
China maintains economic superiority with 31% larger GDP, higher per-capita income, and dominant manufacturing/export position—better for established business partnerships and supply chain efficiency. Choose China for current economic scale and stability. Choose India for long-term growth potential, demographic dividend (younger workforce entering prime earning years), and emerging tech/services sector opportunities; India is growing 1.2 percentage points faster and projects to become the world's second-largest economy by 2040.
India Economy: $13.6 trillion | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
India Economy: 6.8% | China Economy: 4.2%
India Economy: $2,389 | China Economy: $12,800
India Economy: 2.5% | China Economy: 28%
India Economy: $85.2 billion | China Economy: $189 billion
India Economy: 27.3 years | China Economy: 38.4 years
India Economy: 1.45 billion | China Economy: 1.426 billion
India Economy: $4.15 trillion | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
India Economy: 6.2% | China Economy: 4.5%
India Economy: $2,813 | China Economy: $12,700
India Economy: 7.7% | China Economy: N/A
India Economy: 3.4% | China Economy: N/A
India Economy: 6.9% | China Economy: N/A
India Economy: $12.0 trillion | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
India Economy: $885 | China Economy: $12,720
India Economy: $245 billion | China Economy: $220 billion
India Economy: $85 billion | China Economy: $163 billion
India Economy: 6.2% | China Economy: 5.0%
India Economy: $1,030 | China Economy: $12,720
India Economy: $460 billion | China Economy: $1,370 billion
India Economy: $85.1 billion | China Economy: $163.2 billion
India Economy: $2.5 trillion | China Economy: $12.3 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $17-18
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: ~80%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: Limited by US export controls, advancing in AI adoption
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: -0.5 to -2%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.5-5.0%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $296.5 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $620.1 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 0.5-2.0%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: Restricted to 7nm+ (export controls)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $620 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $525
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $17.9
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: -0.5 to -2.0%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: Limited by US export controls
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.6-4.8%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: €296.5 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: €467
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 80%+
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: ~5.2%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $13,500
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $5,708.7
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $296.5
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 0.2-0.3%
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 28.3%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $400-800B
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $17.7 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.7%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $400-800B reduction
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.8%
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production Share
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 0.5-2.0pp
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $18.7 trillion
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (Annual)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $163.5 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 28% (diversified)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.9%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $12,700
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $45.78 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 6.0%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $680 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 14.3%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: ~5.5%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: EV manufacturing, 5G, solar, semiconductors
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $16,800 (119,800 yuan)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 5.0%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $14,874
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $11.1 trillion behind
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 6.1%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: ~16-17% of global GDP
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 0.9% CPI
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 5.1%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 3-4%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: Data not available
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $14,800+
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 36% smaller than US
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $189 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1,420 million
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 282%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.6 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $652 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: +$631 billion (surplus)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 142 companies
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.8 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $10.8 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 28.4%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 54.8%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $163 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $22.8 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.2 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $8.7 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: +$632 billion (surplus)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1,480 GW
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $11,500
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $28.3 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 14.8%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1,200 thousand
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $34.7 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: +$631 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 687,231
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 5.3%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $15.2 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $6.8 trillion
Tech Sector Market Capitalization (Top 7 Companies)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $2.8 trillion
Average Annual GDP Growth Rate (2010-2023)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 6.8%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $31.6 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 16% of world GDP
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $696 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $4.2 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 920 million
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $12,720
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1,820,000
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 0.2%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1,200,000
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $38,000
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 12.4%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $23.5 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $27.4 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 8.7%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1,750,000
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 38.8 years
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 2nd largest exporter (after USA)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.6T
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 8-10%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 30 million
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $4.7 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 38.4 years
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: +$821 billion surplus
How to choose between India Economy and China Economy
India vs China Economy 2026 — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for India vs China Economy 2026. Contains 182 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
India vs China Economy 2026 — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for India vs China Economy 2026.
Based on current growth trajectories, India's 6.2% annual growth versus China's 5.0% suggests India could reach China's current nominal GDP size by approximately 2040-2045. However, China's economy will also continue growing, so India would need to maintain this growth differential for 15-20 years. India is projected to become the world's 2nd largest economy (nominal GDP) by 2047, behind a still-growing USA, according to IMF and World Bank forecasts.
Why is China's per capita income so much higher than India's?
China's per capita GDP is 12.4x higher ($12,720 vs $1,030) primarily because: (1) China's total GDP is only 1.32x larger despite nearly identical populations, concentrating wealth differently; (2) China industrialized earlier with mature manufacturing (27% of GDP) while India is still transitioning (15% of GDP); (3) China's urbanization rate is 65% versus India's 35%, driving productivity; (4) China's average wages in manufacturing/services are 3-5x higher than India's.
Which economy is better for foreign investment?
China attracts nearly 2x more FDI ($163.2B vs $85.1B in 2024) due to established infrastructure, mature supply chains, and technology sector maturity. However, India's FDI is growing faster (12% YoY vs China's 2% YoY) driven by supply chain diversification away from China and lower labor costs. For manufacturing/exports: choose China. For IT services, software, and BPO: choose India. For long-term growth exposure: India offers better risk-adjusted returns despite lower current investment volumes.
How do their export capabilities compare?
China exports $1.37 trillion annually (2024), nearly 3x India's $460 billion, dominating in manufactured goods (electronics 22%, machinery 18%, textiles 7%). India's exports are concentrated in services ($310B), gems/jewelry ($40B), and pharmaceuticals ($60B). China controls 15% of global merchandise trade versus India's 2.3%. China's advantage stems from 400+ industrial zones and 40+ years of manufacturing-focused development; India is rapidly building manufacturing capacity but remains services-dominant.
India's median age is 27.3 years versus China's 38.4 years, meaning India adds approximately 12-15 million workers annually while China loses 800,000+. By 2050, India will have 900 million working-age adults (vs China's 700 million), providing competitive advantages in labor-intensive sectors, consumer market expansion, and tax base growth. However, this requires job creation infrastructure India is still developing; insufficient employment could cause migration and social pressure rather than growth.
How to Choose Between India Economy and China Economy
Nominal GDP (2024): India Economy has $13.6 trillion, while China Economy has $17.9 trillion.
GDP Growth Rate (2024): India Economy has 6.2% annually, while China Economy has 5.0% annually.
Per Capita GDP: India Economy has $1,030 USD, while China Economy has $12,720 USD.
Population: India Economy has 1.43 billion, while China Economy has 1.42 billion.
Median Age: India Economy has 27.3 years, while China Economy has 38.4 years.
Merchandise Exports (2024): India Economy has $460 billion, while China Economy has $1.37 trillion.
FDI Inflows (2024): India Economy has $85.1 billion, while China Economy has $163.2 billion.