China's economy is approximately 1.3x larger than India's in absolute GDP terms ($17.9 trillion vs $13.6 trillion), but India is growing faster at 6.2% annually compared to China's 4.1%, positioning India to potentially surpass China within 15-20 years. China maintains dominance in manufacturing and exports while India leads in services and software.
India vs China Economy 2026 — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Rapidly growing emerging market economy with services dominance and 1.45 billion population.
World's second-largest economy with rapid industrialization, massive manufacturing base, and emerging tech sector.
Nominal GDP. GDP Growth Rate (2025-2026). Per Capita Income. Manufacturing Output % of Economy. Services Sector % of Economy. Total Population. Merchandise Exports
China remains the world's second-largest economy with superior absolute GDP, manufacturing infrastructure, and export dominance, making it the current economic superpower. However, India's significantly faster growth rate, larger working-age population, and expanding digital economy suggest it will likely surpass China economically within 15-20 years if current growth trajectories continue. Choose China if evaluating current global economic influence and manufacturing capacity; choose India if investing in long-term growth potential and emerging market opportunities.
India Economy: $3.9 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: 1.45 billion | China Economy: 1,425 million
India Economy: $4.15 trillion | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
India Economy: 6.2% | China Economy: 4.8%
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: $2,389 | China Economy: $12,700
India Economy: $245 billion | China Economy: $220 billion
India Economy: $85 billion | China Economy: $189 billion
India Economy: 84% | China Economy: 282%
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: $189B
India Economy: 15% | China Economy: 29.4%
India Economy: $2.5 trillion | China Economy: $12.3 trillion
India Economy: 6.2% | China Economy: 4.1%
India Economy: 3.2% | China Economy: 5.3%
India Economy: 4.8% | China Economy: 0.2%
India Economy: $85 billion | China Economy: $163 billion
India Economy: 5.1% | China Economy: N/A
India Economy: $13.6 trillion | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
India Economy: $430 billion | China Economy: $1,230 billion
India Economy: 27.2 years | China Economy: 38 years
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: $680 billion
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: $17.9 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.7%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $400-800B reduction
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production Share
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 0.5-2.0pp
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: $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: 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: $17.9T
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 5.2%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $12,500
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.4T
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 5.3%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $4.8T (Alibaba, Tencent, Meituan weighted total)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 37.4 years (projected 53 by 2050)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.6 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 282%
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: $11.8 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: 1,542,000
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $35.5 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 687,231
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: 1,820,000
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 0.2%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.2 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $28.7 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $12,720
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: $36.1 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: $8.1 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 38.4 years
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: +$821 billion surplus
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $24 trillion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3,200 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 20.6%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 2.1%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $28.7T
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.2%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $163B
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $90 billion
Annual GDP Growth Rate (2020-2026 Average)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 14.2%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 142,000
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 2.4%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1.59 million
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 15.8%
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $369 billion
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: $35.4T
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 29.2%
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2024)
India Economy: N/A | China Economy: 2.89%
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 235 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.
Yes, most analysts project India will surpass China's nominal GDP between 2040-2050 based on current growth trajectories. India's 6.2% annual growth versus China's 4.1%, combined with a younger population and expanding digital economy, creates a mathematical path to overtaking. However, China maintains significant structural advantages in manufacturing and technology that could slow India's rise if improved.
Why is China's economy larger despite having fewer people than India?
China's per capita income is 5.3x higher ($12,720 vs $2,389), meaning the average Chinese citizen generates far more economic output. This reflects decades of manufacturing industrialization, higher productivity levels, better infrastructure, and higher capital investments. China's urbanization rate is 65% versus India's 35%, concentrating economic activity more efficiently.
China offers current economic scale, established supply chains, and mature technology sectors—ideal for value investors seeking stable returns. India offers higher growth potential, demographic dividends, and exposure to emerging sectors like digital payments and IT services—ideal for growth-oriented investors. The choice depends on investment horizon: China for 5-year returns, India for 15+ year wealth compounding.
China exports $1.23 trillion in merchandise annually (electronics, machinery, textiles, vehicles) dominating global supply chains. India exports $430 billion primarily in services (IT, business outsourcing—$227 billion), pharmaceuticals ($67 billion), and refined petroleum ($43 billion). China controls physical goods trade; India controls knowledge-based services trade.
What are the demographic implications for each economy?
India benefits from median age of 27.2 years, adding ~10 million working-age citizens annually and expanding the consumer base through 2040. China faces aging challenges with median age 38.5 and declining workforce—workforce contracted 0.6% in 2025. This creates labor cost advantages for India while China must rely on automation and productivity gains.
How to Choose Between India Economy and China Economy
Nominal GDP: India Economy has $13.6 trillion, while China Economy has $17.9 trillion.
GDP Growth Rate (2025-2026): India Economy has 6.2% annually, while China Economy has 4.1% annually.
Per Capita Income: India Economy has $2,389, while China Economy has $12,720.
Consider: Manufacturing Output % of Economy
Manufacturing Output % of Economy: India Economy has 18%, while China Economy has 27%.
Services Sector % of Economy: India Economy has 54%, while China Economy has 47%.
Total Population: India Economy has 1.45 billion, while China Economy has 1.42 billion.
Merchandise Exports: India Economy has $430 billion, while China Economy has $1.23 trillion.