India had the world's largest population in the United Nations' 2023 estimate.
The UN estimated India's population at about 1.43 billion in 2023, placing it ahead of China. India crossed this milestone during a period when China's population began to decline, while India's population continued to grow, though its growth rate has been slowing.
India's population is spread across highly varied environments, from the Himalayan region and the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the Deccan Plateau and coastal cities. Uttar Pradesh is the country's most populous state and has a population larger than many nations.
Population rankings depend on the date and data source, because censuses and estimates are produced at different times. China was the world's most populous country for decades, so older references may still list it first. The UN's World Population Prospects is a widely used source for international comparisons.