India has the world’s largest population as of 2026. United Nations estimates indicate that India overtook China in population during 2023, after decades of rapid growth and changing demographic patterns.
India’s population is distributed across a highly varied landscape, from the densely settled Indo-Gangetic Plain to large cities, coastal regions and the Deccan Plateau. New Delhi is the national capital, while Mumbai is one of the country’s largest urban centres.
The population milestone does not mean India has the highest population density everywhere. India is large, and density varies substantially among states and territories. Its fertility rate has also declined significantly over recent decades, while life expectancy and urbanization have increased.
China remains the world’s second-most populous country, although population rankings can change as estimates are revised. Exact totals differ by source because population counts are modeled between censuses and depend on the reference date.