The following is a comparison between India and Russia, two large countries of the world. Let’s read.
India and Russia – country comparison
GDP
• India has a larger GDP, while Russia has a higher GDP per capita.
| 2025 (IMF) | India | Russia |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Indian Rupee | Russian Ruble |
| GDP (nominal, USD) | $3.92 trillion | $2.59 trillion |
| GDP per capita (nominal, USD) | $2.68 thousand | $17.97 thousand |
| GDP (PPP, international $) | $17.26 trillion | $7.24 trillion |
| GDP per capita (PPP, international $) | $11.79 thousand | $50.26 thousand |
Population
| 2025 estimate | India | Russia |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1.46 billion | 144 million |
| Population aged 0-14 | 24.2% | 17% |
| Population aged 15-64 | 68.7% | 65% |
| Population aged 65 and older | 7% | 18% |
| Total fertility rate, per woman | 1.9 | 1.5 |
Life
| India | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (2023/UN) | 72 | 73.15 |
| Human Development Index rank (2023) | 130th | 64th |
| Human Development Index value | 0.685 | 0.832 |
Overview
• Russia is the largest country in the world by area, covering around 17.1 million square kilometers. India, the seventh largest country, spans around 3.3 million square kilometers. Russia is more than five times the size of India.
• India is both more populous and more densely populated than Russia.
| India | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | approximately 3.3 million sq km | approximately 17.1 million sq km |
| Area rank | 7th | 1st |
| Population | 1.46 billion (2025 estimate) | 144 million (2025 estimate) |
| Capital city | New Delhi | Moscow |
| Largest city | Delhi | Moscow |
| Most spoken language | Hindi | Russian |
| Largest metropolitan area | National Capital Region (NCR) | Moscow metropolitan area |
| Most popular sport | Cricket | Football (Soccer) |
Geography
| India | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Continent | Asia | Transcontinental (Asia and eastern Europe) |
| Forest cover (2023) | 24.5% | 49.8% |
| Total number of time zones | 1 | 11 |
| Highest mountain | K2 (8,611 m/28,251 ft) (claimed); Kanchenjunga (8,586 m/28,169 ft) (otherwise) | Mount Elbrus (5,642 m/18,510 ft) |
| Largest island | North Andaman | Sakhalin |
| Largest lake | Vembanad Lake | Caspian Sea (shared with multiple countries), Lake Baikal (entirely within Russia) |
| Major rivers | Ganga, Brahmaputra, Teesta, Godavari, Krishna, Yamuna, Indus, etc | Volga, Amur, Lena, Yenisei, Ob, Irtysh, etc |
| National animal | Tiger | Eurasian brown bear |
(Also read: Brazil vs India | Brazil and India – country comparison)
Tourism
| India | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| International tourist arrivals | 20.6 million (2024) | 24.6 million (2019) |
| Number of UNESCO world heritage sites | 44 | 33 |
| Popular places to visit | Taj Mahal, Ajanta and Ellora caves, Mahabalipuram, Indian Himalayas, Western Ghats, Jaipur, Varanasi, Sarnath, Amritsar, etc. | Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Lake Baikal, Kamchatka Peninsula, Altai Mountains, etc. |
Major international airports
India
- Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi (busiest)
- Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai
- Chennai International Airport, Chennai
- Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore
- Cochin International Airport, Kochi
Russia
- Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow (busiest)
- Domodedovo International Airport, Moscow
- Pulkovo Airport, St. Petersburg
- Koltsovo Airport, Yekaterinburg
- Tolmachevo Airport, Novosibirsk