The following is a comparison between India, a large country in Southern Asia, and the United Kingdom (UK), an island country in Europe. Let’s read.
India and UK – country comparison
GDP
| 2025 (IMF) | India | United Kingdom (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Indian Rupee | Pound sterling |
| GDP (nominal, USD) | $3.92 trillion | $4 trillion |
| GDP per capita (nominal, USD) | $2.68 thousand | $57.61 thousand |
| GDP (PPP, international $) | $17.26 trillion | $4.55 trillion |
| GDP per capita (PPP, international $) | $11.79 thousand | $65.52 thousand |
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Population
India has a significantly larger population than the United Kingdom. Both India and the United Kingdom are densely populated countries. The table below compares the population, total fertility rate (TFR), and the percentage of the population in different age groups in the two countries.
| 2025 estimate | India | United Kingdom (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1.46 billion | 69.6 million |
| Population aged 0-14 | 24.2% | 17% |
| Population aged 15-64 | 68.7% | 63% |
| Population aged 65 and older | 7% | 20% |
| Total fertility rate, per woman | 1.9 | 1.5 |
Source: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Life
| India | United Kingdom (UK) | |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (2023/UN) | 72 | 81.3 |
| Human Development Index rank (2023) | 130th | 13th |
| Human Development Index value | 0.685 | 0.946 |
Overview
India is one of the largest countries in the world. It is more than 13 times larger than the United Kingdom.
| India | United Kingdom (UK) | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | approximately 3.3 million sq km | approximately 243,600 sq km |
| Population | 1.46 billion (2025 estimate) | 69.6 million (2025 estimate) |
| Capital city | New Delhi | London |
| Largest city | Delhi | London |
| Largest metropolitan area | National Capital Region (NCR) | Greater London |
| Most spoken language | Hindi | English |
| Major languages | Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Punjabi, Gujarati, etc. | English, Scots, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Cornish, Irish, etc. |
| Most popular sport | Cricket | Football (Soccer) |
(Also read: India and USA – country comparison | India vs USA)
Geography
| India | United Kingdom (UK) | |
|---|---|---|
| Continent | Asia | Europe |
| Forest cover (2023) | 24.5% | 13.3% |
| Total number of time zones | 1 | 9 |
| Highest mountain | K2 (8,611 m/28,251 ft) (claimed); Kanchenjunga (8,586 m/28,169 ft) (otherwise) | Ben Nevis (1,345 m/4,413 ft) |
| Largest island | North Andaman | Great Britain |
| Largest lake | Vembanad Lake | Lough Neagh |
| Major rivers | Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputram, Indus, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, etc. | Thames, Trent, Severn, Great Ouse, Wye, Tay, etc. |
Tourism
| India | United Kingdom (UK) | |
|---|---|---|
| International tourist arrivals | 20.6 million (2024) | 41.8 million (2024) |
| Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites | 45 | 35 |
| Popular places to visit | Himalayas, Taj Mahal, Ajanta and Ellora caves, Mahabalipuram, Western Ghats, Jaipur, Varanasi, Sarnath, Amritsar, etc. | London, Stonehenge, Bath, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Giant’s Causeway, Scottish Highlands, etc. |
| Busiest airport | Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi | Heathrow Airport, London |