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When did India overtake China in population?

2022: India overtook China in population. India leads in 2023. UN annual population estimates.

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What the data shows

  • India: 1,190.68M in 2007, 1,438.07M in 2023.
  • China: 1,325.81M in 2007, 1,422.59M in 2023. It peaked at 1,426.44M in 2021.

About this chart

India overtook China in 2022 in the annual population series. The change is visible between consecutive observations: in 2021, India stood at 1,414.2 million, against China at 1,426.44 million. In 2022, the order reversed, with India at 1,425.42 million and China at 1,425.18 million. This is the most recent upward crossing by India in the available record.

By 2023, India was ahead: India recorded 1,438.07 million and China 1,422.59 million. These are UN World Population Prospects historical estimates, rather than census counts taken simultaneously in both countries. The chart uses the same annual series for each side and stops at the last common estimate, so future medium-variant projections do not determine the crossing.

The data

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data; estimates to 2023, medium-variant projections after, millions of people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Crossings compare adjacent annual observations; the highlighted year is the most recent upward crossing in this series. Historical UN estimates only; the chart contains no future projections.

India overtakes China, Population, millions of people, 2007–2023, 2007–2023
Date🇮🇳 India🇨🇳 China
20071,190.68M1,325.81M
20081,207.93M1,333.82M
20091,225.53M1,342.52M
20101,243.48M1,351.56M
20111,261.23M1,360.25M
20121,278.68M1,369.52M
20131,295.83M1,379.01M
20141,312.28M1,387.95M
20151,328.02M1,396.13M
20161,343.94M1,404.05M
20171,359.66M1,412.36M
20181,374.66M1,419.01M
20191,389.03M1,423.52M
20201,402.62M1,426.11M
20211,414.20M1,426.44M
20221,425.42M1,425.18M
20231,438.07M1,422.59M

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Frequently asked questions

When did India overtake China in population?

India overtook China in 2022 in the annual population series. India was below China in 2021 and above it in 2022.

Which has the larger population in 2023?

By 2023, India was ahead: India recorded 1,438.07 million and China 1,422.59 million.

What does the population comparison measure?

These are UN World Population Prospects historical estimates, rather than census counts taken simultaneously in both countries. The chart uses the same annual series for each side and stops at the last common estimate, so future medium-variant projections do not determine the crossing.

Where does this data come from?

UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data; estimates to 2023, medium-variant projections after, millions of people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Crossings compare adjacent annual observations; the highlighted year is the most recent upward crossing in this series. Historical UN estimates only; the chart contains no future projections. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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