China vs India: population pyramids in 1955
ChinaIndia
Each bar is the share of the total population at that single year of age (men left, women right), so countries of different sizes can be compared.
China and India compared
In 1955, China has a population of 596.8 million and India 383.1 million; China is about 1.6 times the size of India.
The share aged 65 and over is 4.5% in China and 3.3% in India, 1.2 points higher in China. The median age is 21.8 years in China and 20.8 years in India.
The total fertility rate is 6.26 in China and 5.91 in India, both above the replacement level of about 2.1. Life expectancy at birth is 47.2 years in China and 43.7 years in India.
By 2050, the population of China is projected to grow by 112.0% and that of India to grow by 337.8% compared with 1955.
GDP per person is $14K in China (2025) and $2,702 in India (2025).
Key figures (1955)
| China | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 596.8 million | 383.1 million |
| Aged 0–14 | 37.9% | 38.8% |
| Aged 15–64 | 57.7% | 57.9% |
| Aged 65+ | 4.5% | 3.3% |
| Median age | 21.8 yrs | 20.8 yrs |
| Old-age dependency | 7.8 | 5.7 |
| Total fertility rate | 6.26 | 5.91 |
| Life expectancy | 47.2 yrs | 43.7 yrs |
| Population growth | +2.25% | +2.35% |
| Net migration (per year) | -2,402 | +70,393 |
| GDP | $19.5T (2025) | $3.96T (2025) |
| GDP per person | $14K (2025) | $2,702 (2025) |
| Unemployment | 4.6% (2025) | 4.2% (2025) |
Economic figures are the latest year published for each country.