India | Demographics
Census 2011
- Population | 121.09 crore
- 2026 projection | 142.59 crore
- 2031 projection | 147.88 crore
- 2036 projection | 152.23 crore
- 0 to 14 population | 2011 | 30.9% | 2026 projection | 23.8% | 2031 projection | 21.9% | 2036 projection | 20.1% |
- 15 to 59 population | 2011 | 60.7% | 2026 projection | 64.8% | 2031 projection | 65.1% | 2036 projection | 64.9% |
In Absolute Numbers
- Population | 1,21,08,54,977 |
- Households | 24,95,01,663 |
- Males | 62,32,70,258 |
- Females | 58,75,84,719 |
- Workers | 48,18,88,868 |
- Non-workers | 72,89,66,109 |
(Source: Census of India, MoSPI)
India | Working-age Population
- 2011 | 15 to 59 years | 60.73% of India’s population | or 73.54 crore persons |
- 2026 projection | 15 to 59 years | 64.8% of India’s population | or 92.39 crore persons |
- 2031 projection | 15 to 59 years | 65.06% of India’s population | or 96.21 crore persons |
- 2036 projection | 15 to 59 years | 64.93% of India’s population | or 98.85 crore persons |
(Source: MoSPI)
India | Demographics
Current numbers
- Total population in millions, 2025: 1,46.39 crore
- Population annual doubling time (2025): 79 years
- Population aged 0-14, 2025: 24.2%
- Population aged 10-19, 2025: 17%
- Population aged 10-24, 2025: 26%
- Population aged 15-64, 2025: 68.7%
- Population aged 65 and older, 2025: 7%
- Total fertility rate, per woman, 2025: 1.9
- Life expectancy at birth, 2025, male: 71 years
- Life expectancy at birth, 2025, female: 74 years
(Source: United Nations Population Fund)
India: Dependency Ratio
- What is DR? | number of | 0 to 14 years children + 60 and 60+ aged population | per 100 working age population (15-59 years) |
- What it highlights | the potential dependency burden on the working-age population |
- Higher numbers to support (children + elderly (dependent) | means higher DR | means more burden on unpaid care work | means overall extra burden on the economy |
- India’s DR | projected to come down | 2011 (64.6%) | 2026 projected (54.3%) | 2031 projected (53.7%) | 2036 projected (54%) |
- 0 to 14 population | 2011 | 30.9% | 2026 projection | 23.8% | 2031 projection | 21.9% | 2036 projection | 20.1% |
- 15 to 59 population | 2011 | 60.7% | 2026 projection | 64.8% | 2031 projection | 65.1% | 2036 projection | 64.9% |
- 60 and 60+ population | 2011 | 8.4% | 2026 projection | 11.4% | 2031 projection | 13.1% | 2036 projection | 14.9% |
(Source: MoSPI)
Census 2011
- First Phase | the House Listing and Housing Census | April 2010 to September 2010 | across the country.
- Second Phase | Population Enumeration | February 9, 2011 up to February 28, 2011.
- Second Phase | Population Enumeration | in snow-bound areas | September 11 to 30, 2010.
- Revisional Round | 1st to 5th March, 2011.
- April 30, 2013 | the final data, or population figures were revealed.
World Population: Trends
- July 11, 1987 | crossed the 5 billion mark | “Day of Five Billion”
- 2011 | crossed the 7 billion mark |
- 2021 | 7.9 billion |
- 2030 | 8.5 billion | projection |
- 2050 | 9.7 billion | projection |
- 2100 | 10.9 billion | projection |
The estimated Worker Population Ratio (WPR)
Or employment generated
- 2023-24 | 58.2% |
- 2017-18 | 46.8% |
- Unemployment Rate (UR) | 2017-18 (6%) | 2023-24 (3.2%) |
(Source: Annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Reports, Ministry of Labour & Employment, GOI)
- PLFS | done by MoSPI | since 2017-18 | period (July to June every year) |
- PLFS | collects data on employment and unemployment |
- EPFO | with new 7+ crore new subscribers | between September 2017 and September 2024 |
The Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE)
- For unorganized/unincorporated industries.
- Non-agricultural sectors | manufacturing, trade and other services sectors |
- Estimated number of workers | 2021-22 (9.79 crore) | 2022-23 (10.96 crore) |
Employment in India
- 2023-24 | employment increased to 64.33 crore |
- 2014-15 | 47.15 crore employed |
- Up by | 47.15 crore | during 2014-15 to 2023-24 |
(Source: RBI’s KLEMS Database)
- Data figures on employment generation estimates | across the whole country |
India Demographics
- Population | 1,409,128,296 (2024 est.) | male (725,784,825) | female (683,343,471) |
- Rank | 2nd in total population (India has become the most populous country according to latest numbers) | 2ndin female population | 1st in male population |
- Age structure | 0-14 years: 24.5% (male 181,115,052/female 163,647,028) | 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 500,568,593/female 467,593,781) | 65 years and over: 6.8% (2024 est.) (male 44,101,180/female 52,102,662) |
- Dependency ratios | or total dependency ratio: 45.5 (2024 est.) | youth dependency ratio: 35.6 (2024 est.) | elderly dependency ratio: 9.9 (2024 est.) | potential support ratio: 10.1 (2024 est.) |
- Median age | total: 29.8 years (2024 est.) | male (29.1 years) | female (30.5 years) | comparison ranking (total 142)
(Source: The World Factbook, CIA)