Brazil vs India
Brazil leads on 3 of 6 metrics, India on 3. Here's the full side-by-side breakdown.
Brazil vs India: the verdict
India is the more populous of the two, home to 1.46 billion people — about 6.9× the population of Brazil (212.81 million).
On the economy, India has the larger nominal GDP at $3.96T. But measured per person, Brazil comes out ahead on GDP per capita ($10,713), a better proxy for average living standards.
Geographically, Brazil is the larger country, spanning 8,515,767 km².
Brazil records the higher Human Development Index (0.786), reflecting stronger combined outcomes in health, education and income (source: UNDP).
Overall the two are evenly matched across these headline metrics — the "winner" depends on which measures matter most to you.
Full breakdown
Brazil
BrazilBrazilGovernment & politics
BrazilBrazil
Brazil is a federal presidential republic modelled partly on the United States. The President is both head of state and head of government, directly elected and serving as commander of the armed forces. Power is divided among the executive, a bicameral National Congress and an independent judiciary led by the Supreme Federal Court. Brazil's many political parties mean presidents must build broad coalitions in Congress to govern.
India
India is a Westminster-style parliamentary democracy with a federal structure. The President is the constitutional head of state, but the office is largely ceremonial — real executive power rests with the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, who are drawn from and answerable to the elected Lok Sabha. The PM is usually the leader of the party or coalition that commands a majority in the lower house. States hold significant devolved powers, and an independent judiciary headed by the Supreme Court can strike down laws that violate the constitution.
Travel & practical
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Frequently asked questions
Which country has a higher GDP, Brazil or India?
India has the higher nominal GDP at $3.96T, compared with $2.28T for Brazil (World Bank).
Which country has a larger population, Brazil or India?
India has the larger population with 1,463,865,525 people, versus 212,812,405 for Brazil.
Which is larger in area, Brazil or India?
Brazil is larger, covering 8,515,767 km² compared with 3,287,590 km² for India.