India vs Russia
India leads on 3 of 6 metrics, Russia on 3. Here's the full side-by-side breakdown.
India vs Russia: the verdict
India is the more populous of the two, home to 1.46 billion people — about 10.2× the population of Russia (143.51 million).
On the economy, India has the larger nominal GDP at $3.96T. But measured per person, Russia comes out ahead on GDP per capita ($17,847), a better proxy for average living standards.
Geographically, Russia is the larger country, spanning 17,098,242 km².
Russia records the higher Human Development Index (0.832), 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
India
IndiaIndiaGovernment & politics
IndiaIndia
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.
Russia
On paper Russia is a federal semi-presidential republic, but in practice power is heavily concentrated in the presidency. The President controls the security services, the military and foreign policy, and dominates a Prime Minister who chiefly manages the economy. The State Duma and the courts exercise limited independent check on executive power. Constitutional changes in 2020 further strengthened and extended the presidency.
Travel & practical
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Frequently asked questions
Which country has a higher GDP, India or Russia?
India has the higher nominal GDP at $3.96T, compared with $2.56T for Russia (World Bank).
Which country has a larger population, India or Russia?
India has the larger population with 1,463,865,525 people, versus 143,513,328 for Russia.
Which is larger in area, India or Russia?
Russia is larger, covering 17,098,242 km² compared with 3,287,590 km² for India.