India Population Live (2026)
The live population of India, updated every second — with births today, deaths today, growth rate and key facts about one of the largest countries on Earth.
India has an estimated population of about 1.44 billion people in 2026 — 17.47% of the roughly 8.25 billion people on Earth, and the 1st largest of the 72 countries tracked on LiveHumans. The counter above starts from our 1 January 2026 estimate and adds births and subtracts deaths every second, using India's latest birth rate (18.2 per 1,000 people a year) and death rate (7.4 per 1,000).
Is the population of India growing?
Yes. Around 71,888 babies are born in India every day — about 2,995 an hour — while around 29,229 people die. That leaves a natural increase of roughly 42,659 people a day, or about 15.6 million a year: a growth rate of 1.08% before migration. If that rate held steady, it would take about 65 years for the population to double — though in most countries growth slows over time as families get smaller.
A birth rate of 18.2 per 1,000 people is close to the world average of about 16.9. Family sizes have been falling, but there are still many young adults of child-bearing age. It ranks 19th of 72 for birth rate on LiveHumans.
These figures count births and deaths only. Migration moves India's real population up or down each year, which is why official census figures can differ from our estimate.
Births and deaths in India
| Period | Births | Deaths | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per minute | 49.9 | 20.3 | 29.6 |
| Per hour | 2,995 | 1,218 | 1,777 |
| Per day | 71,888 | 29,229 | 42,659 |
| Per week | 503,219 | 204,606 | 298,614 |
| Per year | 26,239,301 | 10,668,727 | 15,570,574 |
How crowded is India?
With about 1.44 billion people living on 3,287,263 km², India has roughly 438.6 people per square kilometre. That is around 7.2 times the world average of about 61 per km², making it the 3rd most densely populated of the 72 countries we track. High density puts pressure on housing, transport and farmland, but it also makes cities and services cheaper to run per person.
Life expectancy in India
A baby born in India today can expect to live about 70.2 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3. That is close to the global average (60th of 72). Life expectancy here has risen steadily over the past few decades as child mortality has fallen. Want a personal estimate? Try our life expectancy calculator.
Income and population
With GDP of about $2,601 per person (59th of 72), India is a lower-income country. As incomes, education and access to healthcare rise, birth rates almost always fall — which is why the UN expects growth here to slow over the coming decades.
India at a glance
| Fact | Value | Rank (of 72) |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2026 est.) | 1,441,719,852 | 1 |
| Births per day | 71,888 | 1 |
| Deaths per day | 29,229 | 1 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 18.2 | 19 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 7.4 | 34 |
| Natural growth rate | 1.08% / year | 25 |
| Life expectancy | 70.2 years | 60 |
| Population density | 438.6 / km² | 3 |
| GDP per person | $2,601 | 59 |
| Area | 3,287,263 km² | — |
| Capital | New Delhi | — |
| Languages | Hindi, English | — |
| Currency | Indian Rupee (₹) | — |
Compare with other countries
See all countries on our population by country page, or watch the whole planet on the live world population counter.
How we calculate India's live population
No country counts its people every second, so this page is an estimate. We start from a population figure for 1 January 2026 based on United Nations and World Bank data, then use India's crude birth rate and crude death rate — the number of births and deaths per 1,000 people per year — to work out how many people are born and die each second. The counter simply adds those up in real time. Because migration is not included, and because rates change from year to year, treat the figure as a close estimate rather than an exact count.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of India in 2026?
The population of India in 2026 is estimated at about 1.44 billion people, which is around 17.47% of the world's population. The live counter on this page adds births and subtracts deaths every second.
How many babies are born in India every day?
About 71,888 babies are born in India every day — roughly 2,995 per hour, or 26.2 million per year — based on a birth rate of 18.2 per 1,000 people.
How many people die in India every day?
About 29,229 people die in India every day — roughly 1,218 per hour, or 10.7 million per year — based on a death rate of 7.4 per 1,000 people.
Is the population of India growing or shrinking?
Growing. Births exceed deaths by about 42,659 people a day, a natural growth rate of 1.08% a year before migration.
What is the life expectancy in India?
Life expectancy at birth in India is about 70.2 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3 years.
How accurate is this India population counter?
It is a statistical estimate, not a live headcount. We start from a 1 January 2026 population estimate based on UN and World Bank data and apply India's annual birth and death rates second by second. Migration is not included, so official figures may differ slightly.
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Estimates based on UN World Population Prospects and World Bank data.