China vs India: Surface area
China
9.56 million sq. km
in 2023
India
3.29 million sq. km
in 2023
China rank
4th
India rank
7th
Surface area over time
- China
- India
How they compare
China currently reports 9.56 million sq. km against 3.29 million sq. km in India, a difference of 6.28 million sq. km.
That makes China's figure about 2.9 times India's.
Across all 63 years both countries report, China has been ahead every year.
China ranks 4th and India ranks 7th of 215 countries.
China has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | India | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.56 million sq. km | 3.29 million sq. km | 6.28 million sq. km | China |
| 1970s | 9.56 million sq. km | 3.29 million sq. km | 6.28 million sq. km | China |
| 1980s | 9.56 million sq. km | 3.29 million sq. km | 6.28 million sq. km | China |
| 1990s | 9.56 million sq. km | 3.29 million sq. km | 6.28 million sq. km | China |
| 2000s | 9.56 million sq. km | 3.29 million sq. km | 6.28 million sq. km | China |
| 2010s | 9.56 million sq. km | 3.29 million sq. km | 6.28 million sq. km | China |
| 2020s | 9.56 million sq. km | 3.29 million sq. km | 6.28 million sq. km | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher surface area, China or India?
- China, at 9.56 million sq. km against 3.29 million sq. km in India as of 2023.
- What is the difference in surface area between China and India?
- 6.28 million sq. km, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and India?
- 63 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2023.
- How do China and India rank globally for surface area?
- China ranks 4th and India ranks 7th of 215 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as Surface area (sq. km). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.