India vs US size comparison
How Big Is India Compared to the US?
The US is about 3 times the size of India. But India has 4.3 times as many people, so it is about 13 times as crowded. Drag India over the US below to see the difference at true size.
Hawaii and the territories are not drawn. India is drawn with the borders it claims, including all of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, as its official area does.
Printable India vs US size comparison
Free to print or share: India laid over the US at true size, with both areas, on one landscape A4 or US Letter page.
Key facts
- Area of India
- 3,287,263 km² (1,269,219 sq mi)
- Area of the US
- 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi)
- Size difference
- The US is about 3 times bigger
- Closest US state in size
- Alaska (1,724,220 km²)
- Population (2025)
- India 1,463,865,525; the US 341,784,857
- India's rank by area
- Seventh-largest of 197
How big India is compared with the US
The US is about 3 times the size of India: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 3,287,263 km² (1,269,219 sq mi). Even the 48 contiguous states alone, without Alaska, could hold India about 2.46 times. India is bigger than every US state, Alaska included. It is the seventh-largest of the world's 197 countries, and the second-largest of 47 in Asia; the US is the third-largest.
India has about 1.46 billion people (2025), the most populous country in the world, against 342 million in the US. With 445 people per km² it is about 13 times as crowded as the US (35 per km²), the 19th-most densely populated country.
India and the US on a world map
India reaches from 7°N to 36°N; the US from 19°N to 71°N, with Hawaii in the south and Alaska in the far north. Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which enlarges places more the further they are from the Equator. It draws India about 1.2 times its real size and the US about 2.3 times (Alaska far more than Florida). So on a normal world map the US looks about 5.7 times the size of India, when it is really about 3 times. The equal-area map above shows the real difference.
Where India is
India's capital, New Delhi, is 12,050 km (7,490 miles) from Washington, D.C. as the crow flies. India borders 6 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.
India and US in numbers
| India | US | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 3,287,263 km² 1,269,219 sq mi | 9,833,517 km² 3,796,741 sq mi | The US is 2.99× bigger |
| Population (2025) | 1,463,865,525 | 341,784,857 | India has 4.3× more |
| Rank by area | Seventh-largest | Third-largest | of 197 countries |
| People per km² | 445 | 35 | India is 13× denser |
| Capital | New Delhi | Washington, D.C. | 12,050 km apart |
| Neighbouring countries | 6 | 2 |
India compared with US states
Frequently asked questions
Is India bigger than the US?
No. The US is about 3 times the size of India: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 3,287,263 km² (1,269,219 sq mi).
How many times would India fit into the US?
About 3 times (2.99). Into the 48 contiguous states alone, about 2.46 times.
Which US state is India closest in size to?
Alaska (1,724,220 km²). India is about 1.91 times the size of Alaska.
Is India bigger than Texas?
Yes. India is about 4.7 times the size of Texas (695,668 km²).
Which has more people, India or the US?
India: about 1.46 billion people in 2025, about 4.3 times the 342 million in the US.
Why does India look so small on a world map?
Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches places more the further they are from the Equator. The US is further from the Equator than India, so it is stretched more. On a Mercator map the US looks about 5.7 times the size of India, not 3.
Where does India rank by size?
India is the seventh-largest of the world's 197 countries by total area and the second-largest in Asia. The US is the third-largest.
How far is India from the US?
India's capital, New Delhi, is 12,050 km (7,490 miles) from Washington, D.C. in a straight line.
Sources
- Areas: CIA World Factbook (total area, land and water). US states: US Census Bureau.
- Populations: World Bank, World Development Indicators (2025).
- Outlines are drawn on an equal-area projection, so their sizes on the map match their real areas.