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Public interestEpisode 63Pyramid0:31

India vs China: two very different age pyramids

People by age band, millions, 2025

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Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 (medium variant); China NBS (2025 births and deaths) · 2025

Part of India and China, side by side

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Narration

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Runs 0:31.

How to read this chart: Bars run back to back from a shared centre, oldest band on top. Compare the shapes of the two profiles: a wide base is a young, growing population, a top-heavy one is ageing. The dashed line on each side marks its median age, and the chip under it names the shape. More on pyramid charts.

The takeaway

Median age: India 30, China 41. China's population fell for a fourth straight year in 2025 (7.92M births, 11.31M deaths).

The data

The numbers

Data behind “India vs China: two very different age pyramids”
#AgeIndiaChina
80+16M37M
70-7949M104M
60-6997M164M
50-59142M232M
40-49190M195M
30-39233M220M
20-29255M162M
10-19250M175M
0-9231M128M

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 (medium variant); China NBS (2025 births and deaths). Covering 2025.

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Transcript

  1. 255 million Indians are in their twenties. In China, it's 162 million.

  2. India now outnumbers China, but the bigger gap is age. China has 232 million people in their fifties and only 128 million under ten. In their twenties, China has 162 million. India has 255 million, while China has shrunk four years running.

  3. Whose age profile wins the next 20 years? Drop your answer below, and follow for daily stats from NumberReels.

Source & method

  • SourceFigures from UN World Population Prospects 2024 (medium variant); China NBS (2025 births and deaths).
  • PeriodCovering 2025.
  • ChartRendered as a pyramid chart.
  • ElsewhereAlso on YouTube and Instagram.
  • ReuseFree to repost with credit. For broadcast, courses or a watermark-free copy, License this clip.
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