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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
Let us see where China and India stand.

It is no secret that India and China are in a race to become the biggest Asian, if not global, tiger. Some experts say that given India's democracy, well-established institutions, advantage of English language and technical expertise, India will surpass China's economic might.

Others claim that China is not only way ahead, India's bureaucracy, corruption, infrastructure woes, etc, will make it nearly impossible for India to even catch up with China, let alone surpass it.

So, let us put China and India head-to-head and see where they stand when it comes to key social and economic indicators.

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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
Life expectancy in China is 73 years.

Life expectancy at birth

India: 65 years

When was China at this point? 36 years ago

Where is China now? 73 years

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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
Child mortality rate in India is 66 per 1,000.

Child mortality rate per 1,000 (under five years old)

India: 66 children per 1,000

When was China at this point? 33 years ago

Where is China now? 19 children per 1,000

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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
57 per cent of working-age population is dependent in India.

Dependency ratio (percentage of working-age population)

India: 57 per cent of working-age population is dependent

When was China at this point? 25 years ago

Where is China now? 39 per cent of working-age population is dependent

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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
94 per cent are literate in China.

Adult literacy rate (percentage of 15+)

India: 63 per cent are literate

When was China at this point? 25 years ago

Where is China now? 94 per cent are literate

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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
India records 23 births per 1,000.

Crude birth rate (annual live births per 1,000 population)

India: 23 births per 1,000

When was China at this point? 21 years ago

Where is China now? 12 births per 1,000

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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
Electricity consumption is 0.5 per cent in India.

Electricity consumption, MWh per person

India: 0.5 per cent

When was China at this point? 18 years ago

Where is China now? 2.5 per cent

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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
30 per cent are living in urban areas in India.

Population living in urban areas (percentage of total)

India: 30 per cent are living in urban areas

When was China at this point? 16 years ago

Where is China now? 46 per cent are living in urban areas

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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
18 per cent are living in urban areas in China.

Population in cities of over one million (percentage of total)

India: 13 per cent

When was China at this point? 11 years ago

Where is China now? 18 per cent are living in urban areas

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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
India spends 14 per cent on agriculture.

Agriculture spending (percentage of GDP)

India: 14 per cent is spent on agriculture

When was China at this point? 9 years ago

Where is China now? 9 per cent is spent on agriculture

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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
Nine per cent are using Internet in India.

Internet users (percentage of population)

India: 9 per cent use Internet

When was China at this point? 6 years ago

Where is China now? 32 per cent use Internet

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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
13 per cent are enrolled in higher education in India.

Gross higher-education enrollment (percentage of age group)

India: 13 per cent are enrolled

When was China at this point? Six years ago

Where is China now? 25 per cent are enrolled

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India vs China: Battle of the tigers

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 10:30 IST
There are 24 cars per 1,000 in India.

Cars per 1,000 population

India: 24 cars per 1,000

When was China at this point? Two years ago

Where is China now? 36 cars per 1,000