2. India is tied for most populous country in the world
The most recent population projection for India in July 2024 puts the population at 1,404,910,000, within half a percent of China. India’s population is over 4 times larger than the United States which is already the third-ranked country in the world.
Although India is highly populated, it is only the seventh-largest country. Here is how India compares in population and size with the rest of the world:
Top 10 largest and most populous countries in the world
3. Got milk? India is the world’s largest producer of milk
A cow in India stands calmly, ready for milking.
India produces over 200 million tons of milk a year, double that of the United States, and is the world’s largest producer of cows milk. But it might not be the milk you are used to.
Cows in India are considered sacred animals since in Hindu texts they appear as “Kamdhenu” or the ‘divine cow’. All products derived from cows, such as milk, curd and ghee are also highly valued. But slaughtering cattle is banned in most states and it’s tricky to support the dairy demand with only cows.
Unfortunately for the water buffalo, the sacred status does not fully extend to other members of the bovine family. Water buffalos are wildly raised for their milk and make up half of the milk produced in India. Unlike cows, there are fewer restrictions on their slaughter and carabeef (buffalo beef) is a top export of India.
4. India is the most vegetarian country in South Asia (and the world)
In India, there are an estimated 276 million vegetarians, making it the most vegetarian country in the world. India has such a high population of vegetarians largely due to religious beliefs (such as the reverence for cows), cultural traditions, and historical influences. Vegetarianism in India is deeply rooted in the practices of religions like Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, which advocate for non-violence and respect for all living beings.
Here are the most vegetarian and vegan countries in the world:
Growing up in a vegetarian household that didn’t eat much Indian food, I was upset to discover all the fantastic Indian dishes I had missed. Here are some of my favorite vegetarian Indian dishes I have since had the pleasure of enjoying:
- Paneer Butter Masala – A creamy and mildly spiced curry made with paneer (Indian cottage cheese) cooked in a tomato-based sauce.
- Chole Bhature – Spicy chickpea curry served with deep-fried bread (bhature).
- Palak Paneer – Spinach and paneer cooked together with spices in a creamy sauce.
- Aloo Gobi – A dry curry made with potatoes (aloo) and cauliflower (gobi) seasoned with Indian spices.
- Baingan Bharta – Roasted and mashed eggplant cooked with onions, tomatoes, and spices.
- Daal Tadka – Yellow lentils cooked with onions, tomatoes, and tempered with ghee and spices.
- Rajma – Red kidney beans cooked in a thick tomato-based gravy, often served with rice.
- Vegetable Biryani – A fragrant rice dish cooked with spices and mixed vegetables.
- Masoor Daal – Red lentil curry cooked with tomatoes, onions, and spices.
- Vegetable Korma – Mixed vegetables cooked in a rich and creamy coconut-based sauce.
A colorful Indian thali featuring rice, dal, curries, papad, and raita, showcasing a complete and diverse meal on one platter.
5. India produces 75 out of 109 recognized spice varieties
India produces 75 of the 109 varieties of spices listed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). With all that spice, it’s no wonder Indian cuisine is so popular worldwide. While some cuisines don’t use much more than salt and pepper, recipes for Indian food can include up to 15–20 different spices.
The most produced and exported spices are pepper, cardamom, chilli, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, celery, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, nutmeg & mace, curry powder, spice oils and oleoresins.
6. The Kumbh Mela Festival in Northern India is the largest religious gathering in the world
The Kumbh Mela festival in Northern India is a popular pilgrimage in the Hindu religion that occurs once every 12 years and is attended by more than 100 million people over the 55-day festival. Before COVID, the 2019 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj set a record with 200 million participants, 50 million of whom gathered on a single day. Let’s put that into perspective for a second.
Every year, the Super Bowl is watched by over 80 million people in the U.S. The size of the entire Jumbh Mela Festival is 13.5 square miles, or just under 5,000 football fields. That means on the record breaking day in 2019, each of those football fields had over 10,000 people on the field at the same time. That river water must be very clean to wash away the sins and dirt of so many people.
7. India is the wettest inhabited place on earth
Vast grasslands stretch across Meghalaya, India.
The town of Mawsynram, located in the Meghalaya State of India, is the wettest place on earth. It receives an annual rainfall of about 467.4 inches. My hometown in the Arizona desert, on the other hand, gets only 7.22 inches of rain a year.
The nearby city of Cherrapunji once recorded over 1,000 inches of rain in one year, setting the Guinness World Record for highest rainfall annually ever recorded. I think I will stick with my Arizona monsoon season.
8. There are 43 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
The white Taj Mahal stands out beautifully as people gather around it.
India is home to 43 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal. Setting exceptionally high standards for husbands for centuries, the Taj Mahal was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Han in memory of his fourth and favorite wife, Mumtaz.
The Grand Taj Mahal is only one of many historical and cultural sites around the country that attract visitors from around the world. Here are the 43 official UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India today:
9. India is the second largest English-speaking country in the world
There are 129 million English speakers in India making it the country with the second-most English speakers in the globe. The United States is number one—well, at least when it comes to English speakers.
India has no national language, however, the constitution recognizes Hindi as the first official language and English as the second official language. According to the most recent census data, there are 123 major languages, 30 spoken by more than a million people and several hundred to thousands of dialects around the country.
10. In the city of Varansi in Uttar Pradesh, frogs are married to appease the rain gods
The city of Varanasi has a tradition rooted in folklore and ancient farming practices that hosts a wedding for frogs. Frogs are closely tied to rainfall in India, so when there is a drought, the community gathers a pair of would-be Mr. and Mrs. and throws a wedding. Miniature wedding attire and a normal-sized feast included.
Varanasi has more claim to fame as the spiritual capital of India and one of the oldest cities in India, dating back to 1800 BC. Surprisingly, having continuous inhabitants for nearly 4,000 years only gets you into the top 30 of the oldest cities in the entire world. Here’s a list of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world:
