China vs India: Inflation Comparison

Compare cumulative inflation, annual rates and purchasing power between China and India from 2000 to 2026, based on World Bank CPI data.

Cumulative inflation in China was 42.1% between 2000 and 2026, according to World Bank CPI data (FP.CPI.TOTL).

Over the same period, cumulative inflation in India was 190.0%.

VS

China

CNY
+42.1% Total Inflation
1.41% Avg Annual Rate
-29.6% Purchasing Power Lost
VS

India

INR
+190.0% Total Inflation
4.35% Avg Annual Rate
-65.5% Purchasing Power Lost
🏆
China had lower cumulative inflation — 147.9 percentage points less than the other country.

CPI Comparison Chart

Year-by-Year Comparison

Year China CPI China (Change) India CPI India (Change)
2000 80.97 - 54.34 -
2001 81.55 +0.7% 56.39 +3.8%
2002 80.96 -0.7% 58.82 +4.3%
2003 81.87 +1.1% 61.05 +3.8%
2004 85.00 +3.8% 63.35 +3.8%
2005 86.51 +1.8% 66.04 +4.2%
2006 87.94 +1.6% 69.87 +5.8%
2007 92.17 +4.8% 74.32 +6.4%
2008 97.63 +5.9% 80.53 +8.3%
2009 96.92 -0.7% 89.29 +10.9%
2010 100.00 +3.2% 100.00 +12.0%
2011 105.55 +5.6% 108.91 +8.9%
2012 108.32 +2.6% 119.24 +9.5%
2013 111.16 +2.6% 131.18 +10.0%
2014 113.29 +1.9% 139.92 +6.7%
2015 114.92 +1.4% 146.79 +4.9%
2016 117.22 +2.0% 154.05 +4.9%
2017 119.09 +1.6% 159.18 +3.3%
2018 121.56 +2.1% 165.45 +3.9%
2019 125.08 +2.9% 171.62 +3.7%
2020 111.50 -10.9% 130.89 -23.7%
2021 113.11 +1.4% 138.16 +5.6%
2022 115.12 +1.8% 145.76 +5.5%
2023 114.78 -0.3% 152.92 +4.9%
2024 114.89 +0.1% 158.32 +3.5%
2025 115.03 +0.1% 157.55 -0.5%

Inflation by Decade: China vs India

Year-by-year CPI and inflation for China and India, 2000–2026
Year China (Total Inflation) China (Avg Annual Rate) India (Total Inflation) India (Avg Annual Rate)
1960s - - +73.1% 6.29%
1970s - - +90.2% 7.40%
1980s +50.7% 14.64% +116.3% 8.95%
1990s +99.5% 7.98% +127.7% 9.57%
2000s +19.7% 2.02% +64.3% 5.67%
2010s +25.1% 2.52% +71.6% 6.19%
2020s +3.2% 0.63% +20.4% 3.78%

The inflation gap between China and India widened to 147.9 percentage points from 2000 to 2026.

¥100 in China in 2000 lost roughly the same relative value as ₹204.10 in India.

China's highest annual inflation was 5.9% in 2008; India's was 12.0% in 2010.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which had higher inflation, China or India?

Between 2000 and 2026, India had higher cumulative inflation (189.95%) than China (42.06%), according to World Bank CPI data.

What was cumulative inflation in China from 2000 to 2026?

Prices in China rose 42.06% cumulatively, an average of 1.41% per year.

What was cumulative inflation in India from 2000 to 2026?

Prices in India rose 189.95% cumulatively, an average of 4.35% per year.

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Calculate Individually

Between 2000 and 2026, China had lower cumulative inflation (42.1%) than India (190.0%).