Air passengers carried in India

India: Air passengers carried was 180.42 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
180.42 million
Change on year
up 28.9%
World rank
4th
of 183 countries
All-time high
180.42 million
in 2023
All-time low
2.55 million
in 1971
Years of data
54
1970–2023

Air passengers carried in India, 1970–2023

050.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M197019962023

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for air passengers carried in India is 180.42 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 28.9% on the previous year and up 138.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, air passengers carried in India peaked at 180.42 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.55 million, in 1971.

That places India 4th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Air passengers carried in India, year by year

Annual values for Air passengers carried in India, 1970 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1970 2.67 million —
1971 2.55 million -4.4%
1972 3.29 million +28.7%
1973 3.39 million +3.2%
1974 3.04 million -10.4%
1975 3.84 million +26.4%
1976 4.53 million +18.1%
1977 5.15 million +13.5%
1978 6.10 million +18.5%
1979 6.55 million +7.3%
1980 6.60 million +0.9%
1981 7.57 million +14.7%
1982 8.39 million +10.8%
1983 9.16 million +9.2%
1984 10.13 million +10.5%
1985 10.99 million +8.6%
1986 11.79 million +7.2%
1987 12.67 million +7.5%
1988 12.86 million +1.5%
1989 12.74 million -1.0%
1990 10.86 million -14.7%
1991 10.72 million -1.3%
1992 11.13 million +3.8%
1993 9.44 million -15.1%
1994 11.52 million +22.0%
1995 14.26 million +23.8%
1996 13.39 million -6.1%
1997 16.04 million +19.7%
1998 16.52 million +3.0%
1999 16.01 million -3.1%
2000 17.30 million +8.1%
2001 16.86 million -2.5%
2002 17.63 million +4.6%
2003 19.46 million +10.3%
2004 23.93 million +23.0%
2005 27.88 million +16.5%
2006 40.29 million +44.5%
2007 51.90 million +28.8%
2008 49.88 million -3.9%
2009 54.45 million +9.2%
2010 64.37 million +18.2%
2011 74.00 million +14.9%
2012 72.15 million -2.5%
2013 75.59 million +4.8%
2014 82.72 million +9.4%
2015 98.93 million +19.6%
2016 119.58 million +20.9%
2017 139.75 million +16.9%
2018 164.04 million +17.4%
2019 167.50 million +2.1%
2020 68.96 million -58.8%
2021 83.96 million +21.8%
2022 140.00 million +66.7%
2023 180.42 million +28.9%

India compared with similar countries

  • India's 180.42 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 690,677, 261.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
  • India's 180.42 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 4.08 million, 44.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 4.11 million 2.55 million 6.55 million 10
1980s 10.29 million 6.60 million 12.86 million 10
1990s 12.99 million 9.44 million 16.52 million 10
2000s 31.96 million 16.86 million 54.45 million 10
2010s 105.86 million 64.37 million 167.50 million 10
2020s 118.33 million 68.96 million 180.42 million 4

Countries ranked near India

  1. 1 United States 941.56 million compare
  2. 2 China 619.22 million compare
  3. 3 Ireland 192.53 million compare
  4. 5 Turkey 125.94 million compare
  5. 6 Japan 120.31 million compare
  6. 7 United Kingdom 118.95 million compare

See the full ranking of 183 places →

More reference data data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is air passengers carried in India?
Air passengers carried in India was 180.42 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest air passengers carried recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 180.42 million in 2023.
What is the lowest air passengers carried recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 2.55 million in 1971.
How does India rank for air passengers carried?
India ranks 4th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
Is air passengers carried rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 138.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers carried. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Air passengers carried in India. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 14 November 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/air-passengers-carried/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Air passengers carried
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
183 places, 7,925 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed