Sure India will grow faster than China soon, but what about absolute numbers?

There has been a lot of talk around the various reports ranging from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to the World Bank claiming that India's GDP growth will surpass that of China's in the coming two years. Indians, naturally are elated. 

However, this jubilation should be short-lived. Two days ago China announced its latest growth figures and admitted to the lowest growth rate in 24 years, at 7.4%. India's GDP growth in 2013 stood at 4.7%. 

For the next year, China is expected to grow at a much slower pace at 6.8% followed by 6.3% in 2016. In comparison, the stats for India stacks up at 6.3% in the current year and 6.5% in 2017. This is when India is supposed to leave China behind. 

But why are we focussing so much on the growth percentage points? 

A look at absolute numbers show a completely different picture. 

India's GDP in 2013 stood at a shade under $2 trillion. It is expected to reach $2 trillion this year. 

China was a $2 trillion economy a decade ago. Therefore, surpassing China in GDP growth rate is one thing and reaching anywhere close to China's economy is, simply, another. 

International Monetary Fund's estimations in 2014 said that India will reach $3 trillion only by 2019. By then, according to the IMF, China will be a $14.8 trillion economy.