On February 20, 2026, during the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, OpenAI revealed that users aged 18 to 24 account for nearly 50% of all ChatGPT messages sent from India.
This demographic snapshot highlights India as a global outlier in AI adoption, with its youth population using the tool far more aggressively for professional and educational purposes than their peers in Western markets.
Key Demographic Statistics (India)
The data, shared under OpenAI’s new “Signals” initiative, paints a picture of a “young and hungry” user base:
- Under-30 Dominance: Individuals under the age of 30 account for a staggering 80% of total ChatGPT usage in India.
- 18–24 Bracket: This specific group is responsible for 46%–50% of all interactions, significantly higher than the global average of approximately 33% for the same age group.
- User Scale: India has surpassed 100 million weekly active users, solidifying its position as OpenAI’s largest market outside the United States.
India’s Distinct Usage Patterns
Unlike many global regions where usage is more balanced between entertainment and utility, Indian users—particularly the youth—approach ChatGPT as a productivity powerhouse.
| Category | India Usage | Global Average |
| Work-Related Tasks | 35% | 30% |
| Coding (Codex) | 3x Higher | Median |
| Technical Questions | 3x Higher | Median |
| Data Analysis Tools | 4x Higher | Median |
Primary Use Cases for Indian Youth:
- Professional Development: Drafting emails, preparing for job interviews, and learning technical skills to compete in a tight job market.
- Coding Excellence: India is the fastest-growing market for Codex (OpenAI’s agentic coding partner), which saw a 4x increase in weekly users this month alone.
- Academic Support: Students represent over one-third of the total user base, using the tool for research, exam prep, and complex problem-solving.
Strategic Response from OpenAI
To capitalize on this youth-led boom, OpenAI has implemented several India-specific strategies:
- “ChatGPT Go”: A localized subscription tier launched in late 2025, priced under $5 (₹399) to lower entry barriers.
- New Delhi Office: Opened in August 2025 to better engage with local developers and the government.
- Infrastructure: Partnered with Tata Group to build AI-ready data centers (100MW to 1GW capacity) to handle the massive domestic traffic.
The “MANAV” Vision Connection
The release of this data coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s meeting with Sam Altman on February 20. The Prime Minister underscored the need for “sovereign AI” and “democratized data,” noting that while young Indians are leading the global AI surge, the focus must remain on making AI “inclusive and ethical” through his newly unveiled MANAV (Human) Vision.
