Android and Google contacts not syncing
All contacts that have a group will sync. Those contacts that don't have a group (ie "Other Contacts") will not. 

Go to Gmail on a PC and choose contacts (I haven't tested from a phone). 
There is a default group called "My Contacts" and there is a default group called "Other contacts" I would guess you don't have any or very few in "My Contacts".

Open a contact and make sure they are assigned a group. Either "My Contacts" or a custom group underneath that. 

This way you can still have contacts in Gmail without having them in your phone.
BTW anytime you get an email and the contact is new, it is put in "Other Contacts".