POLITICS & SOCIETY

Poverty and inequality in

India
 Table of Contents

01 Overview Number of households in India 2021-2047, by income class 22

Population distribution by wealth bracket in India 2021-2022 23
Number of people living on less than 2.15 U.S. dollars a day worldwide 1990-2022 04
Income inequality between top 10 and bottom 50 percent share in India 1960-2022 24
Cost of food as a share of minimum wages worldwide 2024 05
Share of income as taxes for food items per adult India 2012 25
Poverty headcount ratio India at 3.65 and 2.15 U.S. dollars per day 1977-2021 06
Number of people living in poverty in India 2022, by age group 07
04 Cost of living
SDG India index on poverty 2024, by state 08
Multidimensional Poverty headcount in India 2006-2021 09 Share of food in monthly per capita consumption expenditure India 1999-2023 27
MPCE in rural and urban areas in India 2023, by fractile classes 28

02 Multidimensional poverty Food inflation rate per month India 2021-2024 29

Change in Consumer Price Index (CPI) in rural and urban India FY 2020-2024 30
Multidimensionally poor population in India 2021, by type 11
Minimum daily wages in India 2012-2023 31
Multidimensionally poor and deprived population in nutrition in India 2006-2021 12
Monthly minimum wages of unskilled workers in India 2023, by state 32
Multidimensionally poor and deprived population in child mortality in India 2006-2021 13
Multidimensionally poor and deprived population in education in India 2006-2021 14
05 Food and shelter
Multidimensionally poor and deprived population in sanitation in India 2006-2021 15
Multidimensionally poor and deprived population in drinking water India 2006-2021 16 SDG index on hunger India 2024, by state 34

Multidimensionally poor and deprived population in electricity in India 2006-2021 17 Cost of a healthy diet in India 2017-2021 35
Prevalence of undernourishment India between 2004-2022 36

03 Inequality Share of urban population living in slums India 2000-2020 37

Number of beggars and vagrants in India 2011, by gender 38
Gini coefficient for India in selected years 1983-2021 19
Wealth Gini coefficient of India 2000-2023 20
06 Welfare
Rural and urban inequalities in households MPCE India 2023, by fractile classes 21

1
 Table of Contents

Food grains allocation under PMGKAY India FY 2023, by states 40

Share of NFSA beneficiaries India 2022, by states 41
Food grain distribution under PMGKAY India 2023 42
Budget allocated by central government to PMAY in India FY 2016-2024 43
Number of completed affordable housing units in India 2023, by state 44

2
CHAPTER 01

Overview
 Number of people living on less than 2.15 U.S. dollars a day worldwide in
2017 PPP from 1990 to 2022 (in millions)
Number of people living on less than 2.15 U.S. dollars a day worldwide 1990-2022

2,100

1,900

1,700
Number of poor in millions

1,500

1,300

1,100

900

700

500

9 90 991 992 993 994 995 996 997 998 999 000 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019 020 021 022
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

4 Description: Over the past three decades, the number of people living on less than 2.15 U.S. dollars a day in terms of 2017 Purchasing Power Parities has fallen remarkably. Whereas around two billion people lived on less than this amount a day in
1990, the number had fallen to around 711 million by 2022. Although much progress has been made and this figure is falling, this number increased slightly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, going from around 689 million in 2019 to 762 million in
2020 and [...] Read more
Note(s): Worldwide; 1990 to 2022
Source(s): World Bank
 Cost of a basic food basket* as a share of net minimum monthly wages
worldwide in 2024
Cost of food as a share of minimum wages worldwide 2024

Food basket as a share of net minimum monthly wages

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14%
Ireland 7.2%

United Kingdom 7.2%

Netherlands 7.6%

Australia 7.7%

Luxembourg 8.3%

New Zealand 8.6%

Belgium 10.3%

Germany 10.4%

Canada 11.6%

Puerto Rico 11.8%

Saudi Arabia 12.8%

United States 13%

Spain 13.1%

France 13.2%

Poland 13.2%

5 Description: While the cost of a basic food basket as a share of net minimum wages in Ireland and the United Kingdom is quite modest, such a basket costs more than the minimum wage in Nigeria. Read more
Note(s): Worldwide; January 2024; 67 countries; *The basic food basket consists of 10 liters of milk, 10 loaves of bread, 1.5 kg of rice, 20 eggs, 1 kg of cheese, 6 kg meat, 6 kg fruits, and 8 kg vegetables. Read more
Source(s): Picodi
 Share of population living on less than 3.65 and 2.15 U.S. dollars per day
in India from 1977 to 2021, by World Bank thresholds
Poverty headcount ratio India at 3.65 and 2.15 U.S. dollars per day 1977-2021

3.65 U.S. dollars 2.15 U.S. dollars

100
89.12
90 86.63
84.16 82.58
80 77.46
72.5
Share of the population

70 63.54 62.97 60.97 59.88

60 56.68
54.44
50.93
47.96 46.94 48.25
50 43.97 44.05
40.58
40 33.46
30
22.86
18.75 18.12
20 13.38 15.45
13.2 12.92
11.1
10

0
1977 1983 1987 1993 2004 2009 2011 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

6 Description: In 2021, over 12 percent of India's population was living on less than 2.15 U.S. dollars per day. When the 3.65 U.S. dollars per day threshold is considered, the share increased to over 44 percent. Read more
Note(s): 1977 to 2022; figures expressed in international dollars at 2017 prices.
Source(s): OWID; World Bank
 Number of people living in poverty in India as of 2022, by age group (in
millions)
Number of people living in poverty in India 2022, by age group

Number of people in millions

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
0-4 11.22

5-9 12.1

10-14 13.48

15-19 10.18

20-24 5.21
Age group in years

25-29 3.8

30-34 6.99

35-39 8.22

40-44 5.05

45-49 1.79

50-54 0.82

55-59 1.05

60-64 5.53

65-69 4.23

70-74 3.8

7 Description: As of 2022, over 13 million children between the ages of 10 to 14 years were affected by poverty. In general, age groups from 0 to 19 years were most impacted by extreme poverty. Read more
Note(s): India; as of 2022
Source(s): The Global Statistics; World Data Lab
 Sustainable Development Goal index on poverty in India as of 2024, by
state and union territory
SDG India index on poverty 2024, by state

Index score
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Tamil Nadu 92

Telangana 91

Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 89

Andhra Pradesh 86

Punjab 84

Uttarakhand 83

Lakshadweep 83

Rajasthan 82

Kerala 81

Goa 79

Ladakh 79

Gujarat 75

Assam 75

Mizoram 74

Manipur 74

8 Description: As of 2024, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) index score for reducing poverty (SDG 1) ranges between 39 and 92 for Indian states and union territories. Among the states, Tamil Nadu and Telangana were the front-
runners with a score of 92 and 91. Among the union territories, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu were the front-runner with a score of 89. Read more
Note(s): India; As of 2024; No poverty
Source(s): NITI Aayog
 Share of people living in multidimensional poverty in India from 2006 to
2021, with estimates for 2022 and 2023
Multidimensional Poverty headcount in India 2006-2021

60%
55.3%

50%

40%
Share of population

30%
24.85%

20%
14.96%
11.28%
10%

0%
2005-06 2015-16 2019-21 2022-23

9 Description: During 2019 to 2021, almost 15 percent of the Indian population were reportedly multidimensionally poor. This reflected a much lower percentage of multidimensionally poor population in India. India has made significant
progress in multidimensional poverty over the years. The share of multidimensional poor is expected to decline to around 11 percent during 2022 to 2023. Read more
Note(s): India; 2005 to 2006, 2015 to 2016 and 2019 to 2021
Source(s): NITI Aayog; Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative; UNDP
CHAPTER 02

Multidimensional poverty
 Share of population in multidimensional poverty in India in 2021, by type
Multidimensionally poor population in India 2021, by type

20%
18.7%
18%

16%

14%
Share of population

12%

10%

8%

6%
4.2%
4%

2%

0%
Population in severe multidimensional poverty Population vulnerable to multidimensional poverty

11 Description: As of 2021, India approximately 4.2 percent of surveyed households were reportedly living in severe multidimensional poverty, whereas about 18.7 percent of the population was at risk of suffering multidimensional deprivations.
Read more
Note(s): India; 2019 to 2021
Source(s): Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative; UNDP
 Share of multidimensionally poor and deprived population in the nutrition
indicator in India between 2006 and 2021
Multidimensionally poor and deprived population in nutrition in India 2006-2021

50%

44.3%
45%

40%

35%
Share of population

30%

25%
21.2%
20%

15%
11.8%
10%

5%

0%
2006 2016 2021

12 Description: As of 2021, approximately 11.8 percent of Indian population was multidimensionally poor and deprived of nutrition. This reflected a much lower percentage population living in multidimensional poverty and deprivation of nutrition in
India. According to the source, a multidimensional poor individual is deprived in one-third or more of ten indicators across three equally weighted dimensions: health, education, and standard of living. Nutrition and child mortality are the two
indicators of the [...] Read more
Note(s): India; 2005 to 2006, 2015 to 2016 and 2019 to 2021
Source(s): Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative; UNDP
 Share of multidimensionally poor and deprived population in the child
mortality indicator in India between 2006 and 2021
Multidimensionally poor and deprived population in child mortality in India 2006-2021

5.0%
4.5%
4.5%

4.0%

3.5%
Share of population

3.0%

2.5%
2.2%
2.0%
1.5%
1.5%

1.0%

0.5%

0.0%
2006 2016 2021

13 Description: As of 2021, the child mortality rate of multidimensionally poor and deprived Indian population stood at over one percent. This reflected a lower rate among population living in multidimensional poverty and deprivation in India.
According to the source, a multidimensional poor individual is deprived in one-third or more of ten indicators across three equally weighted dimensions: health, education, and standard of living. Child mortality and nutrition are the two indicators of
the health [...] Read more
Note(s): India; 2005 to 2006, 2015 to 2016 and 2019 to 2021
Source(s): Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative; UNDP
 Share of multidimensionally poor and deprived population in the years of
schooling indicator in India between 2006 and 2021
Multidimensionally poor and deprived population in education in India 2006-2021

30%

25% 24%

20%
Share of population

15%

11.6%

10%
7.7%

5%

0%
2006 2016 2021

14 Description: As of 2021, approximately 7.7 percent of the Indian population was multidimensionally poor and deprived in years of schooling. This reflected a lower percentage of population living in multidimensional poverty and deprivation of years
of schooling in India. According to the source, a multidimensional poor individual is deprived in one-third or more of ten indicators across three equally weighted dimensions: health, education, and standard of living. Years of schooling and school
attendance [...] Read more
Note(s): India; 2005 to 2021
Source(s): Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative; UNDP
 Share of multidimensionally poor and deprived population in the
sanitation indicator in India between 2006 and 2021
Multidimensionally poor and deprived population in sanitation in India 2006-2021

60%

50.4%
50%

40%
Share of population

30%
24.6%

20%

11.3%
10%

0%
2006 2016 2021

15 Description: As of 2021, approximately 11 percent of Indian population was multidimensionally poor and deprived in the sanitation indicator. This reflected a much lower percentage population living in multidimensional poverty and deprivation of
sanitation in India, compared to previous years. According to the source, a multidimensional poor individual is deprived in one-third or more of ten indicators across three equally weighted dimensions: health, education, and standard of living.
Sanitation is [...] Read more
Note(s): India; 2005 to 2006, 2015 to 2016 and 2019 to 2021
Source(s): Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative; UNDP
 Share of multidimensionally poor and deprived population in the drinking
water indicator in India between 2006 and 2021
Multidimensionally poor and deprived population in drinking water India 2006-2021

18%
16.4%
16%

14%

12%
Share of population

10%

8%

6% 5.7%

4%
2.7%
2%

0%
2006 2016 2021

16 Description: As of 2021, over two percent of the Indian population was multidimensionally poor and deprived in drinking water. According to the source, a multidimensional poor individual is deprived in one-third or more of ten indicators
across three equally weighted dimensions: health, education, and standard of living. Drinking water is among the six indicators of the standard of living dimension. Read more
Note(s): India; 2005 to 2006, 2015 to 2016 and 2019 to 2021
Source(s): Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative; UNDP
 Share of multidimensionally poor and deprived population in the
electricity indicator in India between 2006 and 2021
Multidimensionally poor and deprived population in electricity in India 2006-2021

35%

30% 29%

25%
Share of population

20%

15%

10% 8.6%

5%
2.1%

0%
2006 2016 2021

17 Description: As of 2021, approximately two percent of the Indian population was multidimensionally poor and deprived in the electricity indicator. According to the source, a multidimensional poor individual is deprived in one-third or more of
ten indicators across three equally weighted dimensions: health, education, and standard of living. Electricity is among the six indicators of the standard of living dimension. Read more
Note(s): India; 2005 to 2006, 2015 to 2016 and 2019 to 2021
Source(s): Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative; UNDP
CHAPTER 03

Inequality
 Gini coefficient for India in selected years from 1983 to 2021
Gini coefficient for India in selected years 1983-2021

37.0

35.9
36.0 35.7
35.4

35.0 34.7 34.8

34.4 34.5
Gini Index

34.0 33.8 33.8

33.0 32.8
32.6

32.1
32.0 31.7

31.0
1983 1987 1993 2004 2009 2011 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

19 Description: In 2021, the Gini coefficient for India stood at 32.8. The Gini coefficient, or the Gini index, measures the inequality of income distribution, whereas a higher value closer to one (or 100 percent) represent greater inequality.
Read more
Note(s): India; 1983 to 2021
Source(s): United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA); World Bank
 Gini coefficient of wealth of India from 2000 to 2023
Wealth Gini coefficient of India 2000-2023

90
82.1 83.3 82.3 82.3 82.5
81
80
74.7

70

60
Gini coefficient

50

40

30

20

10

0
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2021 2022

20 Description: At the end of 2022, the Gini coefficient of wealth in India stood at 82.5. This was a slight increase from previous years. The trend since 2000 shows rising inequalities among the Indian population. Read more
Note(s): India; 2000 to 2023
Source(s): UBS
 Rural and urban inequalities in households monthly per capita consumer
expenditure (MPCE) in India from 2011 to 2023, by fractile classes
Rural and urban inequalities in households MPCE India 2023, by fractile classes

2011-12 2022-23

140%

120%
Rural-urban inequality

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%
0-5% 5-10% 10-20% 20-30% 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% 90-95% 95-100%

21 Description: In 2022-23, there was an increase in inequality among the bottom three consumption groups. In the lowest consumption group of 0-5%, the rural-urban difference was 34% in 2011-12 and has now increased to 46% in 2022-23.
However, there is a reduction of the rural-urban inequality among the rest of the consumption groups. Read more
Note(s): India, APAC; 2011 to 2023; 261,746 households across India
Source(s): MOSPI
 Number of households in India during financial year 2016 and 2021, with
projections for 2031 and 2047, by income class (in millions)
Number of households in India 2021-2047, by income class

FY 2016 FY 2021 FY 2031* FY 2047*

250

200
Number of households in millions

150

100

50

0
Less than 125,000 INR- 500,000 INR- 1.5 million INR- 3 million INR-5 5 million INR- 10 million INR- More than 20
125000 INR 500,000 INR 1.5 million INR 3 million INR million INR 10 million INR 20 million INR million INR
(Destiute) (Aspirers) (Seekers) (Strivers) (Near rich) (Clear rich) (Sheer rich) (Super rich)

22 Description: In the financial year 2021, the number of super-rich households earning more than 20 million Indian rupees went up to 1.81 million from 1.06 million in the financial year 2016. This was an annual growth of 11.3 percent. The number is expected to grow to
over nine million in the financial year 2031 and 32 million households in the financial year 2047. This will be the fastest growth across all income categories. On the other hand, destitute classified Indian households with earnings of less [...] Read more
Note(s): India; FY 2016 and FY 2021; the latest survey is based on 40,000 households from 25 Indian states.; *Projections. India's financial year begins in April and ends in March. For example, FY 2022 started in April 2021 and ended in March 2022. [...] Read more
Source(s): Business Standard; PRICE
 Distribution of adults in India from 2021 to 2022, by wealth range
Population distribution by wealth bracket in India 2021-2022

2021 2022

80% 75.1% 73.8%

70%

60%
Share of adults

50%

40%

30%
22.9% 24%
20%

10%
1.9% 2.1%
0.1% 0.1%
0%
More than 1 Mio. U.S. dollars 100,000 to 1 Mio. U.S. dollars 10,000 to 100,000 U.S. dollars Less than 10,000 U.S. dollars

Wealth in U.S. dollars

23 Description: In 2022, the majority of Indian adults had a wealth of 10,000 U.S. dollars or less. On the other hand, about 0.1 percent were worth more than one million dollars that year. Read more
Note(s): India; 2021 to 2022; 18 years and older; adults
Source(s): UBS
 Inequality of average pre-tax national income between top 10 percent
and bottom 50 percent share in India from 1960 to 2022
Income inequality between top 10 and bottom 50 percent share in India 1960-2022

Top 10 percent Bottom 50 percent

65%
58.2% 58.8% 57.9% 57.6% 57% 57%
56.7% 56.8%
54.1% 55% 55.2% 56.1%
55% 52.2%

45%
39.9%
Share of income

36.9% 36.5%
33.5%
35% 31.5%

25% 21.3% 23.3% 22.4%

22%
20.6%
16% 15.3% 15.1% 15% 14.7% 14.5% 14.1% 13.9% 14.4% 14.7% 15.5% 15.4% 15.4%
15%

5%
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

24 Description: As of 2022, the top 10 percent Indian population group in terms of pre-tax income was estimated to hold over 57 percent of total income in India, whereas the bottom 50 percent group only made up just over 15 percent of total
income. This reflected an even greater income gap compared to 2000. Read more
Note(s): India; 1960 to 2022
Source(s): WID.world
 Share of income spent on taxes for food items per adult in India in fiscal
year 2012, by wealth group
Share of income as taxes for food items per adult India 2012

Rural Urban All-India

4.0% 3.78%

3.5%
3.04%
3.0%
Share of income

2.5% 2.3%

2.0% 1.82%
1.5%
1.5%
1.19%

1.0%

0.5%
0.13% 0.2% 0.16%
0.0%
Bottom 50% Middle 40% Top 10%

25 Description: Based on figures by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) from the financial year 2012, it was estimated that the bottom 50 percent of the Indian population spends 3.04 percent of their incomes on taxes for selected
food items. The middle 40 percent spends almost half of that and the top 10 percent spends merely 0.16% of their income on food items. Read more
Note(s): India; FY 2012
Source(s): Oxfam; Various sources (NSSO)
CHAPTER 04

Cost of living
 Share of food in average Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure
(MPCE) in India from 1999 to 2023
Share of food in monthly per capita consumption expenditure India 1999-2023

Rural Urban

70%

59.4%
60% 56.98%
53.11% 52.9%
50% 48.06%
46.38%
44.39%
42.62%
40.51% 39.17%
Share of food

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
1999-2000 2004-2005 2009-2010 2011-2012 2022-2023

27 Description: The share of food in monthly per capita consumption expenditure on food in rural areas was around 46 percent in 2022-23. This was the first time that it declined to less than 50 percent. On the contrary, urban population spent
much less on food as a share of per capita consumption expenditure. Read more
Note(s): India, APAC; 1990 to 2023; 261,746 households across India
Source(s): MOSPI
 Average Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) in rural and
urban India in financial year 2023, by fractile classes
MPCE in rural and urban areas in India 2023, by fractile classes

Average MPCE in Indian rupees

Rural Urban

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000

2,001
0-5% 1,373
2,607
5-10% 1,782
3,157
10-20% 2,112
3,762
20-30% 2,454
4,348
30-40% 2,768
4,963
40-50% 3,094
5,662
50-60% 3,455
6,524
60-70% 3,887
7,673
70-80% 4,458
9,582
80-90% 5,356
12,399
90-95% 6,638
20,824
95-100% 10,501

28 Description: The bottom 5 percent of the rural population ranked by Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE), had an average MPCE of 1.3 thousand Indian rupees whereas for the same category of population in urban areas it
was around 2 thousand rupees. On the other hand, the top 5 percent of India's rural and urban populations had an average MPCE of over 10 thousand and 20 thousand respectively. Read more
Note(s): India, APAC; FY 2023; 261,746 households across India
Source(s): MOSPI
 Food inflation rate in India from April 2021 to February 2024
Food inflation rate per month India 2021-2024

14%

12% 11.51%

9.94%
10% 9.5%
8.6% 8.7% 8.66%
8.38% 8.3%
7.68% 7.84%
7.75% 7.62%
8%
6.75% 7.01%
Food inflation

6.62%
6.61%
5.85% 5.95%
5.94%
6% 5.43%
5%5.1% 4.79%
4.67% 4.49%
4% 4% 4.19%
3.84%
4% 3.1% 2.96%
2% 1.9%
2%
0.8%
0.7%

0%

0 21 021 021 021 021 021 021 021 021 022 022 022 022 022 022 022 022 022 022 022 022 023 023 023 023 023 023 023 023 023 023 023 023 024 024
2 2 2 l2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 l2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 l2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
p r
a y n Ju g ep ct
o v ec an eb ar p r ay n Ju g ep ct
o v ec an eb ar p r ay n Ju g ep ct
o v ec an eb
A M Ju Au S O N D J F M A M Ju Au S O N D J F M A M Ju Au S O N D J F

29 Description: The food inflation in India fell to 8.66 percent year-on-year in February 2024. In 2023, the food inflation peaked in July at over 11 percent. Read more
Note(s): India; April 2021 to February 2024
Source(s): MOSPI; Trading Economics
 Change in Consumer Price Index (CPI) in urban and rural India from
financial year 2020 to 2024
Change in Consumer Price Index (CPI) in rural and urban India FY 2020-2024

Rural Urban

7.0% 6.8%

6.5%
6.5% 6.4%
Year-on-year change in CPI

6.0% 5.9%

5.6% 5.6%
5.5% 5.4% 5.4%

5.1%
5.0%

4.5% 4.3%

4.0%
FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024

30 Description: The Consumer Price Index across all groups of commodities decreased to 5.1 percent in urban India compared to 5.6 percent in rural areas during financial year 2024. CPI-based inflation remained higher in rural areas as
compared to urban areas during the examined period. Read more
Note(s): India; FY 2020 to FY 2024; Base year 2012 = 100
Source(s): Department of Commerce (India); Labour Bureau India; MOSPI; Reserve Bank of India
 Value of national floor level minimum wage (NFLMW) in India from 2012
to 2023 (in Indian rupees)
Minimum daily wages in India 2012-2023

200

176 176 178 178 178 178 178

180
Minimum wage per day in Indian rupees

160 160
160

140 137

120 115 115

100

80

60

40

20

0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

31 Description: The national floor level minimum wage in India in 2023 was 178 Indian rupees per day and has remained consistent for the last few years. The National Floor Level Minimum Wage (NFLMW) is the minimum wage below which no
state government can fix. Different states set their minimum wages. The NFLMW was brought into effect in 1996 by the Indian central government. Read more
Note(s): India; 2012 to 2023
Source(s): MOSPI; Trading Economics
 Monthly minimum wages of unskilled workers in India in 2023, by state
(in 1,000 Indian rupees)
Monthly minimum wages of unskilled workers in India 2023, by state

Wage in thousand Indian rupees

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Delhi 17.49

Karnataka 14.42

Andaman and Nicobar Islands 13.99

Maharashtra 12.7

Chandigarh 12.62

Andhra Pradesh 12.34

Gujarat* 12.3

Himachal Pradesh 11.25

Goa 10.79

Chattisgarh** 10.62

Haryana 10.53

Punjab 10.35

Uttar Pradesh 10.28

Bihar 10.27

Uttarakhand*** 10.03

32 Description: Delhi had the highest monthly minimum wage for unskilled workers at over 17 thousand Indian rupees, the highest among other states and union territories. It was followed by Karnataka and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Read more
Note(s): India; 2023; *Source provided the range of 12.01 to 12.298 thousand rupees. **Source mentioned three zones. The figures refer to Zone A, the highest among all three zones. ***Source mentioned the range 9.9-10.03 thousand rupees. [...]
Read more
Source(s): India Briefing; Simpliance
CHAPTER 05

Food and shelter

 Sustainable Development Goal index on hunger in India as of 2024, by
state and union territory
SDG index on hunger India 2024, by state

Index score
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Kerala 84

84

Punjab 83

83

Arunachal Pradesh 81

80

Manipur 77

77

Mizoram 76

75

Tamil Nadu 75

74
Jammu and
73
Kashmir
71
Andaman and
69
Nicobar Islands

34 Description: As of 2024, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) index score for zero hunger ranges between 84 and 22 for Indian states and union territories. The union territory of Puducherry had the highest score of 84 and among the
states, Kerala was the front-runner with a score of 84. Read more
Note(s): India; As of 2024; Zero hunger
Source(s): NITI Aayog; UNDP; United Nations
 Cost of a healthy diet in India from 2017 to 2021 (in U.S. dollars per
person per day)
Cost of a healthy diet in India 2017-2021

3.5

3.07
2.97
3.0 2.82 2.83 2.88
Cost in U.S. dollars per person per day

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

35 Description: In 2021, the cost of a healthy diet in India stood at around three U.S. dollars per person per day. This was an increase from 2.88 U.S. dollars in the previous year. About 74 percent of Indians were unable to afford a healthy diet in
2021. Read more
Note(s): 2017 to 2021
Source(s): Various sources (UNICEF,FAO, World Food Programme, IFAD, WHO)
 Prevalence of undernourishment in India from 2004 to 2006 and from
2020 to 2022
Prevalence of undernourishment India between 2004-2022

25%

21.6%
Share of undernourished population

20%

16.6%

15%

10%

5%

0%
2004-2006 2020-2022

36 Description: The prevalence of undernourishment in India saw a substantial decrease from 21.6 percent between 2004 and 2006 to around 16.5 percent between 2020 to 2022. Economic inequality among other social determinants is one of
the major factors for malnutrition in India. Read more
Note(s): India; 2004 to 2006 and 2020 to 2022
Source(s): FAO; IFAD; UNICEF; WHO; World Food Programme
 Share of urban population living in slums in India from 2000 to 2020
Share of urban population living in slums India 2000-2020

60%
55% 55% 54% 53% 53% 52% 51% 50% 50%
50% 49% 49%

40%
Share of slums

30%

20%

10%

0%
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

37 Description: As of 2020, 49 percent of the Indian urban population lived in slums. There was a downward trend in the share of slum dwellings as a share of the urban population since 2000. A slum is defined by World Bank as a group of
individuals living under the same roof, lacking one or more of the basic necessities. Read more
Note(s): India; 2000 to 2020
Source(s): World Bank
 Number of beggars and vagrants in India in 2011, by gender (in 1,000s)
Number of beggars and vagrants in India 2011, by gender

400
372.22

350
Number of beggars in thousands

300

250

197.73
200
174.49

150

100

50

0
Female Male All

38 Description: In 2011, there were around 175 thousand female beggars and 200 thousand male beggars across the south Asian country of India. West Bengal had the highest amount of female beggars in the country. Read more
Note(s): India; 2011
Source(s): Indian Census; Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (India)
CHAPTER 06

Welfare
 Food grains allocation under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana in India in
the financial year 2023, by states and union territories (in million metric tons)
Food grains allocation under PMGKAY India FY 2023, by states

Allocation in million metric tons

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Uttar Pradesh 6.7

Bihar 3.92

Maharashtra 3.15

West Bengal 2.71

Madhya Pradesh 2.17

Rajasthan 1.98

Karnataka 1.81

Tamil Nadu 1.64

Gujarat 1.55

Odisha 1.46

Andhra Pradesh 1.21

Jharkhand 1.19

Assam 1.13

Chattisgarh 0.9

Telangana 0.86

40 Description: During the financial year 2023, the northern state of Uttar Pradesh was allocated over six million metric tons of food grains under food security initiative PMKAY, the highest among all states. Other large states like Bihar and
Maharashtra followed it. Read more
Note(s): Asia, India; FY 2023; *Up to November 2022. India's financial year begins in April and ends in March. For example, FY 2022 started in April 2021 and ended in March 2022. One Indian rupee is equal to 0.011 euros and 0.012 dollars (as of
[...] Read more
Source(s): Factly; Lok Sabha
 Share of National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries in India as of
March 2022, by state and Union territories
Share of NFSA beneficiaries India 2022, by states

Share
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Assam 71.4%

Odisha 70.8%

Bihar 70.4%

Jharkhand 68.4%

Chattisgarh 67.8%

Meghalaya 65.1%

Uttar Pradesh 64.2%

Nagaland 63.9%

Manipur 63%

West Bengal 61.2%

Tripura 60.8%

Karnataka 60%

Madhya Pradesh 56.9%

Maharashtra 56.1%

Sikkim 55.9%

41 Description: As of March 2022, the north-eastern state of Assam in India had over 70 percent share of its population covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Odisha and Bihar also had high share of population covered under the
Act. NFSA. NFSA aims to provide subsidized grains to poorer households. Read more
Note(s): Asia, India; as of March 2022
Source(s): Factly; Lok Sabha
 Food grain distribution under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyana Yojana in
India in 2023 (in million metric tons)
Food grain distribution under PMGKAY India 2023

4.5
4.07 4.09 4.12 4.06 4.08 4.09 4.12 4.12 4.07 4.1
4.0 3.84
Food grains distribution in million metric

3.5

3.0

2.5
tons

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
2023-01 2023-02 2023-03 2023-04 2023-05 2023-06 2023-07 2023-08 2023-09 2023-10 2023-11*

42 Description: Under the food subsidy scheme of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyana Yojana, around 3.8 million metric tons of grains were distributed in November 2023. The grain distribution stayed around four million metric tons per month
throughout 2023. PMGKAY is a central government initiative to provide free food grains to poor households. Read more
Note(s): India, APAC; January to November 2023; * Not the final figures. Read more
Source(s): DFPD; PIB
 Budget allocated by central government to PMAY in India from financial
year 2016 to 2022, with estimates up to 2024 (in billion Indian rupees)
Budget allocated by central government to PMAY in India FY 2016-2024

1,000
900
900
Budget allocated in billion Indian rupees

796
800 771

700

600

500
403
400
312
300 254 250
210
200
116
100

0
FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023* FY 2024*

43 Description: In the fiscal year 2022, the central government of India allocated a budget of 900 billion Indian rupees for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Since the launch of the scheme, the budget had gradually increased from 116 billion Indian rupees in financial
year 2016 to 900 billion Indian rupees in fiscal year 2022. It was estimated to decrease over the following two years. PMAY was launched with the objective of making provision for affordable housing the poor people living in urban areas. Read more
Note(s): India; FY 2016 to FY 2022; * Estimated values PMAY stands for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana India's financial year begins in April and ends in March. For example, FY 2023 started in April 2022 and ended in March 2023. One Indian rupee is [...] Read more
Source(s): Knight Frank
 Number of affordable housing units completed in India as of November
2023, by state
Number of completed affordable housing units in India 2023, by state

Number of completed housing units

0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000 1,200,000 1,400,000 1,600,000
Uttar Pradesh 1,337,607

Gujarat 891,599

Andhra Pradesh 864,743

Maharashtra 824,557

States Madhya Pradesh 728,700

Tamil Nadu 548,882

West Bengal 378,564

Karnataka 329,330

Telangana 224,339

Chhattisgarh 201,534

Rajasthan 175,509

Odisha 135,955

Jharkhand 133,237

Kerala 117,219

Bihar 115,890

44 Description: As of November 2023, there were over 1.3 million housing units completed across the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh within the "housing for all" (HFA) program since 2014. The HFA-program is part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana - Urban scheme of the Indian government. Read more
Note(s): India; November 20, 2023
Source(s): MoHUA
 Sources

Business Standard Reserve Bank of India

Department of Commerce (India) Simpliance
DFPD The Global Statistics
Factly Trading Economics
FAO UBS
IFAD UNDP
India Briefing UNICEF
Indian Census United Nations
Indian Census (Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011) United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
Knight Frank Various sources (NSSO)
Labour Bureau India Various sources (UNICEF,FAO, World Food Programme, IFAD, WHO)
Lok Sabha WHO
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (India) WID.world
MoHUA World Bank
MOSPI World Data Lab
NITI Aayog World Food Programme
OWID
Oxfam
Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative
PIB
Picodi
PRICE

45