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India Poverty Statistics: Market Report & Data

Highlights: India Poverty Statistics

  • Roughly 22% of India's population lives below the poverty line.
  • In 2014, nearly 172 million people in India were living in poverty.
  • More than 90 million people in India are considered extremely poor.
  • The poverty rate in rural areas (25.7%) is higher than in urban areas (13.7%).
  • Between 2006 and 2016, India reduced the number of its poor by 271 million people.
  • The number of poor in India is more than 2.5 times as many as the 86 poorest countries in the world combined.
  • India has the highest number of people living below the poverty line, with 30 per cent of its population under the $1.90-a-day poverty measure.
  • In 2019, 9.6% of the Indian population lived in extreme poverty, a decrease from nearly 21% in 2011.
  • Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand states, which make up about 40% of India’s population, account for 60% of the country’s poor.
  • Child malnutrition is on the rise in India, with over 40% of children under five being malnourished.
  • India ranks 76 out of 117 countries in the Global Hunger Index.
  • 51.4% of India's agricultural households are in debt with average debt of INR 47,000 (~$640 USD).
  • Uttar Pradesh, India's most populated state, has the highest number of poor people at almost 60 million.
  • Despite being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, India ranks 129 out of 158 countries in the 2020 Human Development index.
  • The states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have the highest proportion of people living in poverty.
  • Over 80% of the rural poor in India are daily wage workers, small-scale farmers, fisher folk, and tribal communities.
  • More than 140 million people in India live in slums due to poverty.
  • 30% of Indian children under the age of five who live in poor households are stunted due to malnutrition.
  • Only 22% of the poorest women in India receive adequate antenatal care during pregnancy.
  • Approximately 76% of India's poor are concentrated in seven states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and West Bengal.

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Welcome to our deep-dive into the world of India’s poverty statistics. This complex issue is one of pivotal importance, reflecting the socioeconomic realities that millions face each day. From analyzing percentage of population living below the poverty line, to income disparities and the relationship with education and basic healthcare, we will endeavor to provide a detailed, data-driven perspective on poverty in India. By delving into these critical figures and facts, we aim to gain an in-depth understanding of this pressing problem and explore potential pathways to mitigate its impact.

The Latest India Poverty Statistics Unveiled

Roughly 22% of India’s population lives below the poverty line.

Shining a spotlight on the heartrending reality, the data point that nearly 22% of India’s population languishes beneath the poverty line, unveils the grave socio-economic challenges India faces. Through a distressing lens, it comprehends the magnitude of poverty that encapsulates roughly one fifth of the colossal population, underscoring the urgent and considerable need for tangible and inclusive policy responses. This harsh statistic, emphasized in a blog post about India’s Poverty Statistics, looms as an ominous reminder of the significant disparities that obstruct the nation’s journey towards inclusive growth and prosperity.

In 2014, nearly 172 million people in India were living in poverty.

Painting a vivid portrait of Indian poverty landscape, the statistic – ‘In 2014, nearly 172 million people in India were living in poverty.’ lights the path to understanding the sheer magnitude of the issue. Providing a ballast and course to the conversation, it brings into stark relief the enormity of the challenge faced by the second most populated country in the world. As an underpinning to a discourse on poverty in India, this statistic serves as a critical reminder of the heart-wrenching reality and a call to action for poverty alleviation measures. This not only sets the premise for further discussion on the causes and consequences of poverty but also beckons for the creation and implementation of effective policies tailored to India’s unique socioeconomic dynamics.

More than 90 million people in India are considered extremely poor.

“Picturing the enormity of poverty in India with such staggering figures where over 90 million people are considered extremely poor, paints a vivid depiction of the acute socio-economic disparity prevailing in the country. In the labyrinth of India’s poverty statistics, this stat offers a jarring reminder of the dire straits that nearly one-seventh of the country’s population finds itself in, battling abysmal living conditions, malnutrition, and lack of basic amenities. Providing readers with such a perspective becomes integral in grasping the pervasive reach and deep detrimental impact of poverty in the nation, thus vitalizing discussions around poverty eradication, elevating understanding, and forging collective empathy and action.”

The poverty rate in rural areas (25.7%) is higher than in urban areas (13.7%).

Painting a stark contrast between rural and urban living conditions, the 25.7% poverty rate in rural areas vis-à-vis 13.7% in urban terrain underscores the entrenched economic disparity across India’s geographies. Unveiling a hard-hitting reality in the nation’s fight against poverty, these figures prod into the oscillating dynamics of urban-rural development, suggesting a higher vulnerability of rural dwellers to impoverishment. As we delve deeper into India’s poverty statistics, this gap becomes a critical lens for scrutiny, fostering a nuanced understanding about how location can have profound impacts on accessibility to resources, opportunities, and adequate living standards.

Between 2006 and 2016, India reduced the number of its poor by 271 million people.

An astonishing revelation underscores India’s arduous endeavor in combating poverty over a decade; the period from 2006 to 2016 witnessed a commendable decline in India’s poor population by a massive 271 million. Highlighting a crucial juncture in India’s socioeconomic transformation, this impressive deceleration of poverty offers a crucial perspective in a blog post about India Poverty Statistics. It not only indicates the effectiveness of the policies and programs implemented by India to uplift its less privileged citizens but also sets a benchmark for other nations battling similar issues. The substantial poverty reduction underscores the potential for monumental change when consistent efforts are directed towards equitable growth and inclusive development.

The number of poor in India is more than 2.5 times as many as the 86 poorest countries in the world combined.

The gravity of India’s poverty struggle becomes vividly clear upon delving into the remarkable statistic, ‘The number of poor in India is over 2.5 times as many as the 86 poorest countries in the world combined.’ In the mosaic of global poverty, such a fact is the bold splash of color that demands our unwavering attention, highlighting the colossal challenge at India’s doorstep. It underscores the mammoth efforts required for social, economic, and structural transformations India must pursue for ameliorating this uphill issue. Moreover, it throws into sharp relief, for readers of a blog post on India’s poverty statistics, the importance of dissecting, understanding, and reacting to these numbers with informed, effective strategies capable of improving countless lives.

India has the highest number of people living below the poverty line, with 30 per cent of its population under the $1.90-a-day poverty measure.

Astoundingly, India holds the unwelcome distinction of being home to the largest number of individuals surviving below the poverty threshold, with a staggering 30% of its population scraping by on less than $1.90 per day. This stark statistic sheds light on the harsh reality of widespread poverty that forms a sobering backdrop against the nation’s burgeoning economic growth. When examining poverty in India, such figures help us peer beyond the façade of its global standing, delving deep into the lived experiences of the countless faced with economic hardship. This indisputably emphasizes the urgency to address the grim situation and serves as a launchpad for eliciting proactive policies to dismantle poverty’s grip on the nation, underlining the crucial correlation between statistics and social change.

In 2019, 9.6% of the Indian population lived in extreme poverty, a decrease from nearly 21% in 2011.

Plunging into the heart of India’s poverty narrative, the compelling percentage shift from a hefty 21% in 2011 to a relatively lighter 9.6% in 2019 manifests the nation’s stimulating stride towards poverty eradication. Weaving an affirmative story out of these numbers, it speaks volumes about India’s economic progress and socio-political strategies aimed at uplifting and empowering the marginalized. This determinant factor, swathed in authentic statistical evidence, underscores the potential for dramatic improvements and illustrates the path of development India aims to tread on to liberate more of its citizens from the chains of extreme poverty.

Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand states, which make up about 40% of India’s population, account for 60% of the country’s poor.

Delving into the heart of India’s socio-economic quintessence, we encounter a profound numerical disclosure – Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand, albeit representing only a 40% fragment of the population, carry the heft of 60% of the nation’s economically disadvantaged. This revelation plays a momentous role in understanding the uneven distribution of wealth and resources, as it highlights the stark reality of concentration of poverty in these states. When juxtaposed with India’s quest to eradicate poverty, this statistical evidence acts as an indispensable guide in directing and fine-tuning policy measures, poverty alleviation programs, and infrastructural investments geared towards poverty reduction. By offering a lucid picture of the poverty hotspots, it evidentiates the need for nuanced, region-specific strategies to combat this enduring paradox of prosperity and poverty.

Child malnutrition is on the rise in India, with over 40% of children under five being malnourished.

Painting a realistic image of poverty in India, the startling incidence of over 40% of children under five being malnourished taps into the darker side of deprivation. In the sprawling canvas of poverty statistics, malnutrition proves to be an empathetic touch-point for readers, registering not just the tally of those living below the poverty line, but also portraying the consequential human suffering and health repercussions. Highlighting child malnutrition emphasizes the multi-generational effect of poverty, the urgency to combat it, and ultimately underscores the critical nature of poverty eradication in shaping a healthier, prosperous India.

India ranks 76 out of 117 countries in the Global Hunger Index.

Highlighting India’s position as 76th out of 117 countries in the Global Hunger Index serves as a stark reminder of the precarious presence of undernourishment that coexists with the nation’s developing status. In a bustling economy hailed as one of the world’s fastest growing, it unveils the profound paradox of pervasive poverty and the resounding problem of food insecurity. Within a blog post centred on India’s poverty statistics, this data point underscores the deep, systemic issues contributing to impoverishment, unequally shared wealth and poor access to nourishment, accentuating the urgency for addressing these challenges in the realm of development policies and poverty alleviation efforts.

51.4% of India’s agricultural households are in debt with average debt of INR 47,000 (~$640 USD).

In the pulsating heart of India’s economy – agriculture – over half of the country’s farming households are shackled by debt, exemplified by the striking statistic of 51.4% bearing the burden of an average debt of roughly INR 47,000 (~$640 USD). This vivid tableau drawn by numerical data provides compelling insights into the harsh reality of India’s poverty landscape. It sheds a critical light on the economic vulnerability of the farmers at the bedrock of India’s sprawling agrarian society, adding both depth and urgency to the discourse on poverty alleviation strategies, financial inclusion, rural development policies, and farmers’ welfare initiatives in the sub-continent.

Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populated state, has the highest number of poor people at almost 60 million.

Illuminating the magnitude of poverty in India, the statistic uncovers an undeniably grave reality. Nearly 60 million impoverished individuals reside in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most densely populated state. This fact is pivotal when delving into the scope of India’s poverty conundrum. It’s not just a figure; but represents countless stories of struggle and hardship, underscoring the socio-economic disparities plaguing this populous state. As we delve into the bleak reality of India through this statistic, it further compels us to probe deeper into the systemic failures, policy inefficiencies, and challenging living conditions that contribute to this grim situation, thereby making it a critical part of any discourse or write-up on Indian poverty statistics.

Despite being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, India ranks 129 out of 158 countries in the 2020 Human Development index.

The contrasting imagery presented by India’s rapid economic advancement juxtaposed by its lagging rank of 129 out of 158 on the 2020 Human Development Index underscores the prevailing disparities within the country. The critical nature of this statistic in the broader discourse about the poverty statistics of India lies in how it highlights the undesirable disconnect between economic growth and human development, illustrating the dichotomy of India’s booming sectors failing to pull a significant portion of its populace out of poverty. Hence, even as India accelerates into the fast lane of global economies, the shadow of poverty lingers, cementing the crucial narrative of wealth not translating into increased living standards for all, particularly the disadvantaged, and pointing towards an urgent need for inclusive progress.

The states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have the highest proportion of people living in poverty.

By shedding light on the stark reality that Uttar Pradesh and Bihar carry the brunt of India’s poverty, readers can comprehend the uneven distribution of wealth and resources within the country. These two densely populated states hold center stage in the narrative that unravels India’s struggle with poverty, emphasizing the critical need for focused, intensive socio-economic reforms and intervention strategies in these regions specifically. The revealing statistic lays a foundation for more insightful discussions about the factors contributing to enhanced poverty rates in these states and the potential measures to mitigate them in the overall discourse of poverty in India.

Over 80% of the rural poor in India are daily wage workers, small-scale farmers, fisher folk, and tribal communities.

Delving into the realm of India’s poverty statistics, one cannot overlook the poignant detail that over 80% of the rural impoverished belong to daily wage workers, small-scale farmers, fisher folk, and tribal communities. This statistic paints an evocative picture of the socio-economic landscape and inequality pervading across different occupational groups in India’s rural heartland, unraveling a significant proportion of the poverty framework. It lays bare the vulnerabilities of these communities with low economic growth and less secure sources of livelihood, serving as a compelling cue for policymakers, development workers, and researchers to address these disparities and devise targeted poverty alleviation measures. This figure, in a blog post about India’s poverty statistics, will not only bring forth a more nuanced understanding of rural poverty but also open up conversations about sector-focused interventions.

More than 140 million people in India live in slums due to poverty.

Immersing into the stark reality of India’s poverty narrative, the striking fact that over 140 million individuals reside in slums paints a harrowing image of the abyss between the haves and the have-nots. As an indictment of spatial inequality, it shines the beacon on the mammoth challenge that India faces in its quest for holistic and inclusive socioeconomic advancement. A statistic like this deeply underscores the urgent need for poverty alleviation strategies; it highlights the prevalence of substandard living conditions, lack of access to basic amenities, and the pressing issue of urban poverty. This number anchors the broader discussion of poverty in India, and establishes a pointed, concrete reference for readers to grasp the magnitude of despair engulfed in the Indian slum experience.

30% of Indian children under the age of five who live in poor households are stunted due to malnutrition.

Delving into the poignant story of India’s poverty, an unsettling mosaic of data comes to light: a disheartening 30% of Indian children under five, hailing from poor households, grapple with the lifelong consequences of stunted growth due to malnutrition. Within these figures, we encounter the haunting echo of socioeconomic disparity: the bitter struggle for survival, the cycle of impoverishment, and a future cast in shadows. These statistics serve as an urgent call to action. They underline the importance of ameliorating conditions that perpetuate poverty and nutritional insecurity, as the health and development of a nation’s children reflect the health of the nation itself. This single statistic, in essence, stands as a stark reminder and powerful indictment of the survival and developmental challenges that Indian children, particularly from underprivileged backgrounds, face in their formative years.

Only 22% of the poorest women in India receive adequate antenatal care during pregnancy.

Highlighting a figure like a mere 22% of the poorest women in India receiving adequate antenatal care during pregnancy emphasizes the stark health disparities that correlate with economic inequity in India. This is much more than a statistic; it’s a reflection of the social and economic roadblocks that limit access to critical healthcare services for marginalized communities. The alarming number encapsulates the urgent need for resource allocation, policy changes, improved healthcare infrastructure, and targeted initiatives aimed at increasing antenatal care. So, in a blog post about India’s poverty statistics, it paints a poignant picture of how poverty inflicts profound consequences on maternal health and, by extension, generations to come.

Approximately 76% of India’s poor are concentrated in seven states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and West Bengal.

Diving deeper into India’s poverty statistics, we encounter an intriguing fact; roughly 76% of India’s impoverished population is confined to seven principal states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and West Bengal. This significant concentration provides a valuable roadmap for understanding and combating poverty in India. By focusing our lens on these regions, we can explore the unique socioeconomic conditions, policies, and historical factors that may be driving such high poverty rates. A closer examination of these ‘Poverty Hubs’ can yield crucial insights to design impactful strategies to break the vicious cycle of poverty, enabling a targeted effort in redistributing resources, reforming infrastructures, and potentially uplifting millions from impoverishment.

Conclusion

The data and statistics on poverty in India reflect a complicated and nuanced picture. While there is certain progress made in reducing overall poverty levels, geographical disparities, gender inequalities, access to education, and healthcare continue to present challenges. Furthermore, an alarmingly high percentage of the population still lives below the international poverty line, which calls for urgent and sustained policy intervention. Insights derived from these nuanced statistics can help shape effective strategies to tackle poverty, aiming towards sustainable development and inclusive growth.

References

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FAQs

What is the current poverty rate in India?

As of 2022, India's poverty rate isn't officially defined due to lack of recent data. However, according to the World Bank, in 2011, 21.9% of India's population lived below the international poverty line of $1.90 per day (PPP).

What is the main cause of poverty in India?

Poverty in India is caused by a variety of factors including lack of access to quality education, inadequate healthcare, economic disparity, overpopulation, and government corruption.

How has India's poverty rate changed over time?

Over the past few decades, India's poverty rate has significantly reduced. From over 50% of the population in poverty in the 1950s, it has decreased to its current state now. Still, the progress is inconsistent across different states and groups.

Which states in India have the highest poverty rates?

The poverty rate varies across India's states. Historically, states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have had higher incidences of poverty compared to others.

What is the Government of India doing to alleviate poverty?

The Government of India has several ongoing schemes and initiatives to alleviate poverty. These include the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for providing affordable housing, the MGNREGA for providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household, and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana for financial inclusion.

How we write our statistic reports:

We have not conducted any studies ourselves. Our article provides a summary of all the statistics and studies available at the time of writing. We are solely presenting a summary, not expressing our own opinion. We have collected all statistics within our internal database. In some cases, we use Artificial Intelligence for formulating the statistics. The articles are updated regularly.

See our Editorial Process.

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