Richest and Poorest States in India by Per Capita Income – Latest Official Data
Student & Competitive Exam Edition: Learn which Indian states have the highest and lowest per capita income, how per capita NSDP is calculated, why Delhi should not be mixed with states, and the latest official figures useful for APPSC, UPSC, SSC, RRB, Banking and Police exams.
Indian Economy APPSC UPSC SSC RRB Banking Police Exams
📝 Introduction
India’s states differ greatly in population, industrial development, services, agriculture, natural resources and productivity. One useful way to compare average economic output or income across states is Per Capita Net State Domestic Product (Per Capita NSDP).
According to the Economic Survey 2025–26 Statistical Appendix, the latest official table of per capita NSDP at current prices contains 2024–25 figures for many states, but data for some states—including Sikkim, Goa and Gujarat—are shown as unavailable. Therefore, for a fair all-state ranking, this article uses 2023–24 as the latest common benchmark year.
Highest Per Capita NSDP among States: Sikkim – ₹5,87,743
Second: Goa – ₹5,85,953
Lowest Per Capita NSDP among States: Bihar – ₹62,201
Delhi is a Union Territory, not a state. Its per capita NSDP was ₹4,59,408 in 2023–24 and ₹4,93,024 in 2024–25. It should be shown separately when the question specifically asks for the richest state.
💡 What Is Per Capita NSDP?
Per Capita NSDP gives an estimate of the average economic income generated per person within a state. It is commonly used to compare state-level economic performance, but it does not mean that every resident actually earns that amount.
Per Capita NSDP is not the same as GSDP.
A large state may have a very large total economy but a lower per capita income because it also has a much larger population.
🏆 Top 10 Richest States by Per Capita NSDP – 2023–24
The following ranking uses Per Capita Net State Domestic Product at Current Prices from the Economic Survey 2025–26. The year 2023–24 is used because it provides a common comparison across all 28 states.
| Rank | State | Per Capita NSDP 2023–24 | % of India Per Capita NNI* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sikkim | ₹5,87,743 | 311.2% |
| 2 | Goa | ₹5,85,953 | 310.2% |
| 3 | Telangana | ₹3,47,714 | 184.1% |
| 4 | Karnataka | ₹3,39,813 | 179.9% |
| 5 | Haryana | ₹3,19,363 | 169.1% |
| 6 | Tamil Nadu | ₹3,13,329 | 165.9% |
| 7 | Gujarat | ₹3,00,957 | 159.3% |
| 8 | Kerala | ₹2,81,269 | 148.9% |
| 9 | Maharashtra | ₹2,78,681 | 147.5% |
| 10 | Uttarakhand | ₹2,46,178 | 130.3% |
*For comparison only: India’s Per Capita Net National Income at current prices in 2023–24 was ₹1,88,892. State per capita NSDP and national per capita NNI are related but not identical statistical concepts.
📉 Bottom 10 States by Per Capita NSDP – 2023–24
| Rank from Lowest | State | Per Capita NSDP 2023–24 | % of India Per Capita NNI* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bihar | ₹62,201 | 32.9% |
| 2 | Uttar Pradesh | ₹97,364 | 51.5% |
| 3 | Jharkhand | ₹1,06,529 | 56.4% |
| 4 | Manipur | ₹1,19,938 | 63.5% |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | ₹1,39,713 | 74.0% |
| 6 | Meghalaya | ₹1,41,195 | 74.7% |
| 7 | Assam | ₹1,43,852 | 76.2% |
| 8 | Chhattisgarh | ₹1,48,922 | 78.8% |
| 9 | West Bengal | ₹1,49,515 | 79.2% |
| 10 | Odisha | ₹1,50,414 | 79.6% |
🆕 Latest 2024–25 Figures Available
The Economic Survey 2025–26 also provides 2024–25 values for many states. However, because several states have NA against 2024–25, these figures should not be used to create a definitive all-India rank.
| State | 2023–24 | 2024–25 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telangana | ₹3,47,714 | ₹3,87,623 | Available |
| Karnataka | ₹3,39,813 | ₹3,80,906 | Available |
| Tamil Nadu | ₹3,13,329 | ₹3,61,619 | Available |
| Haryana | ₹3,19,363 | ₹3,53,182 | Available |
| Maharashtra | ₹2,78,681 | ₹3,09,340 | Available |
| Kerala | ₹2,81,269 | ₹3,08,338 | Available |
| Andhra Pradesh | ₹2,37,951 | ₹2,66,240 | Available |
| Bihar | ₹62,201 | ₹69,321 | Available |
| Uttar Pradesh | ₹97,364 | ₹1,08,572 | Available |
| Jharkhand | ₹1,06,529 | ₹1,16,663 | Available |
| Sikkim | ₹5,87,743 | NA | Not available in official table |
| Goa | ₹5,85,953 | NA | Not available in official table |
| Gujarat | ₹3,00,957 | NA | Not available in official table |
A ranking should compare states for the same year. Using 2024–25 for some states and 2023–24 for others would produce a misleading list.
🏙️ Union Territories – Do Not Mix with States
| Union Territory | 2023–24 Per Capita NSDP | 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | ₹4,59,408 | ₹4,93,024 |
| Chandigarh | ₹4,53,457 | NA |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | ₹2,76,000 | NA |
| Puducherry | ₹2,52,164 | ₹2,81,478 |
| Ladakh | ₹2,42,360 | NA |
| Jammu & Kashmir | ₹1,40,051 | ₹1,54,826 |
If the question says “richest state by per capita income”, do not answer Delhi. Delhi is a Union Territory with a legislature.
📈 Why Are Some States’ Per Capita Incomes Higher?
1. Small Population + High Output
States such as Sikkim and Goa combine relatively small populations with productive sectors, which can produce very high per capita figures.
2. Strong Services Sector
IT, finance, telecommunications, professional services, tourism and modern business services can raise state income significantly. Telangana and Karnataka benefit strongly from high-value service activity.
3. Manufacturing and Industrial Clusters
Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra have major manufacturing, automotive, chemicals, engineering or industrial clusters that contribute to state output.
4. Urbanisation and Productivity
States with large productive urban centres can generate more output per worker through industrial concentration, modern services, infrastructure and connectivity.
5. Human Capital and Infrastructure
Education, skills, health, transport, electricity, digital connectivity and financial access influence productivity and long-term growth.
📉 Why Are Some States Lower in Per Capita Income?
Lower per capita income is also a multi-factor outcome. Population size, the proportion of workers in low-productivity agriculture, industrial structure, urbanisation, infrastructure, human capital, investment and historical development patterns can all matter.
🇮🇳 India’s Per Capita National Income – Useful Static Fact
| Year | Per Capita Net National Income at Current Prices | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | ₹1,88,892 | 1st Revised Estimate |
| 2024–25 | ₹2,05,324 | Provisional Estimate |
| 2025–26 | ₹2,19,575 | 1st Advance Estimate |
📚 Important Economy Concepts for Exams
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| GSDP | Gross State Domestic Product – total value of final goods and services produced within a state. |
| NSDP | Net State Domestic Product – broadly GSDP after accounting for depreciation/consumption of fixed capital. |
| Per Capita NSDP | NSDP divided by population; commonly used as a state per capita income indicator. |
| GDP | Gross Domestic Product for the country as a whole. |
| NNI | Net National Income. |
| Current Prices | Values measured using prices prevailing in the respective year; includes price changes. |
| Constant Prices | Values measured using a fixed base-year price structure to study real growth. |
⚠️ Do Not Confuse – Important Exam Traps
- Sikkim is the highest state by per capita NSDP in the common 2023–24 official comparison.
- Goa is a state and ranks second in 2023–24.
- Delhi is a Union Territory, not a state.
- Maharashtra’s large economy does not automatically make it No. 1 in per capita NSDP.
- GSDP and Per Capita NSDP measure different things.
- Do not rank states by mixing figures from different financial years.
- 2024–25 data are not available for all states in the Economic Survey table.
📝 10 Important MCQs
✅ Show Answer
Answer: C – Sikkim. Its 2023–24 per capita NSDP was ₹5,87,743.
✅ Show Answer
Answer: A – Goa. Goa recorded ₹5,85,953.
✅ Show Answer
Answer: B – Bihar. Bihar recorded ₹62,201.
✅ Show Answer
Answer: B – Telangana. Telangana recorded ₹3,47,714.
✅ Show Answer
Answer: B – Union Territory.
✅ Show Answer
Answer: A – NSDP divided by population.
✅ Show Answer
Answer: C – ₹3,87,623.
✅ Show Answer
Answer: C – ₹2,05,324. It is a provisional estimate.
✅ Show Answer
Answer: C. Same-year comparison is essential for a fair ranking.
✅ Show Answer
Answer: C – Sikkim. This is why 2023–24 is safer for a complete all-state ranking.
📌 One-Minute Quick Revision
- Highest state, 2023–24: Sikkim – ₹5,87,743.
- Second: Goa – ₹5,85,953.
- Third: Telangana – ₹3,47,714.
- Fourth: Karnataka – ₹3,39,813.
- Fifth: Haryana – ₹3,19,363.
- Lowest: Bihar – ₹62,201.
- Second-lowest: Uttar Pradesh – ₹97,364.
- Delhi: Union Territory, not state.
- Telangana 2024–25: ₹3,87,623.
- India Per Capita NNI 2024–25: ₹2,05,324.
- Per Capita NSDP: NSDP ÷ Population.
- Best ranking rule: Compare the same financial year.
Sikkim → Goa → Telangana → Karnataka → Haryana | Lowest → Bihar.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which is the richest state in India by per capita income?
Using the latest complete common-year official comparison, Sikkim had the highest Per Capita NSDP in 2023–24 at ₹5,87,743.
2. Is Goa the richest state in India?
Goa was a very close second in 2023–24 at ₹5,85,953, just below Sikkim’s ₹5,87,743.
3. Which is the poorest state in India by per capita income?
Among the 28 states, Bihar had the lowest Per Capita NSDP in 2023–24 at ₹62,201.
4. Is Delhi richer than many states?
Delhi has a high per capita NSDP, but it is a Union Territory. It recorded ₹4,59,408 in 2023–24 and ₹4,93,024 in 2024–25.
5. Why not use 2024–25 for the full ranking?
Because the official Economic Survey table lists 2024–25 data as unavailable for several states, including Sikkim, Goa and Gujarat. Mixing years would distort the ranking.
6. Is the richest state by GSDP always the richest by per capita income?
No. Total state economic size and average per-person income are different measures.
📚 Reliable Sources for Students
🧠 Conclusion
India’s interstate income differences show why students must distinguish between total economic size and per capita income. Using the latest common-year official data, Sikkim and Goa have the highest per capita NSDP among states, while Bihar has the lowest. Telangana, Karnataka, Haryana and Tamil Nadu also record high per capita levels.
For competitive exams, the safest approach is always to mention the indicator, year and source. A statement such as “richest state in India” is incomplete unless it specifies whether the comparison is based on GSDP, per capita NSDP, household income, or another measure.
2023–24 Per Capita NSDP → Sikkim No.1 ₹5,87,743 | Goa No.2 ₹5,85,953 | Telangana No.3 ₹3,47,714 | Bihar Lowest ₹62,201.
Official state per capita NSDP figures are from the Economic Survey 2025–26 Statistical Appendix, Table 1.11A, as on 01.08.2025. Updated for Learn With Mahesh on 20 August 2026.
*****
Comments
Post a Comment