| India | UK |
| Population (millions): | 1,130 | 60.8 |
| Poverty (% of population below national poverty line): | 29% | 17% |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years (32%),
15-64 years (63%),
65 years + (5%) | 0-14 years (17.2%),
15-64 years (67%),
65 years + (15.8%) |
| Life expectancy: | 69 years | 78.7 years |
| Population growth rate: | 1.6% | 0.28% |
| HIV/AIDS (% of adult population infected) : | 0.9% although this is considered a substantial underestimation of the total numbers affected. | 0.2% |
| Religions: | Hindu (80%),
Muslim (13%),
Christian (2%),
Sikh (2%),
other (2%) | Christian (71.6%),
Muslim (2.7%),
Hindu (1%),
other (1.6%),
unspecified or none (23.1%) |
| Literacy: | 61% | 99% |
| Gross Domestic Product1 | $806 billion | $2.346 trillion |
| Gross National Income per capita2: | $730 | $33,630 |
| Labour force by occupation: | Agriculture (20%),
Industry (12%),
Services (28%) | Agriculture (1%),
Industry (25.6%),
Services (73.4%) |
| Unemployment rate: | 8% | 2.9% |
| Household income consumption3: | Lowest 10% (3.5%),
Highest 10% (33.5%) | Lowest 10% (2.1%),
Highest 10% (28.5%) |
In recent years India has been making progress on a scale, size and pace that is unprecedented in its own history. However, despite being the worlds 2nd fastest growing economy and 10th largest GDP, poverty in India remains pervasive.
About 29% of India’s 1.1 billion population live below the national poverty line. Over the last 50 years the proportion of people living in poverty has reduced, but still remains high.
Large sections of the population have failed to benefit from economic growth and consequently the gap between rich and poor is increasing. Patterns of poverty vary, but nearly 75% live in rural areas and rely on daily-wage labour.
The fact that economic growth has failed to benefit large sections of the population is of serious concern. Inequality can have huge social costs, and evidence of social unrest in some disadvantaged regions is growing.
The challenge facing India today is not so much the redistribution of wealth, but the redistribution of new livelihood opportunities that are emerging.
However poor communities need support to make the most of these opportunities because they face many constraints and barriers, most importantly lack of skills, resources, information and knowledge.
Traidcraft Exchange's work in India is focused in six poor states where we feel we can make a real impact: Orissa, Rajasthan and Jharkhand, and poorer pockets of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. We are also working with communities facing crisis situations such as tsunami affected communities in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Notes
1: GDP is the value of goods and services that a country's citizens produce. GNP is one measure of the economic condition of a country.
2: GNI is a country’s gross national income. GNI divided by total population gives GNI per capita.This indicator represents the well being of the population. However, it is anaverage that does not take into account inequalities of income within a country.
3: The percentage of total national household income held by the bottom 10% of households compared to the top 10% of households.
