From 30% to 4%: a 12-Year Poverty Miracle

Poverty rates in India have drastically declined across all social and religious groups over the past 12 years, thanks to sustained economic growth and a wide range of inclusive, impactful government welfare programs.

Between 2011-12 and 2023-24, poverty in rural India dropped from 30.4% to 3.9%, and in urban areas, from 26.4% to 3.9%.

India’s two largest religious groups, Hindus and Muslims, saw dramatic reductions in poverty across both rural and urban areas. In rural India, the poverty rate among Muslims dropped from 31.7% in 2011–12 to 2.4% in 2023–24, and among Hindus, from 30.9% to 4%. In urban areas, the rate fell from 39.4% to 5.7% for Muslims and from 24.4% to 3.7% for Hindus. Across social groups, poverty also declined significantly, highlighting the Modi government’s commitment to democracy in both principle and practice.