GDP, Literacy, and Inequality in India

This document explores how states vary across various parameters of development. The zones that are used in graphs across the document are as in the map.

Gender Inequality in Literacy

The graph below shows literacy and gender inequality in literacy across different states and zones of India. The y-axis represents difference in male and female literacy rates (adjusted for literacy). Calculated by formula (ML - FL) * ((ML + ML) / 2) .

Each state has been colored by zone and is shown with a cross. Zone averages are shown by a diamond.

Equal & Low LiteracyInequal & Low LiteracyEqual & High LiteracyInequal & High Literacy708090481216
ZoneCentralEasternNortheasternNorthernSouthernWesternGender Inequality in Literacy across IndiaLiteracy %Inequality Literacy Product

Almost all states fall into two categories; those with low literacy and high inequality, and those with high literacy and low inequality. Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Nagaland are the only states which have above average equality and below averageg literacy. On the other hand, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh all have high gender inequality despite having high literacy. This sugggests more inequal growth between men and women in those states, as compared to states such as Mizoram or Kerala, which have reduced the gap over time.

GDP and Literacy

Low Literacy & PoorHigh Literacy & PoorLow Literacy & RichHigh Literacy & Rich100000200000300000400000708090
ZoneCentralEasternNortheasternNorthernSouthernWesternLiteracy and GDP across IndiaGDP Per Capita (INR)Literacy %

The graph above shows that states in India arenโ€™t all either High Literacy and rich or Low Literacy and poor. States such as Assam, Tripura and Bengal have above average literacy, they have smaller economies. Karnataka and Telangana, despite both being in a rich region of the country and having GDP per Capita of over 2,33,000 rupees, have literacy rates well below the statesโ€™ average of 80%. Most states, however, do show a strong correlation between literacy and wealth.

Western India (GJ, MH, Goa) has the highest levels of both literacy and GDP per Capita. South India and the Northeast both share almost identical literacy rates of 82% and 81% respectively, yet, the South has a GDP per Capita which is nearly 65,000 rupees higher. Northeast, Central, and Eastern India show a clear trend between literacy and GDP. Northern Indian states (RJ, PB, HR), despite being in the same region, show different performances in both literacy and GDP.

It should be noted that โ€œabove averageโ€ and โ€œbelow averageโ€ are defined with respect to states without consideration for population. Because smaller states in the Northeast and South tend to be richer and more High Literacy, this impacts the average to be higher in both respects.

Size and Population

Low Lit. & SmallHigh Lit. & SmallLow Lit. & LargeHigh Lit. & Large050000000100000000150000000200000000708090
ZoneCentralEasternNortheasternNorthernSouthernWesternLiteracy and Population across IndiaPopulationLiteracy %

States with populations smaller than about 50 million donโ€™t have any noticeable trend in literacy. Despite a lot of attention being drawn to the fact that larger states are much harder to administer, states in the West and South have managed to overcome this. These states have on average literacy rates of 82% and 84%, despite having on an average populations of 55 and 62 million respectively.

However, small states seem to be capable of achieving higher rates of literacy than larger ones. Tripura, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand all have literacy rates in the upper 80s and Mizoram and Kerala have rates surpassing 90%. On the other hand, no state over 40 million has a literacy rate of higher than 85%.

Of 10 states with a population above 40 million, only 3 have literacy rates of greater than 81%. The other 7 still have rates between 69% (Rajasthan) and 80% (Bengal).

Literacy and Literacy Growth

Low Growth & Low LiteracyHigh Growth & Low LiteracyLow Growth & High LiteracyHigh Growth & High Literacy7080900.51.01.52.0
ZoneCentralEasternNortheasternNorthernSouthernWesternLiteracy Growth across IndiaLiteracy %Literacy Growth %

This graph compares the annual growth in literacy from 2011 to 2017 (between Census 2011 and NSO Survey 2017) with the literacy rates in 2011. States with higher literacy typically choose not to invest as many resources into improving it, while it is more of a priority in states with low rates. This is apparent from the graph, with most states having either high literacy with little growth, or low literacy with high growth.

The only state which is improving its literacy despite being above the state median rate is Uttarakhand, with 1.3% annual change from a 2011 rate of 79.6%. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka are all behind the curve; these states, especially Rajasthan, have literacy rates below the state median but still do not have literacy growth rates on par with states such as Chattisgarh or Punjab.

The Eastern and Northern zones are almost entirely behind the state median at rates of 70% and 73% respectively. Northeastern, Western, and Southern zones all have high literacy rates at 80%, 83%, and 83% respectively. Karnataka has the lowest (0.3%) literacy growth rate between 2011 and 2017, and Assam the highest (2.1%).

Notes

  • GDP per Capita data from RBI
    2017 Literacy rates from NSO Report 2017
    2011 Census Literacy rates from RBI Docs
  • Made with R and RMarkdown