India’s economy has expanded steadily, but that growth hasn’t been evenly spread. If you look at income per person, the gap between states is still quite wide. Latest estimates from the Ministry of Statistics
and Programme Implementation, along with state budget documents for 2025-26, show that the national average per capita income is now close to Rs 2 lakh. A number of states are still well below that mark.
Here’s a closer look at where things stand.
1. Bihar
Bihar continues to be at the bottom of the list. Its per capita income is estimated at roughly Rs 60,000 to Rs 65,000 for 2025-26, based on figures from the state’s economic survey. Agriculture still employs a large share of the population, and while infrastructure has improved, industrial growth hasn’t picked up at the same pace.
2. Jharkhand
Jharkhand’s per capita income is estimated at around Rs 85,000 to Rs 95,000, according to state projections. What makes this stand out is that the state is rich in minerals, but that wealth hasn’t translated evenly across districts. However, low-income level prevails despite the presence of lucrative mining sector.
3. Uttar Pradesh
The case of Uttar Pradesh is somewhat alike. Its per capita income ranges from Rs 85,000 to Rs 95,000, as per the official sources. The size of this region should be taken into account since some cities (Noida, Lucknow), as well as some rural territories, are better off than others.
4. Madhya Pradesh
The state’s per capita income ranges between Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 1.3 lakh, as per the latest budget data. The agriculture and mining sectors are the most dominant; however, their economic performance has not been uniform across all regions/districts.
5. Chhattisgarh
Per capita income in Chhattisgarh is reported to be between Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 1.4 lakh, as per the latest budget data. Mining and power generation industries prevail, although some areas have benefited more from it than others.
6. Assam
Assam’s per capita income is estimated at about Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 1.4 lakh, as per its economic survey. The state still depends a lot on agriculture and tea production, and large-scale industrial growth has been relatively slow.
7. Manipur
Manipur’s per capita income is estimated at around Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 1.3 lakh. Geography and connectivity remain real challenges here, making it harder to attract large industries or expand economic activity quickly.
8. Meghalaya
Meghalaya, despite its natural resources and tourism potential, reports per capita income in the Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh range. As government data suggests, limited industrial development continues to hold incomes back.
9. Odisha
Odisha has improved quite a bit in recent years. Its per capita income is now estimated between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 1.7 lakh, based on state budget figures. Even so, the gap between districts is quite visible, with some areas still trailing the state average.
10. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
Among union territories, this region continues to rank lower in income terms compared to others like Delhi or Chandigarh. Estimates place per capita income in the Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 1.7 lakh range, with limited economic diversification being a factor.
What’s worth keeping in mind is that these rankings are based on income per person, not the overall size of the economy. As the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data shows, a state can have a large economy but still rank low if that income is spread across a very large population.
There has been progress, especially with infrastructure and digital access improving across many of these regions. But the gap hasn’t closed yet. Whether that changes over the next few years will depend on how quickly jobs, industry, and investment move into these parts of the country.
