Skip to Main Navigation
BRIEF January 18, 2018

India States Briefs – Kerala

Kerala has low levels of poverty. But pockets within the state display high poverty, and consumption inequality is the highest in the country. Read Kerala - Poverty, Growth and Inequality brief.



Most people in Kerala work off the farm. Since 2005, job creation has been weak and most new jobs are in construction. Read Kerala - Jobs brief.

Kerala stands out for its achievements on gender. Kerala’s women are more educated and healthier than those in other states. Surprisingly, female labor force participation is low and declining. Read Kerala – Gender brief.

There is uneven progress among social groups in Kerala. The Scheduled Tribes and the Scheduled Castes lag others in schooling, access to good jobs and basic amenities. Read Kerala - Social Inclusion brief.

Kerala has made significant progress in health and education. Educational attainment and learning levels are among the highest in the country, while infant mortality and open defecation are among the lowest. Read Kerala - Health and Education brief.

For a quick snapshot of trends over time across all major thematic areas, refer to Kerala - Indicators at a GlanceReaders who are keen to further understand all the indicators selected for this exposition may refer to the Technical Appendix.

To know more about other states read India States Briefs