---
title: "Tamil Nadu vs Kerala: Income, Jobs, Health Compared"
description: "Tamil Nadu vs Kerala on official figures: per capita income, GSDP growth, jobs, infant mortality, poverty, power and school enrolment."
url: "https://allindia.news/states/tamil-nadu-vs-kerala/index.md"
canonical: "https://allindia.news/states/tamil-nadu-vs-kerala/"
updated: "2026-11-02T05:30:11+05:30"
language: "en-IN"
site: "AllIndia.news"
---

# Tamil Nadu vs Kerala

Tamil Nadu has the better figure on 4 of the 8 measures and Kerala on 4.

| Measure | Tamil Nadu | Kerala | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per capita income (higher is better) | ₹2,75,272 (rank 7) | ₹2,57,307 (rank 9) | 2022-23 | [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 19](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23468), data: National Statistical Office (NSO), MoSPI |
| Real GSDP growth (higher is better) | 6.2% (rank 22) | 5.7% (rank 26) | 2022-23 | [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 22](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23471), data: National Statistical Office (NSO), MoSPI |
| Infant mortality rate (lower is better) | 12 per 1,000 (rank 7) | 5 per 1,000 (rank 2) | 2023 | [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 4](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23453), data: Sample Registration System, Office of the Registrar General of India |
| Urban unemployment rate (lower is better) | 4.1% (rank 9) | 6.7% (rank 17) | 2023-24 | [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 9](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23458), data: Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), NSO, MoSPI |
| SDG India Index score (higher is better) | 78 of 100 (rank 3) | 79 of 100 (rank 1) | 2023 | [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 106](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23555), data: NITI Aayog |
| Multidimensional poverty (lower is better) | 2.20% (rank 4) | 0.55% (rank 1) | 2019-21 | [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 10](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23459), data: NITI Aayog, National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023 |
| Electricity per person (higher is better) | 1,691.7 kWh (rank 9) | 880.3 kWh (rank 19) | 2024-25 | [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 138](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23587), data: Central Electricity Authority, Ministry of Power |
| Secondary school enrolment (higher is better) | 89.4% (rank 6) | 94.1% (rank 3) | 2024-25 | [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 1](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23450), data: UDISE+ 2024-25, Ministry of Education |

## Sources

All figures: [Reserve Bank of India, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/AnnualPublications.aspx?head=Handbook+of+Statistics+on+Indian+States), released 2025-12-11. Ranks are out of 31 (28 states plus Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry). Equal figures share a rank. Nothing is estimated.

- Per capita income: Per capita net state domestic product at current prices, rupees, 2022-23. [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 19](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23468), data: National Statistical Office (NSO), MoSPI. 2022-23 is the latest year with a figure for every state in this table (Gujarat has none for later years).
- Real GSDP growth: Growth of gross state domestic product at constant (2011-12) prices, per cent, 2022-23. [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 22](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23471), data: National Statistical Office (NSO), MoSPI. Worked out by AllIndia.news from the table: GSDP at constant prices in 2022-23 compared with 2021-22. 2022-23 is the latest year with a figure for every state.
- Infant mortality rate: Infant deaths per 1,000 live births, per 1,000 live births, 2023. [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 4](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23453), data: Sample Registration System, Office of the Registrar General of India.
- Urban unemployment rate: Unemployment rate in towns and cities, usual status (adjusted), all persons, per cent, 2023-24. [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 9](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23458), data: Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), NSO, MoSPI. The table gives the rate per 1,000 people in the labour force; shown here per 100 (per cent).
- SDG India Index score: NITI Aayog SDG India Index composite score, out of 100, 2023. [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 106](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23555), data: NITI Aayog.
- Multidimensional poverty: Share of people who are multidimensionally poor (National MPI headcount ratio), per cent of people, 2019-21. [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 10](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23459), data: NITI Aayog, National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023. Based on the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21.
- Electricity per person: Per capita availability of power, kWh a year, 2024-25. [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 138](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23587), data: Central Electricity Authority, Ministry of Power.
- Secondary school enrolment: Gross enrolment ratio, secondary (classes 9 to 12), all children, per cent, 2024-25. [RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, Table 1](https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=23450), data: UDISE+ 2024-25, Ministry of Education. Gross enrolment ratio: everyone enrolled in classes 9 to 12, of any age, as a share of children of that age group, so it can pass 100.