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Overview of India
![](/static-atlas/assets/img/news/best-countries/globes/India.png)
- Capital
- New Delhi
- Region
- Asia
- GDP Per Capita, PPP
- $7,859
- GDP
- $2.7 trillion
- Population
- 1,352,617,328
- Area
- 3,287,263 SQ.KM
Overview of India
Located in South Asia, India sits on a peninsula that extends between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The country, the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism, is the world’s second most-populous nation after China.
For many years of its long history, India faced incursions from the north by Turks, Arabs, Persians and others. By the 19th century, Great Britain became the dominant power on the subcontinent. After years of nonviolent struggle against British rule, India gained its independence in 1947.
The world’s largest democracy, India is a federal republic with 29 relatively autonomous states and seven union territories. English is the most important language for national, political and commercial communication, but Hindi is the most widely spoken.
India has a fast-growing, diverse economy with a large, skilled workforce. But because of its population, it’s also one of the poorest countries in the world based on income and gross national product per capita. Although agriculture employs the most workers, services are the major source of economic growth. Due to its educated, English-speaking workforce, India has become an important center of information technology services, business outsourcing services and software workers.
[Explore the top universities in India]
India is known for its historical architectural treasures, including the Taj Mahal, Humayun’s tomb, the Sun Temple at Konarak and other vast temple complexes. But modern India has also made its fair share of cultural contributions.
The film industry based in Mumbai, nicknamed Bollywood, makes more feature-length films than any other nation in the world. The country has had three Booker Prize-winning authors since 1980, including Salman Rushdie, and produced world-famous virtuosos Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan.
While India has an upper class that enjoys a lifestyle similar to those of Western and East Asian elites, many of its citizens live in poverty. The country is locked in a long-standing territorial dispute over Kashmir with Pakistan, which has led to military clashes. In 2008, terrorists originating from Pakistan conducted a series of coordinated attacks in Mumbai.
India is a member of several international organizations, including the United Nations, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
India Rankings
#25
Adventure | 24.2 | #40 |
---|---|---|
Citizenship | 5.3 | #51 |
Cultural Influence | 31.0 | #30 |
Entrepreneurship | 27.3 | #27 |
Heritage | 79.6 | #6 |
Movers | 83.5 | #2 |
Open for Business | 50.4 | #35 |
Power | 27.9 | #14 |
Quality of Life | 19.9 | #30 |
#25
Adventure | 24.2 | #40 |
---|---|---|
Citizenship | 5.3 | #51 |
Cultural Influence | 31.0 | #30 |
Entrepreneurship | 27.3 | #27 |
Heritage | 79.6 | #6 |
Movers | 83.5 | #2 |
Open for Business | 50.4 | #35 |
Power | 27.9 | #14 |
Quality of Life | 19.9 | #30 |
Attributes
- 25.8Fun
- 49.2Scenic
- 5.5Pleasant climate
- 33.9Friendly
- 8.0Sexy
Attributes
- 4.0Respects property rights
- 18.4Progressive
- 5.9Trustworthy
- 2.4Gender equality
- 1.9Well-distributed political power
- 1.0Cares about the environment
- 1.9Cares about human rights
- 22.0Religious freedom
Attributes
- 8.7Prestigious
- 69.0Culturally significant in terms of entertainment
- 7.5Fashionable
- 14.4Trendy
- 2.3Modern
- 100.0Has an influential culture
- 11.8Happy
Attributes
- 15.8Provides easy access to capital
- 6.4Well-developed infrastructure
- 8.1Transparent business practices
- 8.6Educated population
- 40.4Skilled labor force
- 44.7Entrepreneurial
- 51.3Connected to the rest of the world
- 23.7Innovative
- 40.6Technological expertise
- 1.8Well-developed legal framework
Attributes
- 52.7Culturally accessible
- 94.6Many cultural attractions
- 93.2Has a rich history
- 79.4Has great food
Attributes
- 88.0Distinctive
- 97.2Different
- 85.3Unique
- 39.4Dynamic
Attributes
- 73.8Corrupt
- 19.0Favorable tax environment
- 36.2Bureaucratic
- 3.2Transparent government practices
- 99.9Cheap manufacturing costs
Attributes
- 37.7Strong military
- 25.9Strong international alliances
- 38.3Economically influential
- 20.9Politically influential
- 18.0A leader
Attributes
- 8.9Economically stable
- 22.0A good job market
- 92.4Affordable
- 1.7Safe
- 9.7Politically stable
- 18.0Family friendly
- 2.1Well-developed public education system
- 3.8Well-developed public health system
- 2.2Income equality
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