India's Rank in the World 2025: HDI, Hunger Index, Poverty Rate, Press Freedom, and More

In 2025, India has officially surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP, valued at approximately $4.4 trillion. Fueled by a booming digital infrastructure, rising startup ecosystem, and record capital inflows, India is being hailed as the next global economic powerhouse. However, as the economy rises, many social indicators tell a more complex — and at times contradictory — story.While India celebrates technological and economic milestones, its global rankings in hunger, education, health, press freedom, and environmental performance remain underwhelming. This duality invites a pressing question: Can economic progress truly be called progress if large segments of the population are left behind?
The Human Development Index (HDI), published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), combines indicators of life expectancy, education, and per capita income.

• HDI Rank (2025): 130 out of 193 countries
• HDI Score: 0.685
• Category: Medium human development

India has improved marginally since 2023 (rank 135), owing to gains in education and healthcare access. Life expectancy now averages around 71.5 years. However, gaps persist, especially in rural and underserved regions. Public spending on health remains under 2% of GDP, which is significantly below the global average.

Despite being among the largest food producers in the world, India continues to rank poorly in addressing hunger.

• GHI Rank (2025): 105 out of 127 countries
• GHI Score: 27.3 (classified as 'serious')
• Child Wasting: 18.7% — highest in the world
• Stunting (Under-5): 35.5%

Critics of the index argue that it ignores government schemes and local interventions. However, domestic surveys like NFHS-5 corroborate high levels of malnutrition. Programs such as PM-POSHAN and ICDS exist, but implementation varies drastically across states.

Economic growth has led to a steady decline in absolute poverty, but inequality is becoming a structural concern.

• Population under $2.15/day (PPP): ~2.3%
• Rural Poverty: 11.4%
• Urban Poverty: 5.7%
• Multidimensional Poverty (MPI): ~11.3% face deprivation in health, education, or living standards

While India has effectively reduced extreme poverty, a significant portion of the population remains just above the poverty line and vulnerable to economic shocks, such as inflation, medical emergencies, or job loss.

India’s rank in the Press Freedom Index continues to slide.

• Rank (2025): 161 out of 180 countries

Concerns Highlighted:

• Use of sedition, UAPA, and anti-money laundering laws against journalists
• India leads the world in internet shutdowns again in 2025
• Consolidation of media ownership
• Growing self-censorship under political and corporate influence

Though India remains a functional electoral democracy, the health of its public discourse — essential for accountability — is under strain.

India’s position in the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index reflects significant disparities.

• Rank (2025): 126 out of 146 countries
• Female Labor Force Participation: ~20%
• Sex Ratio at Birth: ~911 per 1000 boys in some states

India has increased women’s representation in Parliament, but this has not translated into equal participation in the economy or leadership roles. Patriarchal norms, safety concerns, and unpaid care responsibilities continue to hinder progress.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit:

• Classification: Flawed Democracy
• Rank (2025): ~47 out of 167 countries

Despite robust electoral participation, issues like delays in judicial processes, misuse of laws against dissenters, and reduced space for NGOs and independent institutions have impacted India’s democratic credentials.

India remains at the bottom of global environmental rankings.

• EPI Rank (2025): 180 out of 180 countries (same as 2022)
• Air Pollution: 14 of the top 20 most polluted cities are in India

While the government has invested in solar energy and electric vehicles, industrial emissions, urban construction, and vehicular pollution remain unaddressed at scale.

Though literacy and enrollment rates have improved, learning outcomes remain a concern.

• Literacy Rate (2025): ~79.5%
• Learning Outcomes (ASER 2024): Over 45% of Class 5 students cannot read basic text or solve Grade 2-level math

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 promised sweeping reforms, but state-wise disparities in implementation persist. India risks producing a workforce that’s educated on paper but unemployable in practice.

In 2025, India stands at a crossroads. It is a rising global economic power with digital ambitions and geopolitical clout. Yet, it also remains home to stark social inequality, malnutrition, gender disparity, and a shrinking civic space.

Economic growth is essential, but as these global rankings show, it is not sufficient. A true global power is not defined by GDP alone, but by how it uplifts its most vulnerable citizens — in dignity, rights, health, and opportunity. For India, the next challenge is not just to grow, but to grow equally and justly.

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