Most southern states have a few growth districts.

• Southern States’ economic growth in 2023-24 lags behind India’s growth.
• Despite high per capita incomes, unemployment rates remain a concern.
• Tamil Nadu’s economy grew at 8.2%, Telangana’s at 7.4%, Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh each grew at over 6%.
• Only eight districts in Tamil Nadu had higher per capita income than the State average of ₹2.8 lakh in 2022-23.
• Only three districts in Telangana had higher per capita income than the State average of ₹3.1 lakh.
• Kerala had a more equitable distribution with seven of its 14 districts having a per capita income above the State average.
• Unemployment rates in all states were higher than the Indian average in 2023-24, except for Karnataka.
• There has been a significant shift out of casual labour and an increase in self-employment across the southern States.
• The services sector contributes over 50% of the economic output in these States, with the exception of Andhra Pradesh where the contribution from the services sector declined.
• Manufacturing drives less than a fifth of all the southern economies, including Tamil Nadu.