Country Guide

Sri Lanka Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India


Geographic coordinates:
7 00 N, 81 00 E


Map references:
Asia


Area:
total:65,610 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 122
land:64,630 sq km
water:980 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia


Land boundaries:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin


Climate:
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)


Terrain:
mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:Pidurutalagala 2,524 m


    Natural resources:
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:18.29%
permanent crops:14.94%
other:66.77% (2011)


Irrigated land:
5,700 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
52.8 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
52.8 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
occasional cyclones and tornadoes


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Marine Life Conservation


Geography - note:
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective:Sri Lankan


Ethnic groups:
Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)


Languages:
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%


Religions:
Buddhist (official) 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)


Population:
21,866,445 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 57


Age structure:
0-14 years:24.7% (male 2,758,360/female 2,648,073)
15-24 years:14.9% (male 1,651,901/female 1,606,465)
25-54 years:42.1% (male 4,504,395/female 4,708,288)
55-64 years:9.5% (male 966,295/female 1,117,310)
65 years and over:8.7% (male 812,669/female 1,092,689) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:51.3 %
youth dependency ratio:38.1 %
elderly dependency ratio:13.2 %
potential support ratio:7.6 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:31.8 years
male:30.6 years
female:32.9 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
0.86% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 130


Birth rate:
16.24 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 122


Death rate:
6.06 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 163


Net migration rate:
-1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 157


Urbanization:
urban population:15.1% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.36% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
COLOMBO (capital) 693,000; Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) 126,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.75 male(s)/female
total population:0.96 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
25.4


Maternal mortality rate:
35 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:9.02 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 147
male:9.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female:8.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:76.35 yearscountry comparison to the world: 83
male:72.85 years
female:79.99 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.13 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 107


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
68% (2006/07)


Health expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.49 physicians/1,000 population (2006)


Hospital bed density:
3.1 beds/1,000 population (2004)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 99.1% of population
rural: 92.9% of population
total: 93.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.9% of population
rural: 7.1% of population
total: 6.2% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 82.9% of population
rural: 93.9% of population
total: 92.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 17.1% of population
rural: 6.1% of population
total: 7.7% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 144


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,000 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 134


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
200 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 113


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
5.1% (2008)country comparison to the world: 155


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
21.6% (2009)country comparison to the world: 28


Education expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2012)country comparison to the world: 168

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:91.2%
male:92.6%
female:90% (2010 census)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:14 years
male:13 years
female:14 years (2012)


Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:17.3%country comparison to the world: 74
male:14%
female:23.5% (2012)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form:Sri Lanka
local long form:Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu
local short form:Shri Lanka/Ilankai
former:Serendib, Ceylon


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Colombo; note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital
geographic coordinates:6 55 N, 79 50 E
time difference:UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western


Independence:
4 February 1948 (from the UK)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 February (1948)


Constitution:
several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; amended many times, last in 2010 (2010)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Dissanayake Mudiyanselage JAYARATNE holds the largely ceremonial title of prime minister (since 21 April 2010)
head of government:President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
elections:president elected by popular vote for a six-year term, eligible for a second term; election last held on 26 January 2010 (next to be held in 2016)
election results:Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA re-elected president; percent of vote - Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA 57.88%, Sarath FONSEKA 40.15%, other 1.97%


Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of an open-list, proportional representation system by electoral district to serve six-year terms)
elections:last held on 8 April 2010 with a repoll in two electorates held on 20 April 2010 (next to be held by April 2016)
election results:percent of vote by alliance or party - United People's Freedom Alliance 60.93%, United National Party 29.34%, Democratic National Alliance 5.49%, Tamil National Alliance 2.9%, other 1.34%; seats by alliance or party - United People's Freedom Alliance 144, United National Party 60, Tamil National Alliance 14, Democratic National Alliance 7


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 10 justices); note - the court has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation
judge selection and term of office:the chief justice appointed by the president; the other justices appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; all justices hold office until age 65
subordinate courts:Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrate's Courts; municipal and primary courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Coalitions and leaders: Democratic National Alliance, led by General (Retired) Sarath FONSEKA
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Somawansa AMARASINGHE]
Tamil National Alliance led by Illandai Tamil Arasu Kachchi [R. SAMPANTHAN]
United National Front led by United National Party [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE]
United People's Freedom Alliance led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party [Mahinda RAJAPAKSA]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Buddhist clergy


International organization participation:
ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Designate Prasad KARIYAWASAM (since 2014)
chancery:2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028
FAX:[1] (202) 232-7181
consulate(s) general:Los Angeles
consulate(s):New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Michele J. SISON (since 29 September 2012); note - also accredited to Maldives
embassy:210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address:P. O. Box 106, Colombo
telephone:[94] (11) 249-8500
FAX:[94] (11) 243-7345


Flag description:
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green the Sri Lankan Moors; dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to the rich colonial background of the country; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag


National symbol(s):
lion


National anthem:
name:'Sri Lanka Matha' (Mother Sri Lanka)

lyrics/music:Ananda SAMARKONE
note:adopted 1951

Economy

Economy - overview:
Sri Lanka continues to experience strong economic growth following the end of the 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The government has been pursuing large-scale reconstruction and development projects in its efforts to spur growth in war-torn and disadvantaged areas, develop small and medium enterprises and increase agricultural productivity. The government's high debt payments and bloated civil service have contributed to historically high budget deficits, but fiscal consolidation efforts and strong GDP growth in recent years have helped bring down the government's fiscal deficit. However, low tax revenues are a major concern. The 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession exposed Sri Lanka's economic vulnerabilities and nearly caused a balance of payments crisis. Agriculture slowed due to a drought and weak global demand affected exports and trade. In early 2012, Sri Lanka floated the rupee, resulting in a sharp depreciation, and took steps to curb imports. A large trade deficit remains a concern, but strong remittances from Sri Lankan workers abroad help offset the trade deficit. Government debt of about 80% of GDP remains among the highest in emerging markets.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$134.5 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$126.6 billion (2012 est.)
$119 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$65.12 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
6.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
6.4% (2012 est.)
8.2% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,500 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$6,100 (2012 est.)
$5,800 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
27% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
24% of GDP (2012 est.)
22.1% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:69.7%
government consumption:13.2%
investment in fixed capital:29%
investment in inventories:1.7%
exports of goods and services:20.1%
imports of goods and services:-33.7%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:10.6%
industry:32.4%
services:57% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, vegetables, fruit, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish


Industries:
processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction


Industrial production growth rate:
10% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Labor force:
8.528 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:31.8%
industry:25.8%
services:42.4% (June 2012)


Unemployment rate:
5.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
4% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
8.9% (2010 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:1.6%
highest 10%:39.5% (2009)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 22
46 (1995)


    Budget:
revenues:$8.43 billion
expenditures:$12.57 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
12.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-6.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182


Public debt:
78.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
79.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:covers central government debt, and excludes debt instruments directly owned by government entities other than the treasury (e.g. commercial bank borrowings of a government corporation); the data includes treasury debt held by foreign entities as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement; sub-national entities are usually not permitted to sell debt instruments


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
9.2% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
7.5% (19 December 2012 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.88% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
14.4% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$3.629 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$3.539 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$23.55 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$20.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$32.98 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$28.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$18.48 billion (31 November 2013 est.)


Current account balance:
-$2.452 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
-$3.931 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$10.39 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$9.774 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish


Exports - partners:
US 20.4%, UK 9.9%, India 5.8%, Italy 4.7%, Belgium 4.3%, Germany 4.3% (2012)


Imports:
$18 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$19.19 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs


Imports - partners:
India 22.7%, Singapore 8.8%, UAE 7.7%, China 7%, Iran 6.1%, Malaysia 4.5% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$7.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$6.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$33.67 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$29.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA


Exchange rates:
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -
129.6 (2013 est.)
127.6 (2012 est.)
113.06 (2010 est.)
114.95 (2009)
108.33 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
11.8 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92


Electricity - consumption:
8.927 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
2.685 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
53.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
44.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
1.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95


Crude oil - imports:
36,380 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115


Refined petroleum products - production:
35,440 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
89,620 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163


Refined petroleum products - imports:
44,270 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
13.1 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
2.796 million (2013)
country comparison to the world: 52


Telephones - mobile cellular:
19.533 million (2013)
country comparison to the world: 51


Telephone system:
general assessment:telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country
domestic:national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing
international:country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
government operates 8 TV channels and a radio network; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 35 private TV stations and about 50 radio stations (2012)


Internet country code:
.lk


Internet hosts:
9,552 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 136


Internet users:
1.777 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 77

Transportation

Airports
19 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 138


Airports - with paved runways
total:15
over 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:6
914 to 1,523 m:7 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:4
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:
3 (2013)


Heliports
1 (2013)


Railways
total:1,449 kmcountry comparison to the world: 80
broad gauge:1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2007)


    Roadways
total:114,093 kmcountry comparison to the world: 41
paved:16,977 km
unpaved:97,116 km (2010)


Waterways
160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 101


Merchant marine
total:21country comparison to the world: 94
by type:bulk carrier 4, cargo 13, chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned:8 (Germany 8) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Colombo
container port(s) (TEUs):Colombo (3,651,963)

Military

Military branches
Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 5-year service obligation (Air Force) (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:5,342,147
females age 16-49:5,466,409 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:4,177,432
females age 16-49:4,574,833 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:167,026
female:162,587 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
2.43% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 30
2.89% of GDP (2011)
2.43% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
none


Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs:up to 90,000 (civil war; more than half displaced prior to 2008; many of the more than 480,000 IDPs registered as returnees have not reached durable solutions) (2014)


    Trafficking in persons

 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

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Country Guide

India Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan


Geographic coordinates:
20 00 N, 77 00 E


Map references:
Asia


Area:
total:3,287,263 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 7
land:2,973,193 sq km
water:314,070 sq km


Area - comparative:
Area comparison map: '>


Land boundaries:
total:13,888 km
border countries:Bangladesh 4,142 km, Bhutan 659 km, Burma 1,468 km, China 2,659 km, Nepal 1,770 km, Pakistan 3,190 km


Coastline:
7,000 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin


Climate:
varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north


Terrain:
upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north


    Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:Kanchenjunga 8,598 m


Natural resources:
coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land


Land use:
arable land:47.87%
permanent crops:3.74%
other:48.39% (2011)


Irrigated land:
663,340 sq km (2008)


Total renewable water resources:
1,911 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
1,911 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the world, lies on the border with Nepal

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Indian(s)
adjective:Indian


Ethnic groups:
Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)


Languages:
Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9%


Religions:
Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)


Population:
1,236,344,631 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 2


Age structure:
0-14 years:28.5% (male 187,016,401/female 165,048,695)
15-24 years:18.1% (male 118,696,540/female 105,342,764)
25-54 years:40.6% (male 258,202,535/female 243,293,143)
55-64 years:7% (male 43,625,668/female 43,175,111)
65 years and over:5.7% (male 34,133,175/female 37,810,599) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:51.8 %
youth dependency ratio:43.6 %
elderly dependency ratio:8.1 %
potential support ratio:12.3 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:27 years
male:26.4 years
female:27.7 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.25% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 94


Birth rate:
19.89 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 86


Death rate:
7.35 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 118


Net migration rate:
-0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 112


Urbanization:
urban population:31.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.47% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
NEW DELHI (capital) 22.654 million; Mumbai 19.744 million; Kolkata 14.402 million; Chennai 8.784 million; Bangalore 8.614 million; Hyderabad 7.837 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.12 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.13 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.13 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.06 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.91 male(s)/female
total population:1.08 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.9 (2005-06 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
200 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:43.19 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 50
male:41.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female:44.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:67.8 yearscountry comparison to the world: 163
male:66.68 years
female:69.06 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.51 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 81


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
54.8% (2007/08)


Health expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.65 physicians/1,000 population (2009)


Hospital bed density:
0.9 beds/1,000 population (2005)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 96.7% of population
rural: 90.7% of population
total: 92.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.3% of population
rural: 9.3% of population
total: 7.4% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 60.2% of population
rural: 24.7% of population
total: 36% of population
unimproved:
urban: 39.8% of population
rural: 75.3% of population
total: 64% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 101


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2.085 million (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 3


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
135,500 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 3


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
1.9% (2008)country comparison to the world: 184


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
43.5% (2006)country comparison to the world: 2


Education expenditures:
3.2% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 134

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:62.8%
male:75.2%
female:50.8% (2006 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:12 years
male:12 years
female:11 years (2011)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:10.7%country comparison to the world: 107
male:10.4%
female:11.6% (2012)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of India
conventional short form:India
local long form:Republic of India/Bharatiya Ganarajya
local short form:India/Bharat


Government type:
federal republic


Capital:
name:New Delhi
geographic coordinates:28 36 N, 77 12 E
time difference:UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
29 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal


Independence:
15 August 1947 (from the UK)


National holiday:
Republic Day, 26 January (1950)


Constitution:
previous 1935 (preindependence); latest draft completed 4 November 1949, adopted 26 November 1949, effective 26 January 1950; amended many times, last in 2013 (2013)


Legal system:
common law system based on the English model; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus; judicial review of legislative acts


International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Pranab MUKHERJEE (since 22 July 2012); Vice President Mohammad Hamid ANSARI (since 11 August 2007)
head of government:Prime Minister Narendra MODI (since 26 May 2014)
cabinet:Union Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections:president elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of the states for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held in July 2012 (next to be held in July 2017); vice president elected by both houses of Parliament for a five-year term; election last held in August 2012 (next to be held in August 2017); prime minister chosen by parliamentary members of the majority party following legislative elections
election results:Pranab MUKHERJEE elected president; percent of vote - Pranab MUKHERJEE 69.31%, Purno SANGMA - 30.69%


Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States or Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of 245 seats up to 12 of which are appointed by the president, the remainder chosen in staggered elections by the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies; members serve six-year terms) and the People's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 members elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections:People's Assembly - last held April-May 2014 in 9 phases; (next election must be held by May 2019)
election results:People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA, ; seats by party - BJP 282, INC 44, AIADMK 37, AITC 34, BJD 20, SS 18, TDP 16, TRS 11, CPI(M) 9, YSRC 9, LJP 6, NCP 6, SP 5, AAP 4, RJD 4, SAD 4, independents 3, other 31


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court (the chief justice and 25 associate justices); note - parliament approved an additional 5 judges in 2008
note - in mid-2011 India’s Cabinet approved the program, National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reform, to eliminate judicial corruption and reduce the backlog of cases
judge selection and term of office:justices appointed by the president to serve until age 65
subordinate courts:High Courts; District Courts; Labour Court


Political parties and leaders:
Aam Aadmi Party or AAP [Arvind KEJRIWAL]
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or AIADMK [J. JAYALALITHAA]
All India Trinamool Congress or AITC [Mamata BANERJEE]
Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP [MAYAWATI]
Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP [Rajnath SINGH]
Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen PATNAIK]
Communist Party of India or CPI [Suravaram Sudhakar REDDY, Secretary-General]
Communist Party of India-Marxist or CPI(M) [Prakash KARAT]
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or DMK [M.KARUNANIDHI]
Indian National Congress or INC [Sonia GANDHI]
Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) [Sharad YADAV]
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) [Ram Vilas PASWAN]
Nationalist Congress Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR]
Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD [Lalu Prasad YADAV]
Rashtriya Lok Dal or RLD [Ajit SINGH]
Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV]
Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD [Parkash Singh BADAL]
Shiv Sena or SS [Uddhav THACKERAY]
Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU]
Telegana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) [K. Chandrashekar RAO]
YSR Congress(YSRC) [Jaganmohan REDDY]
note:India has dozens of national and regional political parties


    Political pressure groups and leaders:
All Parties Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley (separatist group)


International organization participation:
ABEDA, ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIMSTEC, BIS, BRICS, C, CD, CERN (observer), CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Subrahmanyam JAISHANKAR (since 10 March 2014)
chancery:2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 939-7000
FAX:[1] (202) 265-4351
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL (since 19 April 2012)
embassy:Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
mailing address:use embassy street address
telephone:[91] (11) 2419-8000
FAX:[91] (11) 2419-0017
consulate(s) general:Chennai (Madras), Hyderabad; Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay)


Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green, with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; saffron represents courage, sacrifice, and the spirit of renunciation; white signifies purity and truth; green stands for faith and fertility; the blue chakra symbolizes the wheel of life in movement and death in stagnation


National symbol(s):
the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which depicts four Asiatic lions standing back to back mounted on a circular abacus, is the official emblem; the Bengal tiger is the national animal; the lotus is the national flower


National anthem:
name:'Jana-Gana-Mana' (Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People)

lyrics/music:Rabindranath TAGORE
note:adopted 1950; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote Bangladesh's national anthem

Economy

Economy - overview:
India is developing into an open-market economy, yet traces of its past autarkic policies remain. Economic liberalization measures, including industrial deregulation, privatization of state-owned enterprises, and reduced controls on foreign trade and investment, began in the early 1990s and served to accelerate the country's growth, which averaged under 7% per year from 1997 to 2011. India's diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Slightly less than half of the work force is in agriculture, but, services are the major source of economic growth, accounting for nearly two-thirds of India's output with less than one-third of its labor force. India has capitalized on its large educated English-speaking population to become a major exporter of information technology services, business outsourcing services, and software workers. India's economic growth began slowing in 2011 because of a decline in investment, caused by high interest rates, rising inflation, and investor pessimism about the government's commitment to further economic reforms and about the global situation. In late 2012, the Indian Government announced additional reforms and deficit reduction measures, including allowing higher levels of foreign participation in direct investment in the economy. The outlook for India's long-term growth is moderately positive due to a young population and corresponding low dependency ratio, healthy savings and investment rates, and increasing integration into the global economy. However, India has many challenges that it has yet to fully address, including poverty, corruption, violence and discrimination against women and girls, an inefficient power generation and distribution system, ineffective enforcement of intellectual property rights, decades-long civil litigation dockets, inadequate transport and agricultural infrastructure, limited non-agricultural employment opportunities, high spending and poorly-targeted subsidies, inadequate availability of quality basic and higher education, and accommodating rural-to-urban migration. Growth in 2013 fell to a decade low, as India's economic leaders struggled to improve the country's wide fiscal and current account deficits. Rising macroeconomic imbalances in India and improving economic conditions in Western countries, led investors to shift capital away from India, prompting a sharp depreciation of the rupee. However, investors' perceptions of India improved in early 2014, due to a reduction of the current account deficit and expectations of post-election economic reform, resulting in a surge of inbound capital flows and stabilization of the rupee.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.99 trillion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$4.833 trillion (2012 est.)
$4.63 trillion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.67 trillion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
5.1% (2012 est.)
7.5% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,000 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
$3,900 (2012 est.)
$3,800 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
33.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
28.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
30.3% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:56.4%
government consumption:12.4%
investment in fixed capital:29.6%
investment in inventories:8.2%
exports of goods and services:25.2%
imports of goods and services:-31.8%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:17.4%
industry:25.8%
services:56.9% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, lentils, onions, potatoes; dairy products, sheep, goats, poultry; fish


Industries:
textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software, pharmaceuticals


Industrial production growth rate:
0.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Labor force:
487.3 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:49%
industry:20%
services:31% (2012 est.)


Unemployment rate:
8.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
8.5% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
29.8% (2010 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:3.6%
highest 10%:31.1% (2005)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.8 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 80
37.8 (1997)


Budget:
revenues:$181.3 billion
expenditures:$281.6 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
10.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-5.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175


Public debt:
51.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
51.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:data cover central government debt, and exclude debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions


Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
9.7% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
7.75% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
8% (31 December 2010 est.)
note:this is the Indian central bank's policy rate - the repurchase rate


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.6% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
10.63% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$303.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$317.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$1.376 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$1.396 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$1.379 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$1.401 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.263 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$74.79 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
-$91.47 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$313.2 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$296.8 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
petroleum products, precious stones, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, vehicles, apparel


Exports - partners:
UAE 12.3%, US 12.2%, China 5%, Singapore 4.9%, Hong Kong 4.1% (2012)


Imports:
$467.5 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$488.9 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
crude oil, precious stones, machinery, fertilizer, iron and steel, chemicals


Imports - partners:
China 10.7%, UAE 7.8%, Saudi Arabia 6.8%, Switzerland 6.2%, US 5.1% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$295 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$296 billion (28 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$412.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$378.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$310 billion (30 November 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$225.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$120.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$118.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Indian rupees (INR) per US dollar -
58.68 (2013 est.)
53.437 (2012 est.)
45.726 (2010 est.)
48.405 (2009)
43.319 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
871 billion kWh (FY11/12 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6


Electricity - consumption:
698.8 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6


Electricity - exports:
62 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81


Electricity - imports:
5.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
199.9 million kW (31 March 2012 est)
country comparison to the world: 6


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
65.8% of total installed capacity (31 March 2012 est)
country comparison to the world: 118


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
2.4% of total installed capacity (31 March 2012 est)
country comparison to the world: 25


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
19.5% of total installed capacity (31 March 2012 est)
country comparison to the world: 91


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
12.3% of total installed capacity (31 March 2012 est)
country comparison to the world: 21


Crude oil - production:
990,200 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130


Crude oil - imports:
3.272 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
5.476 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23


Refined petroleum products - production:
4.216 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
3.292 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5


Refined petroleum products - exports:
1.247 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6


Refined petroleum products - imports:
379,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16


Natural gas - production:
40.38 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22


Natural gas - consumption:
64.49 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119


Natural gas - imports:
16.39 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23


Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.241 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.726 billion Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
31.08 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 10


Telephones - mobile cellular:
893.862 million (2013)
country comparison to the world: 2


Telephone system:
general assessment:supported by recent deregulation and liberalization of telecommunications laws and policies, India has emerged as one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world; total telephone subscribership base exceeded 900 million in 2011, an overall teledensity of roughly 75%, and subscribership is currently growing more than 20 million per month; urban teledensity now exceeds 100% and rural teledensity is steadily growing
domestic:mobile cellular service introduced in 1994 and organized nationwide into four metropolitan areas and 19 telecom circles each with multiple private service providers and one or more state-owned service providers; in recent years significant trunk capacity added in the form of fiber-optic cable and one of the world's largest domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), with 6 satellites supporting 33,000 very small aperture terminals (VSAT)
international:country code - 91; a number of major international submarine cable systems, including Sea-Me-We-3 with landing sites at Cochin and Mumbai (Bombay), Sea-Me-We-4 with a landing site at Chennai, Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) with a landing site at Mumbai (Bombay), South Africa - Far East (SAFE) with a landing site at Cochin, the i2i cable network linking to Singapore with landing sites at Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras), and Tata Indicom linking Singapore and Chennai (Madras), provide a significant increase in the bandwidth available for both voice and data traffic; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region); 9 gateway exchanges operating from Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai (Madras), Jalandhar, Kanpur, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, and Ernakulam (2011)



    Broadcast media:
Doordarshan, India's public TV network, operates about 20 national, regional, and local services; a large and increasing number of privately owned TV stations are distributed by cable and satellite service providers; by 2011, more than 100 million homes had access to cable and satellite TV offering more than 700 TV channels; government controls AM radio with All India Radio operating domestic and external networks; news broadcasts via radio are limited to the All India Radio Network; since 2000, privately-owned FM stations have been permitted and their numbers have increased rapidly (2007)


Internet country code:
.in


Internet hosts:
6.746 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 17


Internet users:
61.338 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 6

Transportation

Airports
346 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 21


Airports - with paved runways
total:253
over 3,047 m:22
2,438 to 3,047 m:59
1,524 to 2,437 m:76
914 to 1,523 m:82
under 914 m:14 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:93
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:6
914 to 1,523 m:38
under 914 m:
45 (2013)


Heliports
45 (2013)


Pipelines
condensate/gas 9 km; gas 13,581 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,054 km; oil 8,943 km; oil/gas/water 20 km; refined products 11,069 km (2013)


Railways
total:63,974 kmcountry comparison to the world: 4
broad gauge:54,257 km 1.676-m gauge (18,927 km electrified)
narrow gauge:7,180 km 1.000-m gauge; 2,537 km 0.762-m gauge and 0.610-m gauge (2009)


    Roadways
total:4,689,842 kmcountry comparison to the world: 2
note:includes 79,116 km of national highways and expressways, 155,716 km of state highways, and 4,455,010 km of other roads (2013)


Waterways
14,500 km (5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for mechanized vessels) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 9


Merchant marine
total:340country comparison to the world: 29
by type:bulk carrier 104, cargo 78, chemical tanker 22, container 14, liquefied gas 11, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 92
foreign-owned:10 (China 1, Hong Kong 2, Jersey 2, Malaysia 1, UAE 4)
registered in other countries:76 (Cyprus 4, Dominica 2, Liberia 8, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 10, Nigeria 1, Panama 24, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Singapore 21, unknown 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Chennai, Jawaharal Nehru Port, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), Sikka, Vishakhapatnam
container port(s) (TEUs):Chennai (1,558,343), Jawaharal Nehru Port (4,307,622)

Military

Military branches
Army; Navy (includes naval air arm); Air Force; Coast Guard (2011)


Military service age and obligation
16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, but for noncombat roles only (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:319,129,420
females age 16-49:296,071,637 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:249,531,562
females age 16-49:240,039,958 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:12,151,065
female:10,745,891 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
2.43% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 31
2.58% of GDP (2011)
2.43% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
since China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidated discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other matters continue; Kashmir remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India and Pakistan resumed bilateral dialogue in February 2011 after a two-year hiatus, have maintained the 2003 cease-fire in Kashmir, and continue to have disputes over water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show its Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State; Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over undemarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested boundary sections, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India maintains a strict border regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border activities from Nepal


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):100,003 (Tibet/China); 65,674 (Sri Lanka); 11,122 (Burma); 10,328 (Afghanistan) (2013)
IDPs:at least 531,000 (about 250,000 are Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir) (2014)



Illicit drugs
world's largest producer of licit opium for the pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; transit point for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries and throughout Southwest Asia; illicit producer of methaqualone; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through the hawala system; licit ketamine and precursor production
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook