Which is the richest district in Uttar Pradesh? Has per capita income higher than Japan; not Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Agra, or Bareilly, place is…

India is a vast country comprised of a number of states and cities, with many rivers, and with a diverse representation of religions. We all know Uttar Pradesh as the largest state. Once considered lagging, Uttar Pradesh is leading and setting an example. There is one district in Uttar Pradesh whose income has surpassed that of Japan.

What makes this district richer than even Japan in per capita terms?

We are discussing Gautam Buddh Nagar district, which is now the largest industrial district in Uttar Pradesh. Many companies are located in Noida. Noida stands out in recognition as one of the fastest-growing and most developed cities in the country. It is also popularly known for business, engineering, and technological advancement.

Why has Gautam Buddha Nagar outpaced other major UP districts?

Gautam Buddha Nagar, home to Noida and Greater Noida, is the richest and fastest-growing district in Uttar Pradesh. Remarkably, the income levels (in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) which takes into account cost of living variances) are now being compared with developed nations such as Japan.

As reported by The Times of India, the per capita income in Gautam Buddha Nagar is at Rs 10.17 lakh–more than ten times the state average. This enormous difference sets the district apart, even when measuring globally. For the financial year 2023-24, Gautam Buddha Nagar had a GDP of Rs 2.63 lakh crore, accounting for more than 10% of the total economy of Uttar Pradesh, and is almost double the size of Lucknow’s economy. It is even bigger than the whole economy of Himachal Pradesh.

Per capita income of other cities with a global comparison
GB Nagar: Rs. 10.17 lakh – Similar to Japan
Lucknow: Rs.  2.16 lakh – Close to India’s national average
Ghaziabad: Rs.  2.11 lakh – Comparable to Morocco
Hamirpur: Rs.  1.46 lakh – Similar to Côte d’Ivoire
Sonbhadra: Rs.  1.44 lakh – Like Pakistan

Some districts in eastern Uttar Pradesh, like Pratapgarh, Jaunpur, and Ballia, are regrettably at such low levels of per capita income that their per capita income is about the same as those of poor countries like Afghanistan or Mali when comparing their incomes based on purchasing power parity ( PPP).

While Gautam Buddha Nagar is progressing with income levels closer to developed nations, many districts in the State that have low income levels are falling farther behind.

The economy of Uttar Pradesh shows an extreme division. The top five districts—Gautam Buddha Nagar, Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Agra, and Kanpur—together contribute more than 25% of the GDP of the state. The bottom five contribute, on the other hand, is less than 2.5%.

How does the district’s per capita income compare with Lucknow and Ghaziabad?

Lucknow’s per capita income lags far behind that of Gautam Buddha Nagar (GB Nagar), despite being the capital. The per person income of GB Nagar is five times higher than Lucknow’s and 23 times higher than that of Pratapgarh, the poorest district in this regard.

As GB Nagar’s economy is booming away like a developed city, districts like Shravasti, Chitrakoot, Sant Kabir Nagar, Auraiya, and Bhadohi are still economically backward. In fact, all five are contributing less to the GDP of the state than Kanpur Nagar is by itself. To give you an idea of the economic divide, Shravasti’s GDP is a mere Rs 8,593 crore and is 30 times smaller than the gigantic economy of GB Nagar.

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