Population of 1.48 billion, 7.2% average annual growth over past 5 years

Systematized data to support exports, investment and business strategy

[Provided by Korea International Trade Association]
[Provided by Korea International Trade Association]

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) said Monday its New Delhi office has published its first statistical handbook on India, titled "India Through Economic, Industrial and Social Indicators 2026," offering a comprehensive overview of the country's economy, industries and society.

As of 2026, India has a population of about 1.48 billion — the largest in the world — and ranks sixth globally by nominal gross domestic product. The country has posted average annual economic growth of 7.2 percent over the past five years, cementing its status as a leading growth market representing the Global South.

Economic cooperation between the two countries has also been expanding. Following the South Korean president's state visit to India in April, a Korea-India Industrial Cooperation Committee was launched, and KITA established a Korea-India Exchange Committee, strengthening the foundation for public-private cooperation and raising interest among South Korean companies in entering the Indian market.

However, India's statistical data are produced by a fragmented network of agencies — central and state governments, union territories and international organizations — and the country's fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31 of the following year, differing from South Korea's, making it difficult to compare and use the data. KITA said it compiled the key statistics in a format that companies can use immediately, to address these challenges.

The handbook is organized into three broad sections: the economy, major industries and society. The economy section includes trade and price data; the industry section covers major sectors such as energy and logistics; and the society section contains indicators on labor and education. Key statistics are arranged by year so readers can track trends at a glance.

The handbook also includes key indicators for India's 28 states and eight union territories, allowing users to compare and analyze market characteristics across different regions.

"India is a dynamically growing country — not only home to the world's largest population, but also ranked third globally in the number of unicorn companies and fifth in the number of top-100 global innovation clusters," said Yun Yong, head of KITA's New Delhi office. "We hope this statistical handbook will help Korean companies analyze the Indian market objectively and develop more precise strategies for exports and investment."

The New Delhi office plans to publish updated editions annually reflecting the latest statistics, providing ongoing support to Korean companies analyzing the Indian market and formulating business strategies. The handbook is available for download on the KITA New Delhi office website.

Meanwhile, KITA held the inaugural ceremony of the Korea-India Exchange Committee in March at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in response to India's growing strategic importance as an emerging manufacturing hub amid geopolitical instability and the reshaping of global supply chains. The committee serves as a private-sector-led economic cooperation platform to support Korean companies' entry into India and build a cooperative network between businesses of the two countries.


eyre@heraldcorp.com