Bengaluru, The capital city of Karnataka | |
| Currency | Indian rupee (INR, ₹) |
|---|---|
| 1 April – 31 March | |
Country group |
|
| Statistics | |
| Population | |
| GDP | |
| GDP rank | 3rd |
GDP growth | 10.86% (2025-2026)[7] |
GDP per capita | |
GDP per capita rank | 4th (2023-24 est.) |
GDP by sector | Agriculture 15% Industry 19% Services 66% (2021–22)[10] |
Population belowpoverty line | |
| Unemployment | |
| External | |
Main export partners | |
| Public finances | |
| 27.49% of GSDP (2022–23 est.)[10] | |
| ₹−61,564 crore (US$−7.3 billion)3.26% of GSDP (2022–23 est.) | |
| Revenues | ₹3.53 lakh crore (US$42 billion) (2025–26 est.)[10] |
| Expenses | ₹4.04 lakh crore (US$48 billion) (2025–26 est.)[10] |
All values, unless otherwise stated, are inUS dollars. | |

Karnataka is one of the highest economic growth states inIndia with an expectedGSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) growth of 9.5% in the 2021–22 fiscal year.[14][15] The total expected GSDP of Karnataka in 2022–2023 is about $240 billion.[15] Karnataka recorded one of the highest growth rates in terms of GDP and per capita GDP in the last decade compared to other Indian states. In 2008–09, thetertiary sector contributed the most to GSDP (US$31.6 billion─55 percent), followed by thesecondary sector ($17 billion─29 percent), and theprimary sector (US$9.5 billion─16 percent).[16]
With an overall GDP growth of 56.2% and aper capita GDP growth of 43.9% in the last decade, Karnataka surpassed many other states in India, pushing Karnataka's per capita income in Indian Rupee terms to sixth place.[17] Karnataka received US$2,026.4 million worth ofForeign Direct Investment for the fiscal year 2008–09, placing it at the third spot among states in India.[18] At the end of 2004, the unemployment rate of Karnataka was 4.57% compared to a national rate of 5.99%.[19] For the fiscal year 2006–07 the inflation rate of Karnataka was 4.4%, which was less than the national average.[20]
Between 2011-12 and2017-18, the GSDP of the state grew at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.11 per cent to reach₹ 12.69 trillion (US$196.88 billion) and the net state domestic product (NSDP) grew at a CAGR of 12.83 per cent to reach₹ 11.45 trillion (US$177.68 billion).[21]
Afiscal year in Karnataka begins on 1 April of the previous calendar year and ends on 31 March of the year with which it is numbered.
AfterBengaluru Urban,Dakshina Kannada (Mangaluru) Hubli-Dharwad andBelagavi districts contribute the highest revenue to the state respectively.

Agriculture is the primary occupation of most of Karnataka's rural people. A total of 123,100 km2 of land is cultivated in Karnataka, constituting 64.60% of the total geographical area of the state.[22] According to the 2001 census, farmers and agricultural labourers formed 56% of the workforce of Karnataka.[23] Agriculture in Karnataka is heavily dependent on the southwestmonsoon since the extent of arid land in the state is second only to Rajasthan.[23] Only 26.5% of sown area (30,900 km2) is subjected toirrigation.[22] The state has three agricultural seasons –Kharif (April to September),Rabi (October to December) and Summer (January to March).[22]
Given below is a table of 2015 national output share of select agricultural crops and allied segments in Karnataka based on 2011 prices[24]
| Segment | National Share % |
|---|---|
| Mulberry | 98.7 |
| Coffee | 92.7 |
| Safflower | 62.1 |
| Ragi | 59.2 |
| Arecanut | 58.6 |
| Sunflower | 55.2 |
| Tamarind | 32.4 |
| Sericulture and Apiculture | 28.9 |
| Jowar | 26.9 |
| Horsegram | 25.6 |
| Sapota | 24.6 |
| Capsicum | 19.9 |
| Pomegranate | 19.8 |
| Water melon | 19.7 |
| Coconut | 17.3 |
| Grape | 17.3 |
| Floriculture | 16.8 |
| Narcotics | 15.9 |
| Wool and hair | 14.8 |
| Maize | 14.5 |
| Pepper | 14.2 |
| Cucumber | 13.9 |
| Condiments and spices | 13.5 |
| Sugarcane | 10.7 |
| Cashew nut | 9.6 |
| Arhar | 9.4 |
| Tobacco leaf | 9.2 |
| Tobacco stem | 9.2 |
| Fuel wood | 8.4 |
| Carrot | 7.9 |
| Tomato | 7.2 |
| Pineapple | 7.1 |
| Egg | 6.7 |
| Bean | 6.6 |
| Lemon | 6.6 |
| Pulse | 6.5 |
| Jackfruit | 6.4 |
| Turmeric | 5.8 |
| Cocoa | 5.6 |
| Groundnut | 5.6 |
| Marine fish | 5.5 |
| Ginger | 5.4 |
| Mango | 5.4 |
| Grass | 5.2 |
| Papaya | 5.2 |
| Rubber | 5.1 |
| Kitchen garden | 5.0 |
The main crops grown are rice, ragi, jowar (sorghum), maize, and pulses (tur and gram) in addition to oilseeds and a number of other cash crops.[22]Cashews, coconut,arecanut,cardamom,chillies, cotton, sugarcane and tobacco are also produced. Karnataka is the largest producer of coarse cereals,[25] coffee,[26] raw silk[27] and tomatoes among the states in India. Horticultural crops are grown in an area of 16,300 km2 and the annual production is about 9.58 million tons.[22] The income generated from horticulture constitutes over 40% of income generated from agriculture and it is about 17% of the state's GDP.[22] In floriculture, Karnataka occupies the second position in India in terms of production and 700 tons of flowers (worth₹ 500 million) were produced in 2004–05.[22]

A majority of the thirty-five billion rupee silk industry in India is headquartered in Karnataka State, primarily inMysore and North Bengaluru regions ofDoddaballapura, the site of a planned 700 million "Silk City".[28][29]

Karnataka has one of the largest concentrations of higher education including medical and engineering colleges. Apart from Bengaluru, places likeMangalore,Hubli–Dharwad,Mysore,Belagavi,Udupi,Tumakuru andDavanagere have been producing professionals for the Information Technology industry.Muddenahalli, in North Bengaluru, is the site of the upcoming Sri Sathya Sai Baba University and College of Medicine and a branch of theVisvesvaraya Institute of Advanced Technology.[30]Devanahalli is set to be the location of a 95 billion Devanahalli Business Parks, which will contain Aerospace Education Special Economic Zones, near the Bengaluru International Airport. The North Bengaluru region is set to be a premier educational hub of Karnataka. There are many prestigious educational and research institutions inBengaluru such asIndian Institute of Science,National Law School of India University,University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering,Ramaiah Institute of Technology,R.V. College of Engineering,PES University,Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology,Indian Institute of Management,International Institution of Information Technology,Jain University etc.[31]
Dharwad in the northern part of the state is another hub for education with several engineering colleges With institutions of national importance like AIIMS, IIT Dharwad, IIIT Dharwad, Dakshina Hindi Prachara Sabha, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) and Universities like Karnataka University, University of Agricultural sciences Dharwad, Karnataka State Law University, KLE University, SDM University are present in Dharwad & Hubballi City, hence called Education Hub and a central university is present in Kalaburgi.[32] These developments are set to contribute significantly to Karnataka's economy by creating jobs, expanding educational opportunities, and spurring infrastructure development.Manipal Academy of Higher Education is one of the best universities present inManipal,Udupi city. With many great and prestigious InstitutionsKarnataka has been the Educational Hub of India.

Karnataka evolved as the manufacturing hub for some of the largestpublic sector industries of India after India's independence.Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which is dedicated toresearch and development activities for indigenousfighter aircraft for theIndian Air Force, employs over 9,500 employees making it one of the largest public sector employers in Karnataka.
Other heavy industries such asNational Aerospace Laboratories,Indian Telephone Industries,Bharat Earth Movers Limited,Bharat Electronics Limited, Hindustan Machine Tools and Indian subsidiaries ofVolvo andToyota are also headquartered in Bengaluru. India's national space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization, is headquartered in Bengaluru and employs approximately 20,000 people.
TVS Motors has a motorcycle manufacturing plant at Mysore and Tata Motors atDharwad. Karnataka state has many companies engaged in the manufacturing of electrical equipment and machinery likeKirloskar,ABB, Kavika,Larsen and Toubro etc. This may be due to the location of theCentral Power Research Institute at Bengaluru. Many multinational companies have set up their manufacturing units in Karnataka such asBASF andBosch.
The state owns sugar factories in the northern region, edible oil processing factories, pharmaceutical factories, textile processing centers, and steel producing facilities. Vishwesharaiya steel plant atBhadravati is run by SAIL.
Lithium has been discovered in Karnataka's Mandya district which is 100 km from Bengaluru, becoming the Nation's first-ever Lithium reserves so far confirmed at 1,600 tonnes.[33]
Gold, iron ore, quartz, limestone, manganese,kyanite and bauxite are some of the minerals that are found in Karnataka.[34] After the closure of theKolar Gold Fields mine, the only company in India that produces gold by mining and extracting it from the ore isHutti Gold Mines Limited that has plants atHutti andChitradurga in Karnataka.[35] The major mines of manganese and iron ore are located atSandur inBellary district.[36] Visweswaraiah Iron and Steel Ltd. atBhadravathi and Jindal Vijayanagar Steel Ltd. atToranagallu are engaged in the production of iron and steel. Indian Aluminium Company Ltd. (Hindalco) has an aluminum plant near Belgaum.[37] Mysore Minerals Limited is in the mining and production of chromite industry inHassan district.[37] Rajashree Cements at Adityanagar, Vasavadatta Cements atSedam and The Associated Cement Company Ltd. atWadi are engaged in the production of cement.[37] Uranium deposits have been found in Deshnur, a small village near Belgaum.

Karnataka is the leader in the information technology sector in India and its capital, Bengaluru, is known as theSilicon Valley of India. In the IT sector, Karnataka generated a total revenue of₹ 516.5 billion in the financial year 2006–07 which included₹ 487 billion from software exports and₹ 29.5 billion from hardware exports.[38] A total of 1973 companies in the state are involved in Information Technology-related business.[38] While the bulk of the IT related companies are located in Bengaluru, some companies are located in Mysore and Mangalore as well. Bengaluru is also the headquarters ofWipro andInfosys which are among the top three IT companies in India in regards tomarket capitalization.[39] TheNandi Hills area inDevanahalli outskirts is the site of the upcoming $22 Billion, 50 square kilometreBIAL IT Investment Region, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the history of Karnataka.[40]
As of June 2006, Karnataka housed 55% ofbiotechnology related companies in India.[41] Bengaluru is also the home of the largest biocluster in India with total revenues of₹ 14 billion and having 158 of the 320 companies working on biotechnology in India.[41] Karnataka has a headcount of over 6,800 scientists involved in biotech research and out of twenty eight biotech companies that were registered in India in the year 2005–06, 27 were located in Karnataka.[41]
Karnataka, particularly the coastal districts ofDakshina Kannada andUdupi, is sometimes called the "cradle of banking" inIndia.[42] This is because seven of the country's leading banks,Canara Bank,Syndicate Bank,Corporation Bank,Vijaya Bank,Karnataka Bank,Vysya Bank and theState Bank of Mysore originated in this state.[42] The first five in the above list of banks were established in the districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. These districts have among the best distribution of banks in India—a branch for every 500 persons.[43] Between 1880 and 1935, twenty two banks were established in coastal Karnataka, nine of them in the city of Mangalore.
As of March 2009, Karnataka had 5,759 branches of different banks servicing the people of the state.[44] The number of people served by each branch was 10,000 which was lesser than the national average of 15,000, thereby indicating better penetration of banking in the state.[44]
The state is well connected to its six neighboring states and other parts of India through 14 National Highways (NH); it accounts for about six percent of the total NH network in India.
Its district centers are linked through 114 State Highways (SH)
The total road network of NH, SH, and district roads is about 2,07,379 km, of which 1,27,541 km is surfaced (61.5 percent)
Road Type Road length (km)
National highways: 4,396
State highways: 28,311
District roads: 19,801
New Mangalore Port(2010–11).
Total traffic handled: 67.30 MTA.
Total imports handled: 23.6 MTA.
Total exports handled: 32.9 MTA.
Number of vessels: 1,186
Cruise vessels: 26
Revenue: US$65 million
Karwar Port (2007–08)
Total cargo handled: 2.7 MTA
Total imports and exports: 6 MTA
Revenue: US$2.7 million
25 Private liquid cargo tanks: 75,000 MT


Karnataka has a railway network of 3,836 km.[45]South Western Railway covers almost the whole of Karnataka and its headquarter is inHubballi.
SSS Hubballi Junction's Platform 1 holds the guinness world record for being the longest railway platform.[46]
South Western Railway is divided into three divisions:
There are two Railway Heritage Museums in Karnataka:
Urban transport
Metro rail and suburban-rail projects are underway in Bengaluru. The first phase of the Namma Metro is complete and covers a total of 76.95 km. Second phase is under construction.
Hassan–Sakhleshpura–Mangalore line gauge conversion is completed. Both freight and passenger trains run on this route on a daily basis connecting the seaport city of Mangaluru to the state capital of Bengaluru and Mysuru.
Key connectivity projects, doubling of Mysore–Bengaluru railway line, Gadag–Bagalkot, Bengaluru–Hassan to be taken up in the near future.
Generation:Karnataka Power Corporation Limited and IPPs (GMR/Jindal/ Bhoruka)
KPCL has an installed capacity of over 9315 MW.
Number of consumers: 16.3 million
Independent power producers have installed capacity of 2,005 MW.
Transmission: Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL).
Area covered: 192,000 km2
Sub stations: 1,205
Transmission lines: 28,000 km, 33 kV, 130,000 km of 11 kV.
LT lines: 451855 km
Distribution transformers: 1,50,000
Physical infrastructure – power
Distribution / supply: Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs)
Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM)
Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM)
Hubli Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM)
Gulbarga Electric Supply Company (GESCOM)
Chamundeshwari Electric Supply Corporation (CESC)
Source: Power sector at a glance as in July 2009‖, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited website, accessed 23 September 2009.
Leading telecom companies in the sectors of telecommunication network, basic telephony services (both wire line and wireless) and networking services for telecommunication equipment are operating in the state.
The entire State is networked via Optic FibreCables (OFC) by the state-runBSNL (formerly DOT) as well as private companies like Bharti, Reliance,Tata Communications andTata Teleservices.
Last Mile Access is provided by BSNL as well as TATA Tele Services in various parts of the state. Bharti and Reliance Communications provide the Last Mile Access directly to the customer in all major cities in Karnataka.
Telecom service providers in Karnataka:BSNL,Bharti Airtel,Reliance Jio,Vodafone Idea
Key statistics (2007–08)
Cellular subscribers: about 10 million
Internet/broadband
Subscribers: about 0.8 million
Telecom towers: about 14,000
Post offices: 9,826
Telephone connections provided: 2,610
Telephone exchanges: 2,727
Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) and Karnataka State Industrial Investment Development Corporation (KSIIDC) are jointly responsible for the development of industrial infrastructure in the state.
Directorate of Commerce and Industries has set up a district andtaluk industrial centres across the state to facilitate investment
The Government of Karnataka is promoting the development of several SEZs across Karnataka such as pharma and biotech SEZ, food processing and agro-based industries and textiles SEZ at Hassan and IT and Coastal SEZs at Mangalore.
Key industrial clusters
IT/ITES cluster in electronic city and Whitefield (Bengaluru).
Food Parks – 4 old State sponsored and 2 new MoFPI sponsored Food Parks in 6 Districts of Karnataka
Biotech park/cluster in electronic city, Bengaluru.
Integrated Food Parks in Hiriyur, Bagalkote, Jewargi & Malur for pay-n-use common facilities & MSME Food Processing Manufacturers
Machine tool cluster at Peenyaindustrial estate
Textile cluster at Doddaballapur
Foundry cluster at Belgaum
Industrial valve cluster at Hubli–Dharwad
Coir clusters at Hassan.
Handicrafts cluster at Channapatna.
Coffee production and processing cluster in Madekeri
SEZs in Karnataka
Notified: 27
Formal approvals: 52
In-principle approvals: 9
Source: StatewiseSEZs in India, www.sezindia.nic.in. accessed 23 September 2009
The water supply is provided by the local authorities like municipalities andpanchayats. The first hydroelectric plant in the state was built atShivanasamudra Falls on theKaveri River in 1902.[47]
Karnataka has an installed capacity of 27 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, of which 12 GW comes from renewable energy sources.[48] The state is India's top producer of solar energy, with an installed capacity of 5.16 GW.[49][50]
Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) is the sole provider of electricity for the state. The Linganamakki reservoir will supply around 35 percent of power to the state. Electric power from KPTCL is distributed through distribution companies like Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM), Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company (GESCOM), Hubli Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM) and Chamundesvary Electricity Supply Company (CESCOM) for different parts of the state. A good number ofwindmills were present. TheRaichur Thermal Power Station andBellary Thermal Power station Near Bellary (Kuduthini). Karnataka is also the location of companies likeSELCO (India), which is promoting the use ofsolar electricity among the rural areas of the state and is also a twice winner of theAshden Awards.
| year | GSDP[51] | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| in ₹ Crore | in US$ Billion | ||
| 2011-12 | ₹6,06,010 crore | US$71 billion | — |
| 2012-13 | ₹6,95,413 crore | US$81 billion | |
| 2013-14 | ₹8,16,666 crore | US$96 billion | |
| 2014-15 | ₹9,13,923 crore | US$110 billion | |
| 2015-16 | ₹10,45,168 crore | US$120 billion | |
| 2016-17 | ₹12,07,608 crore | US$140 billion | |
| 2017-18 | ₹13,33,240 crore | US$160 billion | |
| 2018-19 | ₹14,79,391 crore | US$170 billion | |
| 2019-20 | ₹16,11,134 crore | US$190 billion | |
| 2020-21 | ₹16,25,073 crore | US$190 billion | |
| 2021-22 | ₹19,62,725 crore | US$230 billion | |
| 2022-23 | ₹22,41,368 crore | US$260 billion | |
| 2023-24[52] | ₹25,00,733 crore | US$290 billion | |
| 2024-25 | ₹28,00,000 crore | US$330 billion | |
| District | Agriculture | Industry | Services | GDDP | PCI | # | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in ₹ Crore | US$ Billion | in ₹ | US$ | |||||
| Bengaluru Urban | ₹998,659 crore | US$120 billion | ₹7,38,910 | US$8,700 | ||||
| Dakshina Kannada | ₹137,746 crore | US$16 billion | ₹5,56,059 | US$6,600 | ||||
| Udupi | ₹67,503 crore | US$8.0 billion | ₹5,33,469 | US$6,300 | ||||
| Chikkamagaluru | ₹54,494 crore | US$6.4 billion | ₹4,44,472 | US$5,300 | ||||
| Bengaluru Rural | ₹49,082 crore | US$5.8 billion | ₹4,04,138 | US$4,800 | ||||
| Shivamogga | ₹70,363 crore | US$8.3 billion | ₹3,49,177 | US$4,100 | ||||
| Mandya | ₹60,466 crore | US$7.2 billion | ₹3,06,448 | US$3,600 | ||||
| Tumakuru | ₹92,157 crore | US$11 billion | ₹3,02,707 | US$3,600 | ||||
| Kodagu | ₹18,134 crore | US$2.1 billion | ₹2,94,898 | US$3,500 | ||||
| Hasana | ₹58,114 crore | US$6.9 billion | ₹2,94,272 | US$3,500 | ||||
| Ballari | ₹53,801 crore | US$6.4 billion | ₹2,93,985 | US$3,500 | ||||
| Bengaluru South | ₹38,393 crore | US$4.5 billion | ₹2,77,619 | US$3,300 | ||||
| Uttara Kannada | ₹44,127 crore | US$5.2 billion | ₹2,66,619 | US$3,200 | ||||
| Dharawada | ₹59,768 crore | US$7.1 billion | ₹2,61,563 | US$3,100 | ||||
| Chamarajanagara | ₹30,437 crore | US$3.6 billion | ₹2,59,387 | US$3,100 | ||||
| Bagalakote | ₹58,793 crore | US$7.0 billion | ₹2,49,478 | US$3,000 | ||||
| Mysuru | ₹88,717 crore | US$10 billion | ₹2,39,296 | US$2,800 | ||||
| Chikkaballapura | ₹34,856 crore | US$4.1 billion | ₹2,31,154 | US$2,700 | ||||
| Kolar | ₹40,526 crore | US$4.3 billion | ₹2,15,255 | US$2,500 | ||||
| Davanagere | ₹41,735 crore | US$4.9 billion | ₹2,09,655 | US$2,500 | ||||
| Chitradurga | ₹40,102 crore | US$4.7 billion | ₹1,98,950 | US$2,400 | ||||
| Gadaga | ₹24,998 crore | US$3.0 billion | ₹1,94,453 | US$2,300 | ||||
| Haveri | ₹35,981 crore | US$4.3 billion | ₹1,84,111 | US$2,200 | ||||
| Raichur | ₹41,898 crore | US$5.0 billion | ₹1,66,371 | US$2,000 | ||||
| Vijayanagara | ₹32,118 crore | US$3.8 billion | ₹1,65,546 | US$2,000 | ||||
| Vijayapura | ₹47,723 crore | US$5.6 billion | ₹1,63,431 | US$1,900 | ||||
| Bidar | ₹35,264 crore | US$4.2 billion | ₹1,63,298 | US$1,900 | ||||
| Belagavi | ₹99,067 crore | US$12 billion | ₹1,62,987 | US$1,900 | ||||
| Koppal | ₹29,378 crore | US$3.5 billion | ₹1,61,491 | US$1,900 | ||||
| Yadagiri | ₹23,501 crore | US$2.8 billion | ₹1,46,364 | US$1,700 | ||||
| Kalaburagi | ₹49,339 crore | US$5.8 billion | ₹1,43,610 | US$1,700 | ||||