10 Least Developed Countries in Asia

9. India

HDI Ranking: 9

GDP Per Capita Ranking: 11

Average Ranking: 10

India is the biggest economy in South Asia. However, poverty is rampant in the country, with 55.4% of its population living below the poverty line. There is also a hygiene crisis in India, with widespread open defecation and waterborne diseases in the country.

In terms of economic development, India has made strides in the services sector, but the country lags far behind the more developed Asian countries like China in Manufacturing. 

Another major problem hampering development in the country is the size of its informal economy, which stands at a whopping 43% as of 2021.