India is set to transition into an upper-middle-income country by 2030, joining the ranks of China and Indonesia, and is expected to become the world’s third-largest economy as early as 2028, according to an SBI Research report.
The World Bank classifies countries based on per capita GNI, and India’s journey reflects a steady climb up the income ladder. Since Independence, India took 60 years to move from a low-income to a lower-middle-income country in 2007, with per capita GNI rising from $90 in 1962 to $910 in 2007. Economic milestones followed rapidly: India reached $1 trillion GDP in 2007, $2 trillion in 2014, $3 trillion in 2021, $4 trillion in 2025, and is projected to reach $5 trillion by 2027–28.
Per capita income has also surged—$1,000 in 2009, $2,000 in 2019, $3,000 in 2026, and a projected $4,000 by 2030, enabling the upper-middle-income classification. India’s growth has consistently outperformed global averages, placing it in the upper tail of worldwide GDP growth rankings.
Looking ahead, achieving high-income status by 2047 would require sustained reforms and a CAGR of 7.5–8.9% in per capita GNI, depending on future thresholds. Nominal GDP growth in dollar terms of around 11–11.5% appears feasible, reflecting India’s pre-pandemic performance.
SBI Research also notes that India is likely to surpass Germany to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028, with projections of $5 trillion GDP by 2027–28 and $10 trillion by 2035–36. Sustained reforms and continued economic growth are key to realizing these milestones.
