Dakshina Kannada joins elite club of India’s top 10 richest districts, overtakes Mumbai and Ahmedabad

Dakshina Kannada joins elite club of India’s top 10 richest districts, overtakes Mumbai and Ahmedabad

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Aug 25, 2025: Dakshina Kannada has surprised many by breaking into the list of India’s top 10 richest districts, surpassing financial hubs like Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The Economic Survey 2024–25, released by the Union Ministry of Finance, ranked the coastal Karnataka district eighth with a per capita GDP of ₹6.69 lakh in FY 2024–25.

Dakshina Kannada’s Growth Model

The district’s rise is credited to a diverse, balanced economy powered by:

Port-led trade: New Mangalore Port drives large-scale commerce in petroleum, iron ore, fertilizers, and container cargo.

Education hub: Renowned medical, engineering, and management institutions attract students from across India and abroad, creating a knowledge-driven economy.

Banking legacy: Birthplace of Canara Bank, Corporation Bank, and Syndicate Bank, the district has a deep-rooted financial culture.

Agriculture & fisheries: Marine exports, cashew processing, and plantation crops like coffee and areca nut sustain rural prosperity.

Emerging IT & services: IT parks in Mangaluru and a skilled talent pool are steadily fueling the digital economy.

This mix has enabled Dakshina Kannada to become one of the few non-metro regions capable of competing with India’s biggest industrial and financial districts.

India’s Top 10 Richest Districts (2024–25)

Rangareddy, Telangana – ₹11.46 lakh (IT, pharma, tech parks)

Gurgaon, Haryana – ₹9.05 lakh (corporates, MNCs, real estate)

Bengaluru Urban, Karnataka – ₹8.93 lakh (IT exports, R&D)

Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida), UP – ₹8.48 lakh (IT, manufacturing, real estate)

Solan, Himachal Pradesh – ₹8.10 lakh (food processing, pharma)

North & South Goa – ₹7.63 lakh (tourism, hospitality)

Sikkim (Gangtok, Namchi, Mangan, Gyalshing) – ₹7.46 lakh (sustainable tourism, eco-growth)

Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka – ₹6.69 lakh (trade, education, banking, IT)

Mumbai, Maharashtra – ₹6.57 lakh (finance, services, corporate HQs)

Ahmedabad, Gujarat – ₹6.54 lakh (textiles, manufacturing, services)

The Bigger Picture

The survey highlights that prosperity is no longer confined to traditional metros. While Bengaluru, Gurgaon, and Noida thrive on IT and corporate services, districts like Solan, Goa, Sikkim, and Dakshina Kannada showcase the power of specialized industries, knowledge economies, and tourism.

For Dakshina Kannada, the milestone is more than an economic statistic—it is recognition of how a coastal district, leveraging its port, institutions, and entrepreneurial spirit, can match the might of India’s largest cities in shaping the nation’s growth story.