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INDIA IS ONE of the world’s largest economies, and it has the second largest population.
This means things in India tend to be fairly large-scaled — consider its network of roads, consumer spending, or its youth population. But it also experiences some problems on a large scale like suicides and road accidents.
We pulled together some staggering statistics from the sub-continent that you probably didn’t already know. If you did, well done smarty-pants.
India’s road network totals 4.7 million kilometres and is the second largest in the world. Earth has a circumference of 40,075 kilometres.
The World Health Organization found that New Delhi’s PM 2.5 — particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or less and that is dangerous for lungs — mean was 152 micrograms per cubic metre. This was nearly three times that of Beijing which has an annual mean of 59.
While Cherrapunji, India, likes to advertise itself as the wettest place in the world, it is argued that a neighbouring town, Mawsynram, could in fact top it. On average, Mawsynram gets about 467.35 inches of rain per year, while Cherrapunji gets up 463.66 inches. Hawaii’s Mount Waialeale receives about 450 inches of rain each year.
India saw 138,258 people die in road collisions in 2012. But in terms of the number of deaths per 100,000, India’s road death rate equalled 18.9 for every 100,00 people, only slightly higher than the global average of 18.
By 2020, the median age in India will be 29. The population in the 15-34 age group is expected to rise from 430 million in 2011 to 464 million in 2021.
India consumed about 1.2 billion litres of whiskey in 2012. While India is the world’s largest whiskey market by volume, on a per capita basis, France takes the top spot.
Hindus donate their hair in temples as a spiritual offering, especially those who can’t afford to donate money or jewellery. About 40,000 pilgrims are believed to donate their hair every day.
Mukesh Ambani is India’s richest man and is worth $24.2 billion. Ukraine has a nominal GDP of $176.2 billion, according to the IMF.
Overuse and changing rainfall patterns have led to massive land degradation in India. Some 81 million hectares of land in the country face “desertification.” This has raised concerns about food security.
There were 44.9 million dairy cows in India in 2011 and about 260 dairy million cows in the world. Of the world’s dairy cows, 17.2% reside in India.
In 2012, 135,445 people died by suicide in India, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Suicide rates were the highest in Puducherry at 36.8 for every 100,000 people. Student suicides are a huge problem as well.
India saw 13 reporters killed in 2013, according to the International News Safety Institute (INSI). Syria and Iraq, both countries dealing with armed conflict, had the highest number of deaths, followed by the Philippines.
Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s home, Antilla, cost $1 billion to construct, making it the most expensive home in the world. Somalia has a GDP of $1.3 billion.
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Its actually an Irish person they get to talk to when they ring a call service center…….
I never want to go there ever. Only country in world i can say that about… Maybe iraq.
Iraq is a beautiful country. I spent some time in the Middle East with work, it’s such a pity most people will never go as a result of the conflict. Extremely friendly people and rich in culture.
I’d agree with you about India though.
Based on past events how does it rate in terms of women being raped…on a per capita basis?
Not as bad as the US
He is actualy right. Even adjusted for non reported rape the US runs about 40% higher per 100,000.
I was about to lay into him as being a US hater myself.
That is depressing.
Wow that IS depressing.
I wonder if the rape is defined differently in the 2 countries? (E.g. In India rape might mean violent rape and in U any form of non-consensual sex?)
Just guessing here mind.
“Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s home, Antilla, cost $1 billion to construct.”……..
…Looks like he got the plans from Liberty Hall…
India, Road length = 4,689,842, Motorway length = 1,208
Ireland, Road length = 96,036, Motorway length = 1,224
Jesus! Hard to believe we’ve more motorway than them.
It’s a fascinating country, full of contrasts and the Indian people are very friendly unlike those in the neighbouring countries. Where at some of the more civilised Irish weddings there will be perhaps a bottle of red and white wine Indians will have several bottles of whiskey and boy can they knock it back :-) I went to one Indian home at 6AM on Christmas morning and was handed a full cup of whiskey and told to get it down me as “it is your festival, please drink to celebrate and have a happy day” I obviously survived.
There is an enormous difference between the have and have-nots but India has become very prosperous in recent years as they work very hard and take great pride in educating their children and we could learn a thing or two about family cohesion from them. Of course it’s not Utopia but it’s not the ‘dump’ that some would have you believe.
You forgot to mention how inclusive a society they are….oh I forgot that little thing they operate called the Caste system.
I cannot agree with you more and I’m glad that you had a great time in India.
Do you always have to snot and fart Norman?
“There is an enormous difference between the have and have-nots”
“Of course it’s not Utopia “
Have and have not? Interesting why to gloss over a class system designed to keep people in their place.
Interesting writing style becoming very familiar.
Thank you Jay, I was in India a good few years ago and enjoyed the experience ,warts and all :-) A month in Calcutta, 2 weeks Madras, 2 weeks Bombay [all names in old money :-) ] I of course love the food and learned how to cook it properly and when I did various dishes for almost 100 people on a charity night the highlight was when an Indian doctor asked who the Indian chef was only to see me in my best piny :-)
Haha cool story man, I’m from Rajasthan anyway..
Well said Fognostical and Jason. It is a Fantastic country in so many ways. I have lived there, on and off, for over 8 yrs and find it wonderfully fulfilling. However, my huge bugbear with it, as with Ireland, is how it is governed by the incompetent greedy self-serving politicians. Very sad.
Indian cuisine is directly responsible for over 68% of all liquid bowel movements in the western world.
Dump
How on earth did that building cost 1 billion? Gold leaf bog roll and champagne on tap no doubt!
Rape capital of the world?
The rape capital of the world is the US, in fact every large city in the US has a higher incidence of rape than Deli.
Them Indians killed General Custer
Shsss!! t’was an accident
India looked to Ireland when drawing up their Constitution after gaining Independence.
The most underrated fact !
Not one mention of cricket…..
I do love a nice Lamb Jalfrezi
Wonder if they need a handsome leader….
India is a sub-continent with huge variations in the in the haves and have nots, the caste system survives in the more remote and rural areas but not so much in the large cities. It is like referring to Europe as if it were a single country. Some of the most gifted mathematicians in the world are Indian. One would need to go there to grasp the vastness of the place, certainly worth a visit. To generalise based on stereotypes is utterly pointless.
Damn. I thought rain and whiskey drinking was our thing.
There is no mention of cast system one of the most discriminative nation on earth and some worship cows over there but ‘the cows’ over here not worthy to worship!!
To add to my previous comment the caste system has no legal basis in India and is actually banned by its constitution,however like other quasi religious beliefs is still practiced in certain regions.
It has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in the world (WSJ October 2013), no wonder its about to have a population explosion.
dots not feathers.
Indians have the highest IQ in the world.
And some brilliant Mathematicians.
I’m quite sure that Ashkenazi Jews have the highest IQ’s in the world.
Hard for anyone with intelligence not to hate the most evil and corrupt nation on earth. Some great people, like anywhere, but a true force for evil and suffering – the mordor of our times.
The article is about India not North Korea or some other ludicrous shite box.
They recently cancelled plans to erect that life size statue of Gade Goody!
The barber in that pic looks like he just spotted a spider in that guys hair……
Goosey Goosey was the first name of the founder of the independent nation.
Ah hell . I red thumbed myself for that. ‘Bad Paddy’.
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