At $329 billion, Tamil Nadu about to overtake Pakistan's GDP

TOI City Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: May 15, 2025, 15:01 IST

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Over the past two decades, Pakistan's economic lead over Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra has diminished significantly. In 2004-05, Pakistan's GDP was $132 billion, while Tamil Nadu's GSDP was only $48 billion. By 2023-24, Tamil Nadu's GSDP has nearly equaled Pakistan's GDP, reaching $329 billion, highlighting a growing economic divergence.

At $329 billion, Tamil Nadu about to overtake Pakistan's GDP

Representative Image (AI)

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s economic position, once ahead of Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, appears to have narrowed significantly over the past two decades, with new data suggesting that Tamil Nadu’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is now nearly equal to Pakistan’s national GDP.

Back in 2004-05, Pakistan’s economy stood at $132 billion, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India and the World Bank. At the time, Tamil Nadu’s GSDP was just $48 billion—around 37% of Pakistan’s GDP. Maharashtra, India’s most industrialised state, was at $92 billion, or roughly 69% of Pakistan’s size.What the graph shows:

Time span covered
From around 2004-05 to 2023-24

GDP Comparison (in USD billions) of

Pakistan (Green Line)
Maharashtra (Red Line)
Tamil Nadu (Orange Line)

In 2004-05

Pakistan had a GDP of $132 billion.
Tamil Nadu was at $48 billion, about 37% of Pakistan’s GDP.
Maharashtra was at $92 billion, about 69% of Pakistan’s GDP.

In 2023-24

Pakistan’s GDP is shown at $338 billion.
Tamil Nadu's GSDP is $329 billion, almost equal to Pakistan’s.
Maharashtra's GSDP has surged ahead to $490 billion.

Fast forward to 2023-24, and the tables appear to have turned. Pakistan’s economy is estimated at $338 billion. Tamil Nadu, meanwhile, has grown rapidly, with its GSDP reaching $329 billion—virtually on par with Pakistan. Maharashtra has surged further ahead, touching $490 billion.As of now, Pakistan’s GDP stands at just 69% of Maharashtra’s, down from being nearly 1.5 times larger two decades ago. Tamil Nadu, once seen as economically trailing, is now firmly in contention with Pakistan’s overall economic size.

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