Archive · 10 Sep 2026
NSO Finds Informal Economy Concentrated in Few Indian Districts
The National Statistical Office studied small businesses that are not formally registered under laws such as the Companies Act.
It released district-level estimates for the first time.
The survey covered 757 of India’s 770 districts and examined manufacturing, trade and services outside farming.
North Twenty-Four Parganas had the most establishments, with around 16 lakh.
Prayagraj had more than 6 lakh establishments.
A small group of districts produces a large share of the sector’s businesses, workers and economic value.
Women are especially important to these businesses in several northeastern and Telangana districts.
The information may help governments focus support on districts with many businesses or lower productivity.
The top 50 districts account for nearly one-third of India’s unincorporated establishments, workers and GVA.
The top 10 districts represent about one-tenth of the sector’s establishments, workforce and GVA.
North Twenty-Four Parganas leads with around 16 lakh establishments, while Prayagraj has more than 6 lakh.
The estimates cover 757 of India’s 770 districts and combine rural and urban areas.
Women make up at least one-third of the unincorporated-sector workforce in 237 districts, and more than half in 25 districts.
- Who
- The National Statistical Office, using data from the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises, released the estimates.
- What
- The NSO published the first district-level estimates of unincorporated non-agricultural establishments, workers, ownership and economic performance.
- When
- The estimates were published on September 10, 2026.
- Where
- They cover 757 of India’s 770 districts, with rural and urban areas combined; some difficult-to-access villages in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were excluded.
- Why
- The estimates provide a more detailed picture of the sector and could help target government interventions toward highly concentrated or lower-productivity districts.
- Survey
- Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises 2025
- Districts covered
- 757 of 770 districts
- Leading district
- North Twenty-Four Parganas, West Bengal, with around 16 lakh establishments
- Top-10 concentration
- About one-tenth of establishments, workers and GVA
- Top-50 concentration
- Nearly one-third of establishments, workers and GVA
- Productivity
- GVA per worker exceeds the all-India average of ₹1,56,539 in 280 districts
- Women’s workforce participation
- Women account for at least one-third of the workforce in 237 districts and more than half in 25 districts
