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India projected to have biggest middle class in the world

June 26, 2013 08:17 IST
People walk past the Printemps department store in Paris.


Hundreds of millions of people around the world are escaping poverty and becoming middle class, according to BBC.

The explosion of new consumers in China, India and other economic powerhouses is changing the global balance of power. India is projected to have the single biggest middle class population in the world by 2030, it says.

Let’s take a look at the growth of the middle class in India and around the world.

Source: BBC

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India projected to have biggest middle class in the world

June 26, 2013 08:17 IST
A shop assistant removes snow from Russian traditional hats, also known as Ushanka hats, near Red Square during heavy snowfall in central Moscow.

The criteria

Who's in the middle class? Anybody who earns between $10 to $100 per day

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India projected to have biggest middle class in the world

June 26, 2013 08:17 IST
People shop at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The global growth

Strength of the middle class in 2009: 1.8 billion

Strength of the middle class in 2020: 3.2 billion

Strength of the middle class in 2030: 4.9 billion

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India projected to have biggest middle class in the world

June 26, 2013 08:17 IST
Diners eat at the Rock and Sole Plaice restaurant in central London.

Regional strength

Strength of the middle class in Asia (2030): 3.2 billion

Strength of the middle class in Europe (2030): 680 million

Strength of the middle class in North America (2030): 320 million

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India projected to have biggest middle class in the world

June 26, 2013 08:17 IST
A shopkeeper shows gold bangles to a customer at a jewellery shop in Mumbai.

India's growth

Strength of the middle class in India (2020): 200 million

Strength of the middle class in India (2030): 475 million

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India projected to have biggest middle class in the world

June 26, 2013 08:17 IST
The owner of a Kirana, or mom-and-pop grocery store, accepts money from a customer in Mumbai.

India's presence

Tourism sector in 2013: Indian airports are projected to see 150 million travellers

Tourism sector in 2020: Indian airports are projected to see 450 million travellers

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India projected to have biggest middle class in the world

June 26, 2013 08:17 IST
A woman looks at shoes in a market in central Beijing.

Chinese presence

Automobile sector: It's the biggest car market in the world

Tourism sector: It's the biggest source of tourism in the world

Internet shopping: It's the biggest online consumer in the world

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India projected to have biggest middle class in the world

June 26, 2013 08:17 IST
A view of the Lotte Department Store in Tianjin, China.

Chinese market

Automobile sector in 2013: 2,500 vehicles are sold every hour in China