India: Facts and Figures

Cochin, April 4 — Tidbits I've picked up at lectures: • India’s population is 1.3 billion (vs. the U.S 323 mm)

• 400 million are illiterate

• By 2025, it is predicted the population will surpass China’s

• India is the world’s largest democracy

• Its current Prime Minister has ties to a fascist movement that is specifically anti-Muslim (c. 14% of the population are Muslim)

According to our current Viking Resident Historian, the biggest problems are:

• Birth rate — explosive

• Inequality

• Infrastructure

• Employment — even highly educated people cannot get jobs

• Poverty

• Health care

• Their neighbors

I spent part of today in Cochin, in the elected-Communist state of Kerala... which was a lot better than Chennai. And, at least in our guide’s opinion, Cochin’s overall condition is better than in other states. #