A complete history of inflation in India since the 1960s
This article provides a reference list of inflation in India every year since 1960.
A complete history of inflation in India since the 1960s
Posted on 12 Dec 2023
Author: Sayan Sircar
Tags: 
News
8 mins read
News
📢Join 4,200+ readers on WhatsApp and get new post notifications!
This article provides a reference list of inflation in India every year since 1960.
Disclaimer: We have assumed 2023 inflation to be 7.00% as per interim RBI data. The final figure will be known in early 2024. Inflation data is from worlddata.info website.
📚 Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Decade-wise inflation in India
- How to choose assets that beat inflation?
- Historical inflation data
Introduction
Inflation is one of the axioms of personal finance and enjoys the same permanence as death and taxes.
Investors who are looking for safety in debt as an asset class would have a perpetual worry as to whether debt products beat inflation or not. Given the downtrend in interest rates in the last decade, anyone dependent on debt as an asset class, pensioners, and general investors allocating a part of their portfolio to debt products have a cause for concern. On the other hand, investors with an equity-heavy portfolio should have fared better vs inflation over time.
Chart: Arthgyaan • Source: RBI • Get the data
Falling interest rates have led to two effects on portfolio valuation and income. First, long-duration bonds have risen in price over this period while interest income from fixed deposits, small saving schemes (like provident fund, NSC) and annuities have gradually come down. Similarly, falling rates positively impact equity valuation since the cost of capital reduces.
👉 Join our free WhatsApp community for the latest updates.
Decade-wise inflation in India
In this decade, we are currently in a period of record-low inflation.
| Decade | Average inflation |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.17% |
| 1970s | 7.79% |
| 1980s | 8.95% |
| 1990s | 9.00% |
| 2000s | 6.29% |
| 2010s | 6.23% |
| 2020s | 5.91% |
Start Building Wealth with Expertly Curated Mutual Fund Packages
- 🔹 Retirement Packages — Start with just ₹52,377/month
- 🔹 FIRE Packages — Achieve Financial Freedom from ₹86,277/month
- 🔹 College Fund Packages — Secure Education from just ₹10,554/month
How to choose assets that beat inflation?
Choosing the right assets to invest so that you can beat inflation is possible and is discussed here: Inflation: the impact on your goals and how to choose assets that beat it
Historical inflation data
Inflation in the 2020s
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5.13% |
| 2022 | 6.70% |
| 2023 | 7.00% |
Note: We have assumed 2023 inflation to be 7.00% as per interim RBI data. The final figure will be known in early 2024.
Inflation in the 2010s
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 8.91% |
| 2012 | 9.48% |
| 2013 | 10.02% |
| 2014 | 6.67% |
| 2015 | 4.91% |
| 2016 | 4.95% |
| 2017 | 3.33% |
| 2018 | 3.94% |
| 2019 | 3.73% |
| 2020 | 6.62% |
Inflation in the 2000s
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3.78% |
| 2002 | 4.30% |
| 2003 | 3.81% |
| 2004 | 3.77% |
| 2005 | 4.25% |
| 2006 | 5.80% |
| 2007 | 6.37% |
| 2008 | 8.35% |
| 2009 | 10.88% |
| 2010 | 11.99% |
Inflation in the 1990s
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 13.87% |
| 1992 | 11.79% |
| 1993 | 6.33% |
| 1994 | 10.25% |
| 1995 | 10.22% |
| 1996 | 8.98% |
| 1997 | 7.16% |
| 1998 | 13.23% |
| 1999 | 4.67% |
| 2000 | 4.01% |
Inflation in the 1980s
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 13.11% |
| 1982 | 7.89% |
| 1983 | 11.87% |
| 1984 | 8.32% |
| 1985 | 5.56% |
| 1986 | 8.73% |
| 1987 | 8.80% |
| 1988 | 9.38% |
| 1989 | 7.07% |
| 1990 | 8.97% |
Inflation in the 1970s
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 1971 | 3.08% |
| 1972 | 6.44% |
| 1973 | 16.94% |
| 1974 | 28.60% |
| 1975 | 5.75% |
| 1976 | -7.63% |
| 1977 | 8.31% |
| 1978 | 2.52% |
| 1979 | 6.28% |
| 1980 | 11.35% |
Inflation in the 1960s
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.68% |
| 1961 | 1.70% |
| 1962 | 3.63% |
| 1963 | 2.95% |
| 1964 | 13.36% |
| 1965 | 9.47% |
| 1966 | 10.80% |
| 1967 | 13.06% |
| 1968 | 3.24% |
| 1969 | -0.58% |
| 1970 | 5.09% |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the inflation in India in the 1960s?
The average inflation in India in the 1960s was 6.17%.
What was the inflation in India in the 1970s?
The average inflation in India in the 1970s was 7.79%.
What was the inflation in India in the 1980s?
The average inflation in India in the 1980s was 8.95%.
What was the inflation in India in the 1990s?
The average inflation in India in the 1990s was 9.00%.
What was the inflation in India in the 2000s?
The average inflation in India in the 2000s was 6.29%.
What was the inflation in India in the 2010s?
The average inflation in India in the 2010s was 6.23%.
What was the inflation in India in the 2020s?
The average inflation in India in the 2020s is 6.27%.
What was the inflation in India in 1960?
The inflation in India in 1960 was 1.78%.
What was the inflation in India in 1961?
The inflation in India in 1961 was 1.70%.
What was the inflation in India in 1962?
The inflation in India in 1962 was 3.63%.
What was the inflation in India in 1963?
The inflation in India in 1963 was 2.95%.
What was the inflation in India in 1964?
The inflation in India in 1964 was 13.36%.
What was the inflation in India in 1965?
The inflation in India in 1965 was 9.47%.
What was the inflation in India in 1966?
The inflation in India in 1966 was 10.80%.
What was the inflation in India in 1967?
The inflation in India in 1967 was 13.06%.
What was the inflation in India in 1968?
The inflation in India in 1968 was 3.24%.
What was the inflation in India in 1969?
The inflation in India in 1969 was -0.58%.
What was the inflation in India in 1970?
The inflation in India in 1970 was 5.09%.
What was the inflation in India in 1971?
The inflation in India in 1971 was 3.08%.
What was the inflation in India in 1972?
The inflation in India in 1972 was 6.44%.
What was the inflation in India in 1973?
The inflation in India in 1973 was 16.94%.
What was the inflation in India in 1974?
The inflation in India in 1974 was 28.60%.
What was the inflation in India in 1975?
The inflation in India in 1975 was 5.75%.
What was the inflation in India in 1976?
The inflation in India in 1976 was -7.63%.
What was the inflation in India in 1977?
The inflation in India in 1977 was 8.31%.
What was the inflation in India in 1978?
The inflation in India in 1978 was 2.52%.
What was the inflation in India in 1979?
The inflation in India in 1979 was 6.28%.
What was the inflation in India in 1980?
The inflation in India in 1980 was 11.35%.
What was the inflation in India in 1981?
The inflation in India in 1981 was 13.11%.
What was the inflation in India in 1982?
The inflation in India in 1982 was 7.89%.
What was the inflation in India in 1983?
The inflation in India in 1983 was 11.87%.
What was the inflation in India in 1984?
The inflation in India in 1984 was 8.32%.
What was the inflation in India in 1985?
The inflation in India in 1985 was 5.56%.
What was the inflation in India in 1986?
The inflation in India in 1986 was 8.73%.
What was the inflation in India in 1987?
The inflation in India in 1987 was 8.80%.
What was the inflation in India in 1988?
The inflation in India in 1988 was 9.38%.
What was the inflation in India in 1989?
The inflation in India in 1989 was 7.07%.
What was the inflation in India in 1990?
The inflation in India in 1990 was 8.97%.
What was the inflation in India in 1991?
The inflation in India in 1991 was 13.87%.
What was the inflation in India in 1992?
The inflation in India in 1992 was 11.79%.
What was the inflation in India in 1993?
The inflation in India in 1993 was 6.33%.
What was the inflation in India in 1994?
The inflation in India in 1994 was 10.25%.
What was the inflation in India in 1995?
The inflation in India in 1995 was 10.22%.
What was the inflation in India in 1996?
The inflation in India in 1996 was 8.98%.
What was the inflation in India in 1997?
The inflation in India in 1997 was 7.16%.
What was the inflation in India in 1998?
The inflation in India in 1998 was 13.23%.
What was the inflation in India in 1999?
The inflation in India in 1999 was 4.67%.
What was the inflation in India in 2000?
The inflation in India in 2000 was 4.01%.
What was the inflation in India in 2001?
The inflation in India in 2001 was 3.78%.
What was the inflation in India in 2002?
The inflation in India in 2002 was 4.30%.
What was the inflation in India in 2003?
The inflation in India in 2003 was 3.81%.
What was the inflation in India in 2004?
The inflation in India in 2004 was 3.77%.
What was the inflation in India in 2005?
The inflation in India in 2005 was 4.25%.
What was the inflation in India in 2006?
The inflation in India in 2006 was 5.80%.
What was the inflation in India in 2007?
The inflation in India in 2007 was 6.37%.
What was the inflation in India in 2008?
The inflation in India in 2008 was 8.35%.
What was the inflation in India in 2009?
The inflation in India in 2009 was 10.88%.
What was the inflation in India in 2010?
The inflation in India in 2010 was 11.99%.
What was the inflation in India in 2011?
The inflation in India in 2011 was 8.91%.
What was the inflation in India in 2012?
The inflation in India in 2012 was 9.48%.
What was the inflation in India in 2013?
The inflation in India in 2013 was 10.02%.
What was the inflation in India in 2014?
The inflation in India in 2014 was 6.67%.
What was the inflation in India in 2015?
The inflation in India in 2015 was 4.91%.
What was the inflation in India in 2016?
The inflation in India in 2016 was 4.95%.
What was the inflation in India in 2017?
The inflation in India in 2017 was 3.33%.
What was the inflation in India in 2018?
The inflation in India in 2018 was 3.94%.
What was the inflation in India in 2019?
The inflation in India in 2019 was 3.73%.
What was the inflation in India in 2020?
The inflation in India in 2020 was 6.62%.
What was the inflation in India in 2021?
The inflation in India in 2021 was 5.13%.
What was the inflation in India in 2022?
The inflation in India in 2022 was 6.70%.
What was the inflation in India in 2023?
The inflation in India in 2023 was 7.00%.
Related Articles
- Inflation: the impact on your goals and how to choose assets that beat it
- Can debt funds beat inflation?
- You cannot beat inflation even with equity mutual funds: here's why
What's next? You can join the Arthgyaan WhatsApp community
You can stay updated on our latest content and learn about our webinars. Our community is fully private so that no one, other than the admin, can see your name or number. Also, we will not spam you.For resident Indians 🇮🇳:
For NRIs 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇪🇺🇦🇺🇦🇪🇸🇬: To understand how this article can help you:
If you have a comment or question about this article
The following button will open a form with the link of this page populated for context:If you liked this article, please leave us a rating
The following button will take you to Trustpilot:Check out our two calculators: Arthgyaan step-up SIP calculator
Arthgyaan step-up SWP calculator
Latest articles:
Topics you will like:
Asset Allocation (19) Basics (8) Behaviour (20) Budget (24) Budgeting (12) Calculator (36) Case Study (7) Children (22) Choosing Investments (40) FAQ (20) FIRE (19) Fixed Deposit (10) Free Planning Tool (16) Gold (29) Health Insurance (8) House Purchase (43) Index Funds (6) Insurance (20) International Investing (16) Life Stages (2) Loans (27) Market Data (10) Market Movements (28) Mutual Funds (88) NPS (17) NRI (44) News (38) Pension (11) Portfolio Construction (61) Portfolio Review (32) Reader Questions (9) Real Estate (16) Research (6) Retirement (44) Return to India (8) Review (27) Risk (8) Safe Withdrawal Rate (6) Screener (8) Senior Citizens (6) Set Goals (29) Step by step (15) Stock Investing (5) Tax (107)Next steps:
1. Email me with any questions.
2. Use our goal-based investing template to prepare a financial plan for yourself.Don't forget to share this article on WhatsApp or Twitter or post this to Facebook.
Discuss this post with us via Facebook or get regular bite-sized updates on Twitter.
More posts...Disclaimer: Content on this site is for educational purpose only and is not financial advice. Nothing on this site should be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy/sell any financial product or service. Please consult a registered investment advisor before making any investments.
This post titled A complete history of inflation in India since the 1960s first appeared on 12 Dec 2023 at https://arthgyaan.com
We are currently at 564 posts and growing fast. Search this site: Copyright © 2021-2025 Arthgyaan.com. All rights reserved.