As per the 2011 Census, Punjab has a population of over 27.7 Mn, contributing about 2.3% of India's total population. The state has a literacy rate of approximately 75.84%.The male-female ratio in the state was also improved and is at 895 females per 1,000 males.

There has also been a consistent increase in the population in working groups, i.e., 15 to 64 years, which has grown to 73.5% in 2020 from 67.7% of the population in 2011.

Punjab has made steady progress in strengthening its healthcare infrastructure and outcomes. As per National Health Mission (NHM) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the state has an extensive public health network of DHs, CHCs, and PHCs ensuring last-mile service delivery.

As per National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), institutional deliveries stand at 97.9% and full immunisation at 83.6%, indicating strong MCH outcomes.

Punjab has expanded primary healthcare through 850+ Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs), providing free OPD, diagnostics, and medicines, strengthening preventive and accessible care.

Flagship schemes such as Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana support near-universal health coverage, alongside NHM-led interventions to bridge rural–urban gaps and expand digital health services.

Key indicators remain robust: IMR ~23, birth rate ~14.7, and life expectancy above the national average "

As per the Census 2011, Punjab’s literacy rate stands at 75.84%, above the national average of 72.99%. As per MoSPI – PLFS 2022–23, literacy in the state is estimated at ~82.6 %, indicating continued improvement.

Punjab has achieved near-universal enrolment at the elementary level, with Gross Enrollment Ratio at ~100% for primary and upper-primary, reflecting strong foundational education outcomes .

As per Department of School Education Punjab, the state has ~27,000+ schools, including primary, high, and senior secondary institutions. Vocational education is being implemented across 900+ govt. senior secondary schools, covering trades such as agriculture, automobile, healthcare, IT/ITES, retail, and tourism.

The Budget 2024–25 (Govt. of Punjab) allocated ~₹17,000+ crore to education, focusing on initiatives such as Schools of Eminence, digital learning (incl. tablets), and expansion of higher education institutions, aimed at improving access and quality.

Punjab is rapidly integrating technology into governance and industry and  has been one of the few states to apply technological innovations in primary sectors like agriculture with well-planned and defined irrigation facilities and the use of high-yielding variety seeds in the early stages of development. The state is among the first to adopt faceless services, online approvals for industrial clearances, and GIS-based land banks. The Digital Punjab Mission and investment in IT parks and electronic manufacturing clusters are strengthening the technology ecosystem, especially around Mohali and Amritsar. 
Mohali emerging as an IT/tech hub, with strong emerging ecosystem & good quality of Life. There is a presence of 150+ registered IT units with approx. 35,000 IT professionals in the Tri- city region. 

SAS Nagar (Mohali) has been declared as the Brownfield Electronic Cluster and will be developed as an IT region to promote the IT and electronics sector. Mohali is also home to a software technology park. Keeping in line with the booming IT sector, the state has a strong presence of 740 registered IT units. Through the Bio-resource Processing Facility and Rural Innovation & Application Centre set up by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, it has been involving local cooperatives in the Shivalik Foothill belt, the backward area of Punjab, and generating employment.Few Upcoming Project Setting up of integrated NRSE manufacturing park , Setting up of Designing and Testing Hub Development of Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy in Kapurthala as a model Skilling Centre for NRSE related courses.

Punjab is well connected with other cities across India and has a robust physical infrastructure network offering extensive access to the state's resources.

The road network is the backbone of the transport sector. The state of Punjab has one of the largest road densities per 100 sq km, as per Basic Road Statistics 2019, and has a total road length of 1,47,862 km.

Punjab boasts a dense railway network, consisting of 2,775 running track km, which represents 2.75% of the total railway network. The state is also part of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, opening up several trade opportunities. 

Punjab is home to five airports, including two international airports in Mohali & Amritsar, which connects the state to various major cities and foreign destinations. 

Furthermore, Punjab's telecom network is relatively developed, boasting a higher wireless teledensity and more internet subscribers per 100 people compared to the national average. The state also offers one of the cheapest industrial power facilities at ₹ 5 per unit.

The Punjab Budget 2026-27 prioritizes infrastructure development with ₹12,597 crore for road development and  approximately ₹3,500 crore dedicated to rural infrastructure. 

Punjab continues to strengthen its sustainability performance. As per the SDG India Index 2023–24, the state ranks among the top 5 states with a score of 76, categorised as a “Front Runner,” supported by a State Indicator Framework and real-time SDG dashboard.

In clean energy, Punjab has ~3.2–3.5 GW RE installed capacity and ~14–15 GW total power capacity (as per Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Central Electricity Authority), with strong potential in solar, particularly rooftop and agri-solar.

Key initiatives include expansion of rooftop solar under national programmes (PM Surya Ghar), sustainable agriculture interventions such as Soil Health Cards, and ongoing efforts in crop residue management, organic farming, and canal rejuvenation.