Kerala ranks the highest on the Human Development Index in India. According to the India Skills Report 2024, Kerala's youth (aged 18–21 years) are the second most employable in the country, giving the state a favourable demographic boost.

Kerala has historically been the only state with a male-female ratio above unity, at 1084 females per thousand males. In the State of the Cities India (2021) report, Kerala has secured the first position in urbanisation and productivity, and the urbanised population makes up 47.7% of the total population as per the 2011 Census. 

Ranking first in NITI Aayog's State Health Index 2019-20, the state has been making impressive progress in the healthcare infrastructure over the years. To provide accessible, equitable, affordable, and high-quality health services to the people, the state government has taken several measures. The life expectancy stands at 75 years, and the total fertility rate is lower than the national average of 2 at 1.5 per woman.

Kerala has launched the Aardram Mission to improve the efficiency of government hospitals and provide healthcare treatments at reasonable costs, and under the mission, 644 Primary Health Centres have been transformed into Family Health Centres.

The Indian Institute of Diabetes in Thiruvananthapuram exclusively provides services for diabetes mellitus and related complications. Malabar Cancer Centre has also been established by the Government of Kerala to provide oncology services to the people of the state. 

Kerala, with a literacy rate of 94%, is the first state to achieve universal literacy. The state provides world-class education in the rural areas through specially designed programs and projects like Vidya Kiranam and the Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission. Currently, nearly 13,000 schools are imparting education to the students in the state, and more than 37 Lakh students are enrolled in 2023–24, according to provisional data.

The government has also launched the E-Muttam program to promote digital literacy among the population. Kerala has about 40 state universities and 2,30,230 arts and science colleges. About 335 AICTE-approved institutions are providing technical courses like architecture, engineering, pharmacy, etc.

Famous educational institutions like IIM Kozhikode, Kerala University, and NIT Calicut have been involved in providing quality education to students from within and across the borders of the country.

Kerala was declared the country's first digital state in 2016 and has the highest internet penetration in India, propelling the state towards transformation into a knowledge-powered economy. The state was also a pioneer in announcing access to the internet as the basic right of the citizens of the state and has established its communication network, K-FON, to provide high-speed connectivity to 30,000 government and educational institutions in rural areas and offer free internet to 20 lakh people in economically backward communities.

The country's first and largest technopark is also located in Kerala, accommodating 465 companies with over 64,000 IT and ITeS professionals. The state has also installed AI cameras for law enforcement and road safety purposes. R&D in AI, robotics, and technological exploration has been fostering advancements in the state. 

Kerala is well-connected to major cities in India and internationally, with 4 international airports and the 5th upcoming international airport in Kottayam. It has 2 major ports and 17 minor/intermediate ports. To make public transport easier, it also has 24 metro stations, a road network with a total length of 2.34 Lakh km, and a railway network with 1084 miles.

In addition, Kochi Water Metro is the country's first integrated water transport system and the first water metro system. Kerala has 5 national waterways with a total length of 474 km. In 2017, the state was also declared fully electrified with a 24x7 power supply.

With the first rank in NITI Aayog's Sustainable Development Index continuously for the last three years, Kerala has taken many steps to ensure an environmentally sustainable state with the development of green corridors, promotion of green logistics, and green vehicles.

The state has launched a “Net Zero Carbon Keralam" campaign to make Kerala carbon neutral by 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and maintain the carbon balance. The Haritha Keralam Mission aims to transform 83 selected tourist destinations in Kerala into model green tourism destinations, with a focus on environmental sustainability.

Furthermore, Kochi Airport is the world's first solar-powered airport, underscoring the state's commitment to finesse in the cleaner energy initiatives.