India’s traditional medicine and wellness industry is gaining economic momentum, with the Ayush services sector estimated to have contributed $36.92 billion to the country’s economy in fiscal year 2025. A study by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), released during the 11th Ayurveda Day celebrations in Nagpur on September 23, 2026, identifies the sector as one of India’s rapidly expanding service industries.
The research draws on a nationally scaled survey covering 15,914 establishments across all six Ayush systems. According to its findings, the sector recorded a compound annual growth rate of 16.91% between FY23 and FY25 and directly supported approximately 1.76 million livelihoods. Women accounted for 43% of its workforce, highlighting their substantial participation in the industry.
The report projects that India’s Ayush services economy could grow to between $216 billion and $318 billion by 2047. Achieving this expansion will depend on improvements in infrastructure, professional training, quality assurance, digital capabilities and access to international markets.
Union Minister of State for Ayush and Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav said the findings demonstrate that Ayush has developed into a growing contributor to India’s economy, extending beyond its traditional cultural significance.
Clinics and day-care facilities form the backbone of the industry, together accounting for more than 71% of total revenue. Standalone clinics generated an estimated $16.21 billion, while day-care centers contributed approximately $10.13 billion.
Ayurveda remained the largest individual system, generating an estimated $17.73 billion, or nearly 48% of the sector’s total revenue. The figures underline the importance of established treatment services alongside newer wellness offerings.
The wellness segment, which includes yoga centers, spas and resorts, recorded annualized growth of 21.29%. Yoga centers were a particularly notable contributor, with revenue increasing by approximately 75% over two years.
Medical value travel generated an estimated $1.77 billion in FY25. Although international patients represented around 5% of total patient volumes, they contributed between 15% and 25% of revenue in the hospital segment.
The study also identified digital presence and accreditation as important factors in attracting overseas patients. Establishments with dedicated websites had 3.6 times higher odds of attracting international patients, while NABH or ISO accreditation was associated with twice the odds.
These findings suggest that stronger quality standards, improved online visibility and expanded international outreach could help India’s Ayush industry strengthen its global presence and pursue its long-term growth ambitions.
