The Primary Health Centre is the first rural facility with a Medical Officer; the CHC adds 30 beds and four specialists.
In Karaikal, 54.4% of women are anaemic, close to the typical district. 25.5% of children under five are stunted, better than the typical district. 12.1% of women have low BMI, better than the typical district. The PHC and CHC are the first point of clinical care against all three.
82% of registered enterprises are in services while 18% are in manufacturing. Only 5% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. Only 58% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12).
In Karaikal, which ranks 2 of 2 in Puducherry for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 57.6 out of 100. It runs ahead of the national picture on households in the poorest wealth group at 6%.