Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Migration in India - statistics and facts
Over 280 million people across the globe are estimated to be migrants, meaning that around 3.6 percent of the world's population live outside their country of birth. Human mobility driven by income inequality, conflict, climate change, and demographic pressures has shaped the world for centuries. The most populated country, India, also accounts for the biggest migrant stock worldwide.
Despite critical opinions around migration and its impact on host states or cities, recent research shows that migrant workers contributed 0.5 to 2.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GSDP) in net positive migration states like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. However, marriage drives more migration than jobs or other economic opportunities, with nearly half of the women’s population moving within their state due to exogamous traditions.
India also remains one of the largest student out-migration countries. The study abroad dream and the possibility of finding gainful employment after course completion is becoming attainable for Indian students as countries like France, Germany, and Spain show increasing interest in welcoming students. Moreover, the widespread availability of education loans for study abroad makes it economically viable for low- and middle-income students to attain foreign education.
Although emigration is usually associated with brain drain, it is also a source of remittance into the country with India topping the list as the leading remittance-receiving country globally.
Additionally, extreme climate situations such as floods, cyclones, rising sea levels, heat waves, and drought are increasingly resulting in the rise of domestic and cross-border climate-induced migrations. The country is the fourth worst-hit in the world due to climate-related displacements with more than 41 million people forced to leave their homes between 2020 and 2021. The climate crisis is increasingly emerging as a migrant crisis and necessitates proactive and targeted policymaking.
Internal migration in India: The big city dream
One in three urban Indians is a migrant. However, most of the internal migrants are intra-state, while only seven percent move from another state. Urban areas, especially big cities, are usually magnets for highly skilled professional migrants as well as low-skilled migrant laborers. The migration of the male population is mostly for employment-related purposes. The national capital of Delhi hosts the highest share of migrants from across the country.Despite critical opinions around migration and its impact on host states or cities, recent research shows that migrant workers contributed 0.5 to 2.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GSDP) in net positive migration states like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. However, marriage drives more migration than jobs or other economic opportunities, with nearly half of the women’s population moving within their state due to exogamous traditions.
Brain drain to cash gain: Who is emigrating and why?
India has been a consistent source of global migration and constitutes the world’s largest diaspora. Over 225 thousand Indians renounced Indian citizenship in 2022, the highest in a 12-year span. In addition to the working-class migrating for employment, estimates show high net-worth individuals leaving the country in high numbers over the past few years. With the government-administered Golden Visa program, ensuring a favorable tax and business ecosystem, Dubai is emerging as the preferred destination for Indian HNWIs.India also remains one of the largest student out-migration countries. The study abroad dream and the possibility of finding gainful employment after course completion is becoming attainable for Indian students as countries like France, Germany, and Spain show increasing interest in welcoming students. Moreover, the widespread availability of education loans for study abroad makes it economically viable for low- and middle-income students to attain foreign education.
Although emigration is usually associated with brain drain, it is also a source of remittance into the country with India topping the list as the leading remittance-receiving country globally.
Conflict and climate: Faces of forced migration
Forced or involuntary migration patterns are usually related to conflict or disaster-induced displacement. Since independence, India has hosted refugees from Tibet, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and other neighboring countries, and refugee protection was granted on an ad-hoc basis. Recently, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019, made provisions to accelerate the granting of citizenship to persecuted religious minorities from neighboring countries, excluding Muslims, attracting widespread protests across the country.Additionally, extreme climate situations such as floods, cyclones, rising sea levels, heat waves, and drought are increasingly resulting in the rise of domestic and cross-border climate-induced migrations. The country is the fourth worst-hit in the world due to climate-related displacements with more than 41 million people forced to leave their homes between 2020 and 2021. The climate crisis is increasingly emerging as a migrant crisis and necessitates proactive and targeted policymaking.
