World seeing increasing migration of Indians as largest emigrant group emerges
In 2025, the landscape of Indian immigration is undergoing significant changes, with a growing focus on skilled workers and those with economic potential. Half of all Indian emigrants now reside in West Asia, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which host nearly half of all Indian out-migrants. The UAE and the USA each account for 17% of over 18.5 million people of Indian origin living overseas.
The USA, despite a decline in Indian student visa issuance and reduced illegal crossings, remains a top destination. Indians are the second-largest immigrant group after Mexicans in the USA, with nearly equal numbers of men and women. However, in contrast to GCC countries, the gender distribution in the USA and the UK is nearly balanced.
North America is home to a quarter of Indian out-migrants, with Canada and Australia also emphasizing applicants with higher income and experience levels under their new immigration criteria. Europe, too, is moving towards selective immigration based on economic status.
One-quarter of Indian out-migrants live in North America, and Europe's share of total Indian migrants has declined, despite more Indians moving there in absolute numbers. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), which estimates India's emigrant population, attributes much of its data to population censuses, registers, and surveys of destination countries.
Migration patterns by gender differ significantly, with men primarily migrating to GCC countries and women more likely to move to the USA. However, the exact recent figures for gender distribution are not directly noted. The increased focus on "premium migrants," often skilled workers with high income levels, tends to emphasize male applicants, potentially skewing gender balance further.
The decline in Indian student visa issuance and reduced illegal crossings to the US, along with stricter immigration enforcement and policy changes, have led to a doubling of deportations of Indians, particularly from certain Indian states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. This stricter enforcement also impacts the demographic profile of migrants, though specific current gender distribution data is not detailed in the sources.
In summary, Indian immigration trends in 2025 are marked by more selective, skill and capital-focused immigration policies in major destinations, a decline in illegal and student migration to the US, and concentrated deportation patterns with some gender and state-of-origin skewing. The available data does not provide detailed recent gender distribution statistics but indicates policies and enforcement actions impacting overall migration flows and demographics.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3]
Politics and general news often discuss the evolving immigration policies in major destinations like the USA, UAE, and European countries. Crime-and-justice reports might highlight the increase in deportations of Indian migrants, particularly from certain states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, due to stricter enforcement and policy changes.
