Net migration in India
India: Net migration was -495,753 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in India, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
India recorded -495,753 for net migration in 2025.
The figure is up 21.4% on the previous year and up 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in India peaked at 774,094 in 1979 and was at its lowest, -1.35 million, in 2022.
India ranks 217th of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 146,955 | — |
| 1961 | 295,177 | +100.9% |
| 1962 | -70,514 | -123.9% |
| 1963 | 21,640 | -130.7% |
| 1964 | -141,916 | -755.8% |
| 1965 | -248,299 | +75.0% |
| 1966 | -566,982 | +128.3% |
| 1967 | -70,314 | -87.6% |
| 1968 | -995,416 | +1315.7% |
| 1969 | -851,844 | -14.4% |
| 1970 | 233,782 | -127.4% |
| 1971 | -974,574 | -516.9% |
| 1972 | -82,816 | -91.5% |
| 1973 | -404,743 | +388.7% |
| 1974 | 347,869 | -185.9% |
| 1975 | 434,205 | +24.8% |
| 1976 | 275,984 | -36.4% |
| 1977 | 590,626 | +114.0% |
| 1978 | -210,444 | -135.6% |
| 1979 | 774,094 | -467.8% |
| 1980 | 210,914 | -72.8% |
| 1981 | 33,243 | -84.2% |
| 1982 | -10,687 | -132.1% |
| 1983 | 119,694 | -1220.0% |
| 1984 | -32,313 | -127.0% |
| 1985 | -89,991 | +178.5% |
| 1986 | -249,545 | +177.3% |
| 1987 | -219,150 | -12.2% |
| 1988 | -155,676 | -29.0% |
| 1989 | -2,907 | -98.1% |
| 1990 | 125,514 | -4417.6% |
| 1991 | -157,911 | -225.8% |
| 1992 | 35,155 | -122.3% |
| 1993 | 2,364 | -93.3% |
| 1994 | -375,253 | -15973.6% |
| 1995 | -57,297 | -84.7% |
| 1996 | -26,388 | -53.9% |
| 1997 | 880 | -103.3% |
| 1998 | -1,049 | -219.2% |
| 1999 | -95,320 | +8986.7% |
| 2000 | -143,960 | +51.0% |
| 2001 | -70,346 | -51.1% |
| 2002 | -732,419 | +941.2% |
| 2003 | -606,970 | -17.1% |
| 2004 | -206,660 | -66.0% |
| 2005 | -929,454 | +349.8% |
| 2006 | -342,177 | -63.2% |
| 2007 | -1.04 million | +203.1% |
| 2008 | -1.02 million | -1.7% |
| 2009 | -312,905 | -69.3% |
| 2010 | -50,905 | -83.7% |
| 2011 | -247,017 | +385.3% |
| 2012 | -198,935 | -19.5% |
| 2013 | -151,372 | -23.9% |
| 2014 | -227,263 | +50.1% |
| 2015 | -655,085 | +188.2% |
| 2016 | 81,248 | -112.4% |
| 2017 | -251,642 | -409.7% |
| 2018 | -589,794 | +134.4% |
| 2019 | -978,969 | +66.0% |
| 2020 | -73,806 | -92.5% |
| 2021 | -348,916 | +372.7% |
| 2022 | -1.35 million | +287.9% |
| 2023 | -979,179 | -27.7% |
| 2024 | -630,830 | -35.6% |
| 2025 | -495,753 | -21.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's -495,753 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 48.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's -495,753 is below the median for South Asia, which is -197,712, 2.5× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in India changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | -15973.6% | 2,364 | -375,253 |
| 1999 | -8986.7% | -1,049 | -95,320 |
| 1990 | +4417.6% | -2,907 | 125,514 |
| 1968 | -1315.7% | -70,314 | -995,416 |
| 1983 | +1220.0% | -10,687 | 119,694 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -248,151 | -995,416 | 295,177 | 10 |
| 1970s | 98,398 | -974,574 | 774,094 | 10 |
| 1980s | -39,642 | -249,545 | 210,914 | 10 |
| 1990s | -54,930 | -375,253 | 125,514 | 10 |
| 2000s | -540,214 | -1.04 million | -70,346 | 10 |
| 2010s | -326,973 | -978,969 | 81,248 | 10 |
| 2020s | -646,994 | -1.35 million | -73,806 | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More financial sector data for India
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 13.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 3.26 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 7.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0009 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 2.38 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 13.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 3.26 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 7.8 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in India?
- Net migration in India was -495,753 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 774,094 in 1979.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.35 million in 2022.
- How does India rank for net migration?
- India ranks 217th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.