UAE Tops Indian Births Abroad, US Leads Deaths: New CRS Data Reveals Diaspora Trends
The latest report from India's Civil Registration System (CRS) provides a detailed look at where Indians abroad are starting families and where the overseas community is ageing. In 2024, Indian missions across 140 countries registered 66,413 births and 11,383 deaths of Indian nationals.
The United Arab Emirates emerged as the primary hub for Indian families overseas. Consulates in Dubai and Abu Dhabi together registered 19,317 births, far exceeding any other country. The missions also recorded 2,571 deaths, reflecting the large Indian population in the UAE and the continued appeal of the Middle East for young families.
The United Kingdom also stood out, with Indian missions in London, Birmingham, and Edinburgh registering 12,896 births and only 329 deaths. This wide gap indicates a steady influx of young Indian professionals and students settling in Britain.
Data revealed a shift towards continental Europe and Australia as destinations for young Indian expatriates. Australia registered 3,093 births across its missions and 118 deaths. In Europe, Germany saw 2,558 births and 137 deaths, while Italy recorded 2,455 births and 374 deaths.
An unusual trend emerged in North America. Indian missions in the United States and Canada registered far more deaths than births—648 deaths vs. 31 births in the US, and 388 deaths vs. 15 births in Canada. This is explained by local citizenship laws: children born in the US or Canada automatically acquire citizenship at birth, so they are rarely registered as Indian nationals. The higher death numbers likely reflect an ageing diaspora, including early immigrants and elderly parents whose deaths are registered for repatriation.
In the Gulf countries, high birth numbers coexist with high death counts. Saudi Arabia's missions recorded 4,200 births and 2,629 deaths—the highest death toll in any country. Kuwait registered 2,797 births and 733 deaths. These figures reflect the large migrant workforce in the region.
Gender data showed that of the total deaths abroad, 8,845 were male and 1,854 female, while births were evenly split—21,190 males and 20,024 females. Malaysia was another country where deaths (526) outnumbered births (423), pointing to an older, established community or higher mortality among migrant workers.
Comparing with 2019 data, births abroad increased by 42.9% from 46,475 to 66,413, highlighting the growing number of young Indian professionals starting families overseas.
