According to official Government statistics, Gulf countries are home to over 8.8 million non-resident Indians (NRIs). These NRIs are Indian citizens who possess a passport from their home country but reside in a different state. A report from the PTI news agency reveals that NRIs can be found in more than 200 countries worldwide, with the Gulf countries comprising more than 66 per cent of the total NRI population.
The global NRI count stands at approximately 13.4 million, with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries holding the largest share of NRIs. The data was obtained by a banker in the country through a Right to Information (RTI) request, and it was provided by India’s External Affairs Ministry. The statistics are accurate up to March 2022.
Among the Gulf countries, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) takes the lead with the highest number of NRIs, boasting more than 3.4 million individuals.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have significant numbers of non-resident Indians (NRIs) residing within their borders. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) leads the pack with 3.41 million NRIs, followed by Saudi Arabia with 2.59 million, and Kuwait with 1.02 million. Qatar houses 740,000 NRIs, while Oman has 770,000, and Bahrain accommodates 320,000.
Outside the GCC region, the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) have the highest NRI populations. The US hosts 1.28 million NRIs, and the UK follows with 350,000. Australia comes next with 240,000 NRIs, while Malaysia houses 220,000, and Malaysia has 170,0000 NRIs.
