MEA Confirms 1.7 Million Indians Gave Up Citizenship Since 2014

The number of Indians giving up their citizenship has crossed 1.7 million since 2014, according to data presented in Parliament. While annual figures remained relatively stable for several years, the trend shifted notably after the Covid-19 pandemic, with a sharp rebound in 2021 and 2022 before easing slightly in the last two years.  

Despite this moderation, recent levels remain well above pre-pandemic averages. 

Long-Term Trend and Post-pandemic Shift 

Official data tabled in the Rajya Sabha shows that between 2011 and 2024, a total of 2.06 million Indians gave up their citizenship. From 2011 to 2019, annual numbers rose gradually from 122,819 to 144,017, reflecting an increase of about 17% over eight years with no sharp inflection.  

The pandemic year marked a clear break, with the figure dropping to 85,256 in 2020, nearly 41% lower than in 2019, largely due to global travel restrictions and processing delays. 

As restrictions eased, the numbers rebounded strongly. In 2021, citizenship surrenders rose to 163,370, up about 92% from the 2020 low. The upward trend intensified in 2022, when 225,620 Indians gave up citizenship, around 57% higher than in 2019.  

Although the figures eased to 216,219 in 2023 and further to 206,378 in 2024, the 2024 level was still about 43% higher than before the pandemic. 

Overseas Grievances and Country-Wise Patterns 

In a separate response on issues faced by Indians living abroad, the Ministry of External Affairs reported receiving 16,127 complaints during 2024–25 through official grievance platforms.  

Of these, 11,195 were filed via the MADAD portal and 4,932 through CPGRAMS. Saudi Arabia accounted for the highest number of distress cases at 3,049, followed by the UAE with 1,587. Other countries reporting significant complaints included Malaysia (662), the United States (620), Oman (613), Kuwait (549), Canada (345), Australia (318), the UK (299) and Qatar (289). 

Read More: Cabinet Approves ₹11,718.24 Crore for Digital Census 2027! 

Conclusion 

Parliamentary data highlights a clear post-pandemic shift in the number of Indians giving up citizenship, with levels remaining elevated despite recent moderation. At the same time, the volume and spread of overseas grievances underline the growing scale and complexity of India’s global diaspora engagement. 

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