2 Million Indians Renounced Citizenship since 2011

India is witnessing a dramatic and continuing surge in the number of citizens surrendering their Indian passports, with 2024 marking a historic high. According to official data, 2,06,378 individuals renounced Indian citizenship in 2024, surpassing all figures recorded in the last decade.

Upward Trend

The upward trend began after the pandemic, with 2,16,219 renunciations in 2023, 2,25,620 in 2022, and a steep climb from 1,63,370 in 2021, more than double the pandemic-hit slump of 85,256 in 2020.

The long-view pattern reveals how India’s globalization story has evolved: from about 1,20,923 renunciations in 2012, the numbers meandered through the 2010s: 1,31,405 in 2013, 1,29,328 in 2014, 1,31,489 in 2015, and rising to 1,41,603 in 2016.

Passport Power

While the Ministry of Home Affairs reiterated that it does not maintain data on the income levels or occupations of those who give up citizenship, immigration specialists say the profile of recent emigrants appears increasingly diverse. Several global mobility consultants interviewed note a visible rise in young professionals seeking smoother pathways to work visas, entrepreneurs pursuing “passport power” to expand business access, and families opting for education-friendly citizenships in Europe and North America.

Independent analysts suggest that the spike is also tied to India’s expanding global diaspora footprint: as more Indians settle abroad long-term, the eventual transition to foreign citizenship becomes a natural step, especially in countries that do not permit dual nationality. Some experts, citing internal surveys from relocation firms, add that digital nomads, tech founders, and remote workers have quietly become an influential demographic in the renunciation landscape.

Despite the numbers, officials emphasize that India continues to maintain one of the world’s most robust overseas communities. Which is now estimated by industry observers to be over 35 million strong, reflecting both the country’s economic dynamism and its increasingly global workforce.

With 2024 setting a new record, the conversation around citizenship, mobility, and opportunity appears poised to become one of the defining social narratives of the decade, as policymakers and migration experts debate what these shifting patterns mean for India’s future.