Indian Student Migration by State — 2026 Statistics
State-wise breakdown of Indian students studying abroad — which states send the most students, top destinations by state, and 2021–2024 trend data.
Key Insights
Andhra Pradesh + Telangana send 180,000+ students/year — primarily to USA for CS and engineering.
Punjab is the dominant source state for Canada and UK-bound students (120,000+ annually).
Kerala sends the highest proportion of nursing and healthcare students, especially to UK and UAE.
Karnataka sends the most PhD and research-track students, led by IIT and IISc ecosystems.
Gujarat sends 40%+ of its students to UAE, reflecting long-established business diaspora.
Top Indian States by Students Abroad (2023–24)
| State | Est. Students Abroad | Top Destination | Primary Fields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh + Telangana | 1,80,000+ | USA (80%) | CS, Engineering, Data Science |
| Punjab | 1,20,000+ | Canada (55%), UK (25%) | Business, Hotel Management |
| Maharashtra | 95,000+ | USA (35%), UK (25%) | Engineering, MBA, Law |
| Gujarat | 75,000+ | USA (30%), UAE (40%) | Business, Medicine |
| Karnataka | 70,000+ | USA (45%), Germany (15%) | CS, Research, Engineering |
| Kerala | 65,000+ | UAE (40%), UK (30%) | Nursing, Medicine |
| Tamil Nadu | 60,000+ | USA (40%), Germany (15%) | CS, Engineering, Medicine |
Source: MEA India Report 2024; FICCI-EY Higher Education 2024; EduVed state data
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Analysis & Insights
AP/Telangana dominance in USA is driven by 200+ engineering colleges producing STEM graduates, 400,000+ Telugu-American diaspora providing housing and job networks, and top GRE prep infrastructure in Hyderabad.
Punjab's shift to Canada reflects the PGWP + PR pathway and the 1.5 million Punjabi-Canadian diaspora providing housing, employment, and cultural support on arrival.
Sources & Methodology
- 1MEA India Annual Report 2024
- 2IIE Open Doors 2024
- 3IRCC Canada Study Permit Statistics 2024
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