Which Indian States Send the Most Students Abroad? (Per 100,000 People)

Latest State-Wise Outbound Students from India (2024)

According to the Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs), 1.33 million Indian students were enrolled abroad as of January 2024 . The Bureau of Immigration reported approximately 760,000 departures for study in 2024—a 15 % decline from 2023 . This suggests a stabilizing trend following pandemic-era rebounds.

A state-by-state picture (based on latest available state shares and overall totals):

• Punjab: ~12 % share → ≈160,000 students.

• Andhra Pradesh: ~12 % share → ≈160,000 students.

• Maharashtra: ~11 % share → ≈146,000 students.

• Gujarat: ~8 % share → ≈106,000 students.

• Tamil Nadu: ~7 % share → ≈93,000 students.

• Karnataka: ~5 % share → ≈67,000 students.

Rough “Per 100,000” Estimates

Using estimated 2023 populations, we derive approximate per‑100k outbound student rates:

• Punjab (~30 M pop): 533 per 100k

• Andhra Pradesh (~54 M): 296 per 100k

• Maharashtra (~125 M): 117 per 100k

• Gujarat (~68 M): 156 per 100k

• Tamil Nadu (~78 M): 119 per 100k

• Karnataka (~69 M): 97 per 100k

These show Punjab and Gujarat leading in relative outbound mobility, ahead of other major states.

Why It Matters

• High-per-capita states like Punjab and Gujarat demonstrate strong international education demand, potentially due to affluence, established diaspora networks, and consultancies.

• Stabilizing outbound numbers in 2024 reflect global factors—visa policies, cost of living, economic pressures—but still mark growth over 2022.

• The top destinations—Canada, USA, Australia, UK—continue to dominate , with a shift towards cost-effective European alternatives such as Germany, Poland, Ireland, Spain.

Summary

• Outbound numbers have stabilized—driven by changing global factors and rising interest in Europe.

• The “per 100k lens” adds sharp, SEO-rich storytelling potential and social traffic appeal.