Most fatalities involving Indian nationals abroad were reported from Gulf countries, reflecting the region’s large expatriate workforce
Saudi Arabia recorded the highest number of deaths among Indian nationals living overseas between 2022 and 2025, according to an analysis of government data, highlighting the concentration of India’s expatriate workforce across the Gulf region.
The figures show that 10,130 Indian nationals died in Saudi Arabia during the four-year period. With an estimated Indian population of around 2.75 million in the Kingdom, the cumulative mortality rate stood at approximately 0.37 per cent, one of the highest among the Gulf’s major destinations for Indian workers.
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The United Arab Emirates, home to India’s largest overseas community of about 4.34 million people, recorded 9,666 deaths over the same period
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Although the total number was close to that of Saudi Arabia, the mortality ratio was lower at around 0.22 per cent because of the country’s significantly larger Indian population
Other Gulf nations also reported substantial numbers. Oman registered 1,950 deaths among nearly 679,000 Indian residents, while Kuwait recorded 2,922 deaths among around 1.04 million Indians. Bahrain reported 1,113 deaths, giving it one of the region’s highest mortality ratios at about 0.35 per cent. By comparison, Qatar, despite hosting more than 830,000 Indians, recorded a lower mortality ratio of 0.16 per cent.
Outside the Gulf, countries with sizeable Indian communities reported significantly lower mortality rates. The United States recorded 4,082 deaths among more than six million Indians, while Canada reported 1,326 deaths and the United Kingdom 1,076, each with comparatively lower death ratios. Italy, however, stood out in Europe with a relatively higher mortality rate among its Indian population.
The Ministry of External Affairs has previously informed Parliament that countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Singapore, Thailand, the UK and the US account for a large share of deaths involving Indian citizens abroad, reflecting both the size of the diaspora and the occupational profile of many overseas workers.
