Indian citizens have maintained the top position for acquiring nationality in advanced economies, with nearly 9.25 lakh individuals obtaining citizenship in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries between 2020 and 2024. According to the 'International Migration Outlook - 2026' report, released by the OECD on Thursday, this figure represents a 41% increase compared to the 6.5 lakh Indians who acquired such citizenship during the 2015-2019 period.
The report highlights that India remains the primary source country for new citizens within the 38-member bloc, which includes nations such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and South Korea. India significantly leads over Syria and Mexico, both of which accounted for approximately 5.9 lakh citizenships each during the same five-year timeframe. Conversely, China saw a 12% decline in its nationals acquiring OECD-member citizenship, totaling 3.4 lakh for the 2020-2024 period.
Data specific to 2024 indicates that 2.3 lakh Indians became citizens of OECD countries, a slight rise from the nearly 2.2 lakh recorded in 2023. Canada, the United States, and Australia remained the top three countries where these acquisitions occurred. Despite the increase in citizenship uptake, the report noted that the inflow of new Indian migrants to OECD countries for work and study saw a 19% decrease in 2024, dropping to 4.9 lakh from 6.1 lakh in 2023.
Key facts
- Approximately 9.25 lakh Indians acquired OECD-member citizenship between 2020 and 2024.
- The current figure marks a 41% increase over the 2015-2019 period.
- In 2024, 87,320 Indians obtained Canadian citizenship, 48,820 in the U.S., and 28,969 in Australia.
- OECD member countries granted nearly 87 lakh new citizenships in total during the 2020-2024 period.
- Indians constitute roughly 10% of the total new citizens acquired by OECD member countries.
Why it matters
OECD secretary-general Mathias Cormann noted that immigrants currently account for 16% of employment across the organization's member countries. He emphasized that in light of aging populations and slower productivity growth, these nations must effectively utilize the skills immigrants provide by integrating them into high-productivity sectors and supporting immigrant entrepreneurs.
Background
The OECD is an international organization comprised of 38 member countries, including major economies such as the U.S., UK, and various European and Asian nations, which track migration flows and citizenship data to analyze global labor and demographic trends.
Source: Times of India
Comments