Over 200,000 Indians Renounced Citizenship in 2024, Government Reports
The government informed the Lok Sabha that 2,06,378 Indians renounced their citizenship in 2024. This figure continues a trend where over two lakh citizens have given up their Indian nationality annually for the past three years. According to data provided by the Ministry of External Affairs, the total number of Indians who have renounced their citizenship since 2020 has now surpassed 8.9 lakh. The government stated that the reasons for this are personal to the individuals involved.
Unpacked:
The most popular destinations include the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. However, some also choose countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Fiji, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, which are less developed compared to India.
While officially termed as 'personal reasons,' common factors include seeking better employment, education, and living standards abroad, as well as India's restriction on dual citizenship and lifestyle choices.
Since 2011, more than 100,000 Indians have renounced their citizenship annually, with numbers rising above 200,000 per year since 2022, indicating a significant upward trend over the past decade.
India does not allow dual citizenship. Indians must renounce their citizenship if they acquire another nationality, which is a significant factor driving the consistently high renunciation numbers.