Govt Tells RS '20 Indian Workers Die Daily Abroad'

More than 37,000 Indian workers died abroad between 2021 and 2025, averaging over 20 deaths a day, with the majority of fatalities reported from Gulf countries, the government informed Parliament.

Minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, said 37,740 deaths of Indian workers were recorded during the five-year period. No cause-wise breakup was provided.

The



data showed 8,234 deaths in 2021, followed by 6,614 in 2022, 7,291 in 2023, 7,747 in 2024 and 7,854 in 2025, indicating a rise after an initial dip. Gulf nations accounted for over 86 per cent of the fatalities. 

The United Arab Emirates reported 12,380 deaths and Saudi Arabia 11,757, followed by Kuwait (3,890), Oman (2,821), Malaysia (1,915) and Qatar (1,760). In total, 32,608 deaths were recorded in Gulf countries during the period.