More than 6.28 lakh Indian students were studying in schools outside India as of January 1, 2025, according to data provided by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India. But the destination attracting the largest number of Indian students studying abroad may not be the country many people expect.
The data shows that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had the largest reported population of Indian school students, followed by Saudi Arabia, Australia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
Interestingly, six Gulf countries together accounted for around 80% of all reported Indian school students abroad.
UAE Has the Largest Number of Indian School Students
According to MEA data, 247,325 Indian students were studying in schools in the UAE as of January 1, 2025.
This makes the UAE the largest reported destination for Indian students studying abroad at the school level.
The other major destinations reported by the MEA were:
| Country | Indian students studying in schools |
|---|---|
| UAE | 247,325 |
| Saudi Arabia | 75,000 |
| Australia | 57,529 |
| Kuwait | 50,000 |
| Qatar | 47,846 |
| Oman | 44,547 |
| Bahrain | 28,215 |
The figures highlight the particularly strong presence of Indian families across the Gulf region.
Six Gulf Countries Account for About 80% of the Total
When the figures for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain are combined, they represent 502,933 Indian school students.
That is approximately 80% of the total 628,305 Indian school students reported by the MEA.
This is one of the most significant findings in the data on Indian students studying abroad.
It also changes the way these numbers should be interpreted.
The data does not necessarily mean that hundreds of thousands of Indian families are sending their children from India to foreign countries specifically for school education.
A substantial proportion of these students are likely connected to the large Indian diaspora living across Gulf countries, where Indian families have established homes, businesses and careers.
Studying Abroad Does Not Always Mean Getting a School Visa
There is an important distinction when interpreting the MEA figures.
The reported 628,305 Indian students studying abroad should not automatically be described as 628,305 children who left India specifically on school or student visas.
The MEA data tells us how many Indian students were reported as studying in schools outside India. By itself, it does not establish how many of these children newly travelled from India specifically for school education.
For example, an Indian family may already be living and working in:
- Dubai
- Abu Dhabi
- Riyadh
- Doha
- Muscat
- Kuwait
- Manama
Their children can attend schools in those countries without having travelled from India specifically under a school-visa arrangement.
This distinction is particularly important when looking at the large numbers reported for Gulf countries.
Why Do Gulf Countries Dominate the Numbers?
The Gulf region has one of the world’s largest Indian expatriate populations.
Indian communities have a long-standing presence across countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. Many Indian professionals, business owners and workers live in these countries with their families.
As a result, the number of Indian school students in these countries can include both:
- Children who moved abroad with their parents or families; and
- Children whose families were already established in the country.
Therefore, the MEA figures should primarily be understood as the number of Indian students studying in schools outside India, rather than a direct measure of how many Indian children leave India every year for school education.
Australia Is Also a Major Destination
Australia reported 57,529 Indian school students in the MEA data, making it the third-largest destination in the table.
Australia has become an important destination for Indian families, students and migrants, which helps explain its significant position in the figures.
However, Australia’s own international education statistics use different definitions and datasets for international students and student-visa holders.
Because of these differences, the 57,529 figure should not simply be compared with Australia’s international student visa numbers without considering what each dataset actually measures.
The same caution applies when comparing the MEA figures with data from other countries.
What About Indian Students in Canada, the UK and the US?
The MEA’s country-wise table does not provide a complete, directly comparable school-student figure for every major destination.
For some countries, data is listed as unavailable or does not provide a comparable figure.
This is particularly relevant when discussing popular destinations for Indians such as Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The absence of a comparable number in this particular MEA dataset does not necessarily mean that there are no Indian school students in those countries.
Instead, it means that the available table does not provide a directly comparable figure for those destinations.
What the Numbers Really Tell Us
The data provides an important picture of where Indian students studying abroad are located, but it needs to be interpreted carefully.
The headline figure of 628,305 Indian school students abroad is significant. However, the numbers also demonstrate the importance of the Indian diaspora in shaping overseas education patterns.
The UAE alone accounts for 247,325 students, while six Gulf countries together account for approximately 80% of the reported total.
This means that the story of Indian children studying outside India is not limited to families choosing overseas schools as an education strategy.
For many families, international schooling is simply part of living abroad.
Key Numbers of Indian Students Studying Abroad at a Glance
| Key figure | Number |
|---|---|
| Indian school students abroad | 628,305 |
| UAE | 247,325 |
| Saudi Arabia | 75,000 |
| Australia | 57,529 |
| Kuwait | 50,000 |
| Qatar | 47,846 |
| Oman | 44,547 |
| Bahrain | 28,215 |
| Six Gulf countries combined | 502,933 |
| Gulf share of reported total | About 80% |
FAQs : Indian Students Studying Abroad
How many Indian students are studying abroad?
According to the MEA data cited in the article, 628,305 Indian students were studying in schools abroad as of January 1, 2025.
Which country has the most Indian school students?
The UAE had the largest reported number, with 247,325 Indian students studying in schools.
Why are so many Indian students in Gulf countries?
The figures are strongly influenced by the large Indian expatriate communities across the Gulf. Many Indian families already live and work in these countries, with their children attending schools locally.
Does the MEA figure mean these children travelled abroad on student visas?
No. The data only reports Indian students studying in schools abroad. It does not establish how many travelled from India specifically for school education or entered on school or student visas.
How many Indian school students were reported in Australia?
The MEA data reported 57,529 Indian school students in Australia, making it the third-largest destination in the listed figures.
Does the data show how many Indian school students are in Canada, the UK and the US?
The cited MEA table does not provide a complete comparable figure for every major destination, including some popular destinations such as Canada, the UK and the US.
Final Takeaway On Indian Students Studying Abroad
The latest MEA figures show that 628,305 Indian students were studying in schools abroad as of January 1, 2025.
The biggest destination was not Australia, Canada, the UK or the US. It was the UAE, with 247,325 Indian school students.
Even more strikingly, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain together accounted for 502,933 students — around 80% of the reported total.
The figures also come with an important caveat: they represent Indian students studying in schools outside India and should not automatically be treated as a count of children who left India specifically to obtain an overseas school education.
Source : MEA
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