New Delhi: Instances of attacks on Indians living abroad have risen nearly sevenfold in five years, increasing from 15 cases in 2021 to 104 in 2025, according to data shared by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the Rajya Sabha. Across 36 countries and regions, a total of 302 attacks on Indians were reported between 2021 and 2025.
The figures come at a time when concerns over the safety of Indian students, professionals, workers and other members of the diaspora have grown in several countries. The United States recorded the highest number of reported attacks over the five-year period, followed by the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Attacks rose every year from 2021 to 2025
The MEA data shows a sharp increase in reported attacks over the five-year period.
There were 15 cases in 2021, followed by 31 in 2022. The number more than doubled to 67 in 2023 and increased further to 85 in 2024. In 2025, the figure reached 104.
| Year | Reported attacks on Indians |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 31 |
| 2023 | 67 |
| 2024 | 85 |
| 2025 | 104 |
| Total | 302 |
The increase from 15 cases in 2021 to 104 in 2025 represents a rise of almost seven times.
However, the figures should be understood as reported instances recorded by Indian missions and posts, rather than a measure of all crimes against Indian nationals overseas. Differences in reporting practices, awareness and the number of Indians living in each country can affect the figures.
US recorded the highest number of cases
The United States reported 33 attacks on Indians between 2021 and 2025, the highest among the countries covered by the data.
The UAE followed closely with 32 cases, while the UK reported 31 and Canada 30. Ireland recorded 24 cases, Russia 23 and Germany 19 during the same period.
The figures were:
- US: 33
- UAE: 32
- UK: 31
- Canada: 30
- Ireland: 24
- Russia: 23
- Germany: 19
These seven countries together accounted for a substantial share of the reported attacks during the five-year period.
US cases increased sharply in 2024 and 2025
The year-wise data for the US shows a particularly sharp increase towards the end of the period.
There was one reported attack in 2021, followed by six in 2022. The number fell to one in 2023 before rising to 11 in 2024 and 14 in 2025.
The 14 cases reported in the US in 2025 were the highest number recorded for any individual country in a single year within the five-year dataset.
The increase comes amid continuing debates in the US surrounding immigration, employment and the H-1B visa programme, in which Indian nationals make up a significant proportion of recipients.
However, the MEA figures themselves do not establish a direct link between immigration debates and the reported attacks.
UAE also saw a rise
The UAE recorded three attacks involving Indians in 2021.
The number increased to four in 2022 and seven in 2023. Six cases were recorded in 2024 before the figure doubled to 12 in 2025.
With 32 cases over the five-year period, the UAE had the second-highest total after the US.
The country has a large Indian expatriate population, making the safety of Indian nationals there an important issue for New Delhi.
UK and Canada show different patterns
The UK recorded one attack in 2021, four in 2022, 11 in 2023, 10 in 2024 and five in 2025.
Canada, meanwhile, showed a more consistent upward trend. Three attacks were recorded in 2021, followed by six each in 2022 and 2023, seven in 2024 and eight in 2025.
The five-year totals stood at 31 cases for the UK and 30 for Canada.
Ireland sees a notable increase
Ireland witnessed one of the more pronounced increases in reported attacks involving Indians.
The country recorded one case each in 2021 and 2022. That increased to five in 2023, seven in 2024 and 10 in 2025.
The rise has attracted attention because several incidents involving Indian nationals in Ireland have been reported in recent years.
In February 2026, an online backlash targeting Indians followed the publication of a photograph of students queuing at a food pantry in Galway. The incident came against the backdrop of reports of physical attacks against Indians in Ireland.
The Indian Embassy in Ireland had previously advised Indian nationals to take reasonable precautions, particularly when travelling through deserted areas or at odd hours.
Mali records a sudden spike
One of the most striking developments in the data was recorded in Mali.
No attacks on Indians were reported there between 2021 and 2024. However, 11 cases were recorded in 2025.
The sudden increase makes Mali one of the countries that experienced a significant change in the reported number of incidents during the period.
Russia and Germany also reported attacks
Russia recorded 12 cases in 2023, followed by two in 2024 and eight in 2025. Its five-year total stood at 23.
Germany reported 12 attacks in 2024, its highest single-year figure during the period, before the number fell to four in 2025. The five-year total was 19.
The variation across countries highlights that the overall increase was not uniform and that individual countries experienced different patterns from year to year.
Government says safety of Indians abroad is a priority
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, said the safety and security of Indians abroad remained the government’s “foremost priority”.
He said Indian missions and posts remain vigilant and monitor incidents involving Indian nationals.
According to the minister, when such incidents are reported, Indian missions take them up with the authorities in the host country to ensure that cases are investigated and that perpetrators are dealt with under the domestic laws of the respective country.
Why the figures need to be viewed carefully
The rise from 15 reported cases in 2021 to 104 in 2025 is significant, but the numbers alone do not explain why attacks have increased.
The data does not provide a common cause for the incidents, nor does it indicate that all attacks were motivated by race, nationality or immigration status.
It also does not represent the overall crime rate faced by Indians abroad. The figures cover cases reported to or recorded by Indian missions and posts across the countries included in the government data.
The size of the Indian population in each country is another important factor when comparing absolute numbers.
Growing importance of diaspora safety
India has one of the world’s largest overseas communities, with millions of Indians living, working and studying in countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Consequently, incidents involving Indian nationals abroad can quickly become matters of diplomatic concern.
The latest figures underline the importance of Indian diplomatic missions maintaining communication with local authorities and providing assistance to citizens who face violence or other emergencies.
Conclusion
The number of reported attacks on Indians abroad rose from 15 in 2021 to 104 in 2025, with 302 cases recorded across 36 countries and regions over the five-year period. The US had the highest five-year total at 33, followed by the UAE with 32, the UK with 31 and Canada with 30.
The data shows a substantial rise, but it does not by itself establish the reasons behind the increase or suggest that all incidents were hate crimes. What it does demonstrate is the growing need for Indian missions to monitor incidents involving citizens abroad and coordinate with local authorities when cases are reported.
The government has reiterated that the safety and security of Indians overseas remains a priority, while the sharp increase in reported cases makes diaspora protection an increasingly important issue for India’s foreign policy.