Thiruvananthapuram: According to survey reports of Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation, Malayali diaspora spent a staggering Rs 43,378.6 crores outside Kerala in the year 2023. 

Meanwhile, a total of Rs 2.14 lakh crore was sent to Kerala by expatriates through different means. This is 154.9 percent higher than the figures in 2018.

According to the survey, 6 percent of the total Kerala population has either migrated to other countries or other states within India. Out of the 10 families in the state, at least one member in every four families is an expatriate. 

The maximum number of expatriates in the state live in the UAE. 

In total, 17 lakh Malayali expatriates have returned home in 2023, an increase by 38.4 percent, when compared to 2018.

71 percent of the people came back home due to various reasons ranging from loss of jobs, localization issues and the pandemic. There will be such members in two out every 10 families in the state. 

Incidentally, among districts, Malappuram has the highest number of returnees, with 3.5 lakh people returning home in 2023. Major chunk of these people hail from Tirurangadi.  

There has been a significant increase in the number of Kerala students moving to other states and countries for higher studies. In 2023, 2.5 lakh students left Kerala, marking a 92 per cent rise compared to 2018 figures.

Students now make up 11.3 per cent of the expatriate population. Similarly, nearly 20 lakh children in Kerala have parents residing in other states or countries.

Within India, most Malayalis have migrated to Karnataka, where there are currently 30 lakh Keralites living. Globally, there are 50 lakh Malayalis residing in countries outside India.