World News: The lifestyle and spending priorities of Indians have changed significantly. There was a time when pursuing higher education abroad was their biggest dream, but now the picture has shifted. Indians are now spending more on overseas travel than on education.
According to a report, in 2009–10, Indians were more inclined toward higher education, but by 2024–25, travel has taken the top spot in spending. This expenditure has grown so dramatically that in the past 15 years, it has increased by nearly 1,000 times.
In 2009–10, Indians spent around USD 17 million on foreign travel, which by 2024–25 has risen to USD 17 billion — roughly ₹15 lakh crore. This reflects an astonishing annual average growth rate of 58.2%, amounting to nearly a 975-fold increase. The report notes that Indians are now traveling everywhere from the Eiffel Tower to New York, Rome, Turkey, Mauritius, and Brazil.
In 2009, about 11 million Indians traveled abroad. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, this number had risen to 26 million. While the pandemic caused a temporary drop, the numbers surged again afterward, crossing 20 million in 2022.
Spending on higher education has also grown steadily. In 2024–25, Indians are projected to spend around USD 9.6 billion on overseas education, compared to USD 549 million in 2009–10 — an increase of about 17 times. However, this rise is much smaller compared to travel expenditure.
The report also reveals that by 2024–25, Indians’ total spending abroad — including medical expenses, gifts, investments, deposits, property purchases, donations, and family obligations — has reached USD 30 billion, up from just USD 983 million in 2009–10, a 30-fold increase. Beyond education and healthcare, Indians are now spending freely on gifting, property purchases, and donations, showing their desire for quality in every aspect of life — whether in education, health, or travel.
