Viral post explains why Indians are returning home from Sweden – the number is mind-boggling | World News

Why do Indians want to leave Sweden?

Ankur cited several points that he believes could be possible reasons. One of the reasons he cited is “career growth in India.” He explained, “With India's economy booming, highly skilled professionals now have access to competitive salaries and exciting career opportunities, making returning home an attractive option.”

Ankur also cited “loneliness and lack of close friends” as a reason. “Living in the West leads to feelings of loneliness, especially when it is difficult to form deep, close friendships due to cultural differences or language barriers. Many Indians miss the strong social ties and community life they had in India, which is difficult to replicate in Sweden. This feeling of isolation may be an important factor in the decision to return to India, where they can reunite with old friends and enjoy a more familiar social environment,” he wrote.

Ankur pointed out that one challenge for Indians may be that many spouses, despite having relevant qualifications and work experience, find it difficult to find work in Sweden because they “don’t know Swedish.”

Ankur said many Indians want to return to their country to support their ageing parents and stay closer to family. Some Indians, he pointed out, are also leaving Sweden to find “better financial opportunities.” He added that some Indians want to return because “being close to family increases overall happiness, especially for children who can form a bond with their grandparents.”

Another reason Ankur cited is “social integration.” He explained, “Some Indians have difficulty fully integrating into Swedish society due to cultural differences and language barriers, so they feel more comfortable in India.”

Ankur said Sweden's weather could be one reason why Indians want to leave the country. “Sweden's long, dark winters and cold climate can be difficult for people accustomed to India's warmer weather and contribute to the decision to return,” he wrote.

Ankur noted that the cost of living in Sweden is very high, which can be difficult for many to bear. India, he said, may offer a “better lifestyle” at a “lower cost.”

The final reason Ankur cited is “flexibility in remote work.” “The rise in remote work due to the pandemic has enabled many to work from anywhere. This has prompted some Indians to return to India while continuing to work for international employers,” he explained.

Incredible numbers

According to Statistics Sweden's population statistics for immigrants and emigrants, the number of Indians moving to Sweden each year for the past two decades has far exceeded the number of Indians leaving the country. Between January and June, 2,837 people born in India left Sweden, a 171 percent increase over the same period in 2023. Indians are by far the largest group of foreigners who have emigrated. Figures provided to The Local magazine by Statistics Sweden suggest that for the first time since at least 1998, Sweden has recorded negative net immigration of Indians in the first six months of a year.

Robin Sukhia, Secretary General and CEO of the Sweden-India Business Council, cautioned against jumping to conclusions based on these figures alone. “We don't think there is a particular reason for this at the moment, we probably have to wait for an assessment for the whole year. It could be a combination of several factors from completed studies, error rates, high costs in Sweden in recent years, lack of serviced apartments and accommodation in general. Hard to say,” he said.

Between January and June 2024, 2,461 people born in India moved to Sweden, compared to 3,681 in the same period last year. Except for 2020 and 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, Indian immigration to Sweden is at its lowest level since 2017.