Medical Tourism Statistics India 2026: Official Data, Trends and Source Countries

Quick answer: India recorded 6,44,387 foreign arrivals for medical purposes in 2024, and about 4.5 lakh from January to November 2025 (provisional), according to Bureau of Immigration data shared by the Ministry of Tourism in Parliament. Bangladesh is by far the largest source, with 4,82,336 medical arrivals in 2024, followed by Iraq, Somalia, Oman and Uzbekistan. Numbers recovered strongly after the pandemic but dipped in 2024 and 2025, mainly because of fewer arrivals from Bangladesh.

Last updated: 29 September 2026. All figures are from official sources or clearly attributed published sources, listed at the end.

Key medical tourism statistics for India

Foreign medical arrivals in India by year

Sources: Bureau of Immigration figures reported by DD News, and the 2016 figure from Observer Research Foundation. Figures for 2023 have been reported as between about 6.35 lakh (provisional) and 6.59 lakh in different government replies, so we show the rounded figure.

Where medical tourists come from

India’s medical tourism depends heavily on its neighbours and on patients from the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. The Ministry of Tourism has named Bangladesh, Iraq, Somalia, Oman and Uzbekistan as the leading sources over the last five years.

This concentration is both a strength and a risk. After political unrest in Bangladesh in 2024, medical visas for Bangladeshi nationals fell by about 39 percent compared with 2023, according to Factly, and total medical arrivals to India fell with them.

How to read these numbers correctly

• Arrivals, not people. A patient who travels to India twice is counted twice.
• Purpose is self-declared at entry. Figures reflect people who arrived for medical purposes, not everyone who received treatment while in India.
• No official state-wise data. The Ministry of Tourism has said it does not maintain state-wise figures on medical arrivals or revenue, so claims about which state receives the most medical tourists are estimates.
• Revenue is estimated, not measured. Market size figures such as “about 9 billion US dollars” are estimates by industry and commentators, not official accounts.
• Visas and arrivals differ. The Ministry of External Affairs counts visas issued; the Ministry of Tourism counts arrivals. The two move together but are not the same.

India’s global ranking

In the Medical Tourism Association’s Medical Tourism Index 2020-21, India ranked 10th out of 46 destinations with a score of 69.80. The index measures how destinations are perceived, largely by American consumers, across destination environment, the medical tourism industry and quality of facilities. It is a perception measure, not a count of patients. See how India compares in our guide to the best countries for medical tourism.

Visas behind the numbers

Most international patients arrive on India’s e-Medical Visa, available to nationals of 175 countries on the official e-Visa list. Up to two relatives can accompany a patient on e-Medical Attendant Visas. A separate Ayush visa category, created in 2023, covers treatment under Ayurveda, Yoga and other Indian systems; the government reported 123 regular and 221 e-Ayush visas issued between July 2023 and December 2024. Read our medical visa guide and Ayush visa guide.

Trends to watch in 2026

• Diversifying source countries beyond Bangladesh, with growth from Central Asia, the Gulf and Africa.
• Government promotion under the Heal in India initiative, covering both modern and traditional medicine.
• Traditional medicine through the Ayush visa, still small in numbers but new.
• Wider entry points, with e-Visa entry now possible at 36 designated airports, including Guwahati and Bagdogra in the east.
• Growing domestic medical travel, as families from states such as those in the Northeast travel to specialist centres in South India.

What the statistics mean for patients

The numbers show that hundreds of thousands of people travel to India for treatment every year, and that hospitals in major cities have long experience with international patients. They do not tell you which hospital is right for you. For that, read our complete guide to medical tourism in India, best hospitals in India for international patients and guide to hospital costs.

Medical travel within India

Official statistics cover only foreign arrivals. They do not capture the very large number of Indian families who travel between states for specialised care, for example from the Northeast to hospitals in Vellore, Bangalore, Chennai or Hyderabad. This domestic medical travel faces many of the same challenges as international medical tourism. Read how to plan medical travel from Northeast India to South India.

How NEIMHAANS helps

NEIMHAANS is a non-clinical healthcare concierge that has supported families travelling for treatment since 2007, including patients from abroad and from Northeast India. We help organise records, compare hospitals and estimates, prepare visa documents and support families on the ground. See our services.

Sources

• DD News: medical arrivals 2019 to 2025 (Lok Sabha reply)
• The Daily Star: Bangladeshi medical arrivals in 2024 and Jan to Apr 2025 share (Rajya Sabha reply)
• Lokmat Times: source countries and Ayush visas (Parliament reply)
• Factly: medical visas issued and how arrivals are counted
• Observer Research Foundation: trends from 2016
• Medical Tourism Association: Medical Tourism Index 2020-21
• Government of India: official e-Visa information

Frequently asked questions

This article is general information, not medical, legal, insurance or financial advice. Rules, schemes and hospital policies change, so always confirm details with your hospital, insurer or the relevant authority.