Female participation in cross-border investing among Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) has increased by nearly 70% over the past year, according to findings that analysed investment activity by NRI investors across 34 countries between July 2025 and June 2026.
Belong’s analysis showed that women accounted for 7.3% of all NRI investors as of June 2026, up from 4.3% a year earlier. The study also highlighted notable regional differences, with female participation in Western markets nearly 1.7 times higher than in Gulf countries.
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The analysis focuses on investor participation by gender and geography and does not account for asset values, portfolio sizes, or investment amounts.
Based on participation data across major NRI corridors spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, the findings highlight how migration patterns and household structures continue to shape investment behaviour among overseas Indians at a time when more women are entering financial markets globally.
Among key markets, women represented 11.4% of investors from Western countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Europe. In comparison, women accounted for 6.8% of investors from Gulf nations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
The findings suggest that the global Indian diaspora is far from homogeneous. While women are becoming increasingly active investors, participation rates vary considerably across geographies.
According to Belong, diaspora communities in Western countries are more likely to comprise dual-income professional households, where women have greater financial independence and a stronger role in long-term investment planning. In contrast, migration to Gulf countries has historically been concentrated among contract workers and single-income households, leading to different patterns of financial participation.
"The growth in female participation is one of the most encouraging trends we are seeing among NRI investors," said Ankur Choudhary, Co-Founder and CEO of Belong.
"What's equally interesting is that participation differs significantly across geographies. The data reinforces the idea that there is no single NRI investor profile. Financial behaviour is influenced by migration patterns, family structures, and economic participation in the countries where overseas Indians live and work," Choudhary added.
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The findings come at a time when financial institutions are increasingly focusing on women investors as one of the fastest-growing segments in wealth management. As investing becomes more digital and cross-border infrastructure continues to improve, women are expected to play a larger role in shaping the future of wealth creation among NRIs.
