India Becomes World’s Second-Largest Supplier of Seafarers

India has risen to become the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, providing 311,936 maritime professionals to the global shipping industry. The BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026 states that India now accounts for 12.16% of the global seafaring workforce, ranking behind only the Philippines and ahead of China, the Russian Federation and Indonesia.

This milestone represents one of the most significant transformations in India’s maritime history. In 2015, India contributed just 5.2% of the world’s seafarers and ranked fifth globally, trailing China, the Philippines, Indonesia and the Russian Federation. By 2021, its share had increased modestly to 6%, though it remained in fifth place. The latest BIMCO-ICS report, however, highlights a decisive leap forward.