Breaking Records: NSE Welcomes 11 Crore Unique Investors & 20% of Indian households

The National Stock Exchange of India ( NSE ) reached a major milestone, surpassing 11 crore (110 million) unique registered investors as of January 20, 2025. The total number of client codes registered exceeds 21 crore (210 million), reflecting a 3.6x growth in investor participation over the last five years. This growth underscores the rising interest in direct market participation.

Today, the typical age of these investors is roughly 32 years old, with 40% under the age of 30. This is a significant shift from only five years ago, when the median age was 38, indicating a growing interest in the stock market among younger investors. Furthermore, one in every four investors today is a woman, indicating that gender diversity is increasing due to direct market engagement. 

NSE: Investors’ Registrations

Investor registrations have grown exponentially, with the first crore taking 14 years after NSE's inception in 1994. Subsequent milestones came faster; 7 years for the second crore, 3.5 years for the third, and just over a year for the fourth. Remarkably, the most recent crore was added in just over five months. 

Daily new investor registrations now range between 47,000 and 73,000, driven by digitization, financial inclusion, education, and strong market performance.

Indian stock markets have delivered positive returns for nine consecutive years, boosting investor confidence. In 2024, the Nifty 50 delivered an 8.8% return, while the Nifty 500 gained 15.2%. 

Over the past five years, annualized returns for the Nifty 50 and Nifty 500 stood at 14.2% and 17.8%, respectively, making equity investments an attractive wealth-building avenue.

NSE: Investor Demographics

The profile of Indian investors is evolving, with the median age dropping from 38 to 32 years in the last five years. 40% of new investors are under 30, and women now account for 25% of the investor base, indicating increased participation and diversity.

Market participation has expanded beyond urban centres, covering 99.84% of Indian pin codes. Among recent registrations, 40% came from North India, followed by 28% from West, 20% from South, and 12% from East. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra lead with over 25% of new investors combined. 

Notably, 47.6% of the last one crore investor registrations originated from districts beyond the top 100. In comparison, 62% came from districts beyond the top 50, signaling the expanding reach and trust investors from smaller towns hold in the market. 

NSE: Growth in SIP Participation

Indirect market participation has also surged, with 3.7 crore SIP accounts opened between July and December 2024. Average monthly SIP inflows during this period rose to Rs 24,748 crore, up from Rs 19,972 crore in the preceding six months, reflecting increased investor engagement and confidence.

Shri Sriram Krishnan, Chief Business Development Officer of NSE, highlighted that crossing the 11-crore investor mark reflects growing public confidence in the stock market. Factors such as enhanced digital access, financial inclusion, and a younger, tech-savvy population have driven this rapid growth, signifying a transformative shift in India's investment landscape.