Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 12 (IANS) Remittances by the Kerala diaspora comprise 31.23 per cent of the net state domestic product of the southern state, a latest study has revealed.

The number of Kerala emigrants living abroad in 2011 was estimated to be 2.28 million, up from 2.19 million in 2008, 1.84 million in 2003 and 1.36 million in 1998.

The state’s per capita income was Rs.52,084 (excluding remittances) in 2010, but it stood at Rs.68,375 inclusive of the remittances.

Remittances form more than 60 per cent of the state’s public debt.

This was revealed in a study, done at the Centre for Development Studies here, and fifth in the series of comprehensive studies on international and internal migration from Kerala since 1998.

The 2011 study is based on primary data collected from 15,000 households selected through random sampling covering all the 63 taluks in the state.

The study was conducted by researchers K.C. Zachariah and S. Irudayarajan.

The report said that the total remittances in Kerala in 2011 were estimated to be Rs.49,695 crore compared to Rs.43,288 crore in 2008.

Remittances were Rs.63,315 per household in 2011 and Rs.57,227 per household in 2008.

Among the 14 districts in the state, Malappuram received the largest amount of remittances of Rs.9,040 crore (Rs.114,313 per household).