India, with a population of around 1.43 billion, has the highest number of emigrants worldwide. Between 1990 and 2020, approximately 78.26 million Indians emigrated to other countries, according to the United Nations. As of May 2024, India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that there are 35.42 million overseas Indians globally, including 15.85 million non-resident Indians (NRIs) and 19.57 million people of Indian origin (PIO).
Overseas Indians play a crucial role in their home country’s economy, contributing around 3.5% to India’s GDP through remittances. In 2023, India received a record $120 billion in remittances, nearly double that of Mexico, which received $66 billion. The United Arab Emirates was the largest source of remittances to India, accounting for 18% of the total, followed by the United States.
Indian expatriates have made significant contributions globally across various sectors, including science, business, and technology. In the United States, Indian-origin executives lead 24 Fortune 500 companies, collectively employing 2.7 million Americans and generating over $1 trillion in revenue. Additionally, Indian-Americans are prominent in the startup ecosystem, co-founding 72 of the 648 US unicorns, which are collectively valued at $195 billion.
Indian-Americans also have a strong presence in small businesses, notably owning around 60% of all hotels in the US. They contribute significantly to the US economy, accounting for 5-6% of all income taxes, which translates to approximately $250-$300 billion in revenue for the US government. Their influence extends to research and innovation, with the percentage of US patents obtained by Indian-Americans increasing from 2% in 1975 to 10% in 2019.
One of the most notable Indian-Americans in the tech industry is Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG). Under his leadership, Google has expanded its presence in areas such as machine learning, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. In Q2 2024, Alphabet reported earnings of $1.89 per share, surpassing expectations, with a revenue of $84.74 billion. Google Cloud, a key area of growth, generated $10.35 billion in revenue, a 30% increase from the previous year.
Alphabet’s success under Pichai’s leadership exemplifies the impact of the Indian diaspora on global business and innovation.
The Country with the Highest Indian Population in the World: United States
The United States is home to the largest population of overseas Indians, with over 5.4 million as of May 2024. Indian-Americans are the largest “Asian-alone” group in the US and are involved in various sectors, from corporate leadership to small businesses. The significant contributions of Indian-Americans to the US economy and society underscore the global impact of the Indian diaspora.
Countries with the Highest Indian Population in the World
20. Fiji
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 316,081
- Overview: The Indian community in Fiji traces its origins to laborers brought over to work in sugarcane plantations. Today, Fiji hosts approximately 2,283 non-resident Indians and 313,798 people of Indian origin, making it the 20th largest Indian population globally.
19. Guyana
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 321,500
- Overview: Similar to Fiji, the Indian population in Guyana primarily arrived as laborers to replace African workers on plantations. Today, Indo-Guyanese are prominent in agriculture, with many serving as independent farmers and landowners.
18. Bahrain
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 327,807
- Overview: In Bahrain, the majority of Indians are laborers working in the construction industry. As of May 2024, there are 323,908 non-resident Indians and 3,899 people of Indian origin, placing Bahrain among the countries with the highest Indian population.
17. Trinidad & Tobago
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 549,545
- Overview: The Indian community in Trinidad & Tobago is heavily involved in the food industry. With a total of 549,545 Indians, this Caribbean nation ranks 17th in the world for Indian population.
16. Singapore
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 650,000
- Overview: Singapore is home to a vibrant Indian community, particularly in the district of Little India, known for its temples, street art, and colorful shophouses. The city-state has 350,000 non-resident Indians and 300,000 people of Indian origin.
15. Oman
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 686,635
- Overview: Oman has a diverse Indian population, ranging from unskilled to highly skilled workers. With a population of 686,635, Oman ranks 15th among countries with the highest Indian population.
14. Nepal
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 700,004
- Overview: Nepal, India’s northern neighbor, has an open border with India, facilitating the movement of people between the two countries. Nepal ranks 14th worldwide for its Indian population.
13. Qatar
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 836,784
- Overview: Qatar’s Indian community consists primarily of non-resident Indians, numbering 835,175, with an additional 1,609 people of Indian origin. This brings Qatar’s total Indian population to 836,784.
12. Mauritius
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 894,848
- Overview: Mauritius has a long history of Indian migration, with Indians initially arriving as artisans and masons in the 1700s. Today, the country is home to 894,848 Indians, making it the only African nation with such a large Indian population.
11. Australia
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 976,000
- Overview: The Indian community in Australia is diverse, with many Indians working across various sectors. Australia has 350,000 non-resident Indians and 626,000 people of Indian origin, making it one of the top countries for Indian expatriates.
10. Kuwait
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 995,528
- Overview: Kuwait has a significant Indian community, consisting of unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled workers. With a population of 995,528, Kuwait ranks 10th globally in terms of Indian population.
9. Sri Lanka
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 1,607,500
- Overview: The Indian community in Sri Lanka is largely of South Indian origin, with only 7,500 non-resident Indians. The total Indian population in Sri Lanka stands at 1.6 million.
8. South Africa
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 1,700,000
- Overview: South Africa is home to 60,000 non-resident Indians and 1.64 million people of Indian origin. With a total Indian population of 1.7 million, it ranks among the top countries with the highest Indian population.
7. United Kingdom
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 1,864,318
- Overview: The United Kingdom has one of the largest Indian communities in the world, with just under 1.9 million Indians. This places the UK 7th in the ranking of countries with the highest Indian population.
6. Myanmar
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 2,002,660
- Overview: Myanmar has a significant Indian population of just over 2 million, including 2,660 non-resident Indians and nearly 2 million individuals of Indian origin, ranking 6th globally.
5. Saudi Arabia
- Population of Overseas Indians (2024): 2,463,509
- Overview: Saudi Arabia’s booming economy has attracted a large number of Indian workers, bringing the total Indian population in the country to just under 2.5 million, making it the 5th largest Indian population in the world.