Indian immigrant population in the US increased by 21 lakh over 23 years

Indian immigrants have become the second-largest Asian origin group in the United States, with the number of Indian immigrants growing significantly—by 2.1 million between the period 2000 to 2023. The number of Indian immigrants in the country increased from 1.3 million to 3.2 million. As of 2023, there are approximately 5.2 million people of Indian descent in the US, making up 21% of the total Asian American population, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of US Census Bureau and American Community Survey data.

The Indian population grew from about 4.9 million during 2021–2023 to 5.2 million—an increase of 300,000 in just a few years. Since 2000, the community has expanded by 3.1 million overall, with the immigrant population rising from 1.3 million to 3.2 million during the same period.

While immigrants made up 73% of the Indian American population in 2000, that figure fell to 66% by 2023, reflecting the growing second-generation Indian American base. Despite this percentage dip, more Indians have immigrated to the US than ever before. Around 60% of Indian immigrants have now lived in the country for over a decade, and 51% have become naturalized US citizens.

India leads in student migration to US

India also reclaimed its spot as the top source of international students in the US for the 2023–2024 academic year, surpassing China. A 23% increase in Indian students brought the total to 331,602, highlighting the country’s dominant role in global academic mobility.

Indians rank high in English proficiency

A large majority—84%—of Indians aged five and above report being proficient in English. This includes 28% who speak only English at home and 56% who speak another language at home but report speaking English very well. The figure surpasses the 74% English proficiency rate among Asian Americans overall.

Hindi remains the most widely spoken Indian language at home, followed by Telugu, reflecting the linguistic diversity within the community.

Where do Indians live in the US?

California hosts the largest Indian American population with around 960,000 residents, or nearly 20% of the national total. Texas follows with 570,000, then New Jersey (440,000), New York (390,000), and Illinois (270,000). At the metro level, New York leads with 710,000 Indian Americans, followed by Dallas (270,000) and San Francisco (260,000).

Despite their growth, Indian Americans remain just behind Chinese Americans, who constitute the largest Asian group in the US with a population of about 5.5 million.