Indians have been leaving their homeland or place of birth since the Bronze Age. The Indian diaspora is one of the largest in the world, influencing, sometimes significantly, global cultures and economies.
According to Indian Ministry of External Affairs May 2024 figures, approximately 35.42 million Indians reside overseas. 15.85 million are Non-Resident Indians. 19.57 million are Persons of Indian Origin. Where are they living? The MEA has a list. Read on.
The US is home to the largest Indian overseas community, with approximately 5.4 million NRIs and people of Indian descent.
3.6 million Indians live and work in the UAE -- its favorable working conditions and zero income tax have attracted many Indian expatriates.
Malaysia's Indian community consists of 2.9 million Indians, primarily of Tamil descent.
Approximately 2.8 million Indians -- NRIs and those of Indian descent -- reside in Canada, with a significant Punjabi community making notable contributions to Canadian society.
The Middle Eastern nation hosts 2.5 million Indians, who are attracted by employment opportunities in various sectors. But not that many end up making Saudi Arabia their permanent home.
Myanmar has 2 million individuals with direct links to India, reflecting historical migration patterns.
The UK has a vibrant Indian diaspora of about 1.89 million. Some of the top spoken languages in Britain are Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, especially around London.
Indians in South Africa have deep historical roots and number around 1.7 million.
Some 1.6 million Indians regard Sri Lanka as home, reflecting longstanding cultural and historical ties.
Kuwait has a significant Indian workforce. Nearly 996,000 Indians have jobs in the petrol-rich nation.