3.43 Crore Indians Abroad: US, UAE Lead as Remittances Skyrocket
Nearly 3.43 crore Indians live overseas, US hosts most. Record $135B remittances strengthen India’s economy and support migrant welfare programs.
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India now holds the world’s largest diaspora, with 3.43 crore people of Indian origin living abroad, according to a government response in the Lok Sabha cited by the Economic Times. The United States hosts the highest number, with nearly 56.9 lakh Indians residing there.
The diaspora is evenly split between Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), each numbering 1.71 crore.
India’s overseas population continues to play a vital role in the economy. Remittances reached an all-time high of -$135.46 billion in 2024-25, up 14% from the previous year, according to Reserve Bank of India data. India has remained the top global recipient of remittances for more than a decade, the World Bank said.
Almost half of the diaspora lives in ten countries. After the United States, the UAE hosts 38.9 lakh Indians, Malaysia 29.3 lakh, and Saudi Arabia 27.5 lakh. The Gulf region is home to around 76.5 lakh NRIs, while PIOs are concentrated in Western nations, with roughly 66 lakh living in the US, UK, and Canada, accounting for nearly 40% of the global PIO population.
Smaller countries with established Indian communities include Mauritius (8.9 lakh), Trinidad & Tobago (5.4 lakh), Fiji (3.1 lakh), Guyana (3.2 lakh), Suriname (1.8 lakh), and Reunion Island (3 lakh).
India promotes cultural connections through 38 Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) centres abroad, in cities such as London, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Johannesburg, Berlin, Beijing, and Tokyo. The Ministry of External Affairs oversees 219 missions and posts worldwide and has signed migration and mobility partnerships with seven countries. Joint Working Groups with GCC nations are also in place to address the welfare of migrant workers.
