WASHINGTON: Indian Americans now make up the second-largest Asian-origin group in the United States, with an estimated 5.2 million people of Indian descent calling the country home. This figure represents roughly 21% of the Asian population in the US, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center based on US Census Bureau data and the American Community Survey. The largest Asian-origin group remains Chinese Americans, whose numbers stand at approximately 5.5 million.
The Indian community in the US, as defined in the report of May 1, includes all individuals who identify themselves as Indian -whether immigrants from India or those born in the US or elsewhere but with Indian ancestry. The growth of this demographic over the past two decades has been driven by sustained immigration, family expansion, and educational opportunities.
Residency
In terms of residency status, 60% of Indian immigrants have lived in the US for more than 10 years, and 51% have acquired American citizenship through naturalization, underscoring the long-term commitment many Indian Americans have made to life in the United States.
Economics
Economically, Indian Americans stand out with a median household income of $151,200 in 2023, significantly higher than the median for Asian-headed households overall, which is $105,600. Households led by Indian immigrants fared even better, with a median income of $156,000 - compared to $120,200 for households led by US-born Indian Americans.
Language
Indian Americans are among the most linguistically and culturally diverse Asian groups in the US. While a large share (74%) of the community speaks English proficiently, many also use Indian languages at home. Hindi is spoken by 18% of Indian Americans, followed by Telugu (11%), Gujarati (10%), and Tamil (7%).
Religion
Religiously, nearly half (48%) of Indian Americans identify as Hindu, making it the dominant faith within the community. Christianity and religious non-affiliation are each reported by about 15% of the population.
States
Geographically, California hosts the largest Indian population, with about 960,000 individuals - nearly 20% of the entire Indian American community. Texas follows with 570,000, then New Jersey (440,000), New York (390,000), and Illinois (270,000).
