At 5.2 Million, Indians Second Largest Asian Group In The US: Pew

Photo: Pew Research Center

India-West Staff Reporter

WASHINGTON, DC – 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 U.S., according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center based on U.S. 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 U.S., 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 U.S. 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.

A Decades-Long Surge in Growth
Since 2000, the Indian-origin population in the U.S. has grown by 174%, jumping from 1.8 million to over 5 million today. This increase of 3.1 million people over roughly two decades is among the fastest rates of growth for any ethnic group in the country.

Residency

In terms of residency status, 60% of Indian immigrants have lived in the U.S. for more than ten 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 U.S.-born Indian Americans.

Poverty

 6% of Indians in the U.S. live in poverty, a figure notably lower than the 10% poverty rate among Asians overall, highlighting the economic mobility and professional achievements within the Indian American community.

Language

Indian Americans are among the most linguistically and culturally diverse Asian groups in the U.S. 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).

Cities

Among metropolitan areas, New York leads with 710,000 Indian residents, trailed by Dallas (270,000) and San Francisco (260,000).