Approximately 3.2 million immigrants from India live in the United States, making them the second-largest immigrant group in the country after Mexicans, according to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI). They account for 6 percent of the total foreign-born population of 50.2 million.

The new MPI Spotlight, based on U.S. Census Bureau 2024 American Community Survey data and federal immigration statistics, shows a population defined by high skills, high income and rapid growth — but also one hit hard by recent policy changes.

What does the data show about growth?

Most Indian immigration to the United States has occurred over the past 25 years. The population increased fivefold from 1980 to 2000, then tripled from 2000 to 2024. Between 2010 and 2024, the Indian immigrant population grew 78 percent — triple the 26 percent growth rate for all immigrants.

Historically, Indian arrivals in notable numbers began in the early 19th century, when Punjabi workers settled mainly in California. The Immigration Act of 1917 effectively banned immigration from most of the Asia-Pacific region. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 reversed course, abolishing national-origin quotas, and the Indian-born population roughly doubled each decade between 1960 and 1990.

Who is affected by the tighter visa rules?

Indian nationals dominate the high-skilled visa system. In fiscal year (FY) 2024 they received 71 percent of all approved H-1B petitions — 283,400 of 399,400 approvals. The next largest groups were China (46,700, or 12 percent) and the Philippines (5,200, or 1 percent).

India was also the leading source of international students in 2024-25, with more than 363,000 enrolled — 31 percent of nearly 1.2 million international students. China followed with 265,900 and South Korea with 42,300. Most Indian students were enrolled in STEM programs.

Because of this concentration, MPI notes Indian nationals have been particularly affected by the Trump administration's tightened policies:

• A $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions
• Enhanced vetting for H-1B and H-4 dependent visa applicants and for international students
• Significantly longer wait times for in-person visa interviews

Applicants should verify current requirements with the U.S. State Department and USCIS.

Where do Indian immigrants live?

One in five Indian immigrants resided in California in 2020-24. The top five states housed 53 percent of the population:

• California: 20 percent
• Texas: 12 percent
• New Jersey: 10 percent
• Illinois: 6 percent
• New York: 5 percent

The top metro areas were New York, Dallas, San Francisco, Chicago and San Jose, home to about 35 percent of all Indian immigrants. Indians made up more than 7 percent of San Jose metro residents.

How educated and how well paid are they?

Indian immigrants show markedly higher educational attainment. In 2024, 82 percent of Indian immigrant adults ages 25 and older held at least a bachelor's degree, versus 36 percent of all foreign-born and 37 percent of U.S.-born adults. Half held an advanced degree, compared with 16 percent of the total foreign-born population.

Households headed by an Indian immigrant had a median annual income of $176,200 in 2024 — more than double the $82,400 for all immigrant-led households and $81,400 for U.S.-born-led households. Only 6 percent of Indian immigrants lived in poverty, compared with 14 percent of all immigrants and 12 percent of the U.S. born.

Labor force participation stood at 74 percent for Indian immigrants ages 16 and older, against 63 percent for the U.S. born and 68 percent for all immigrants. Just 4 percent were uninsured, compared with 18 percent of the overall foreign-born population.

What are the green card and citizenship pathways?

About 47 percent of Indian immigrants were naturalized U.S. citizens in 2024, slightly below the 51 percent for all immigrants. Indians naturalized relatively fast, spending a median six years as lawful permanent residents before citizenship, versus 7.5 years for immigrants overall. In FY 2024, Indians made up 6 percent of all new citizens, second after Mexicans (13 percent).

India was the third-largest origin country for new green cards in FY 2023, after Mexico and Cuba: about 78,100 of nearly 1.2 million recipients, or 7 percent. Of Indians who received a green card that year, 60 percent did so through family ties, while 37 percent used employment-based preferences — more than double the share of all new LPRs.

MPI estimates about 199,000 unauthorized immigrants from India lived in the United States as of mid-2023 — 1.5 percent of the 13.7 million total, ranking 11th. Roughly 1,470 Indians were active DACA recipients as of September 2025, out of 505,900 nationwide.

What does the global picture look like?

India is the world's largest country of emigration, with approximately 18.5 million Indians living outside their country of birth as of mid-2024, per UN estimates. The United Arab Emirates and the United States each host 3.2 million, followed by Saudi Arabia (2 million), Pakistan (1.6 million) and Kuwait (1.2 million).

Remittances to India via formal channels reached $129.1 billion in 2024 — up 55 percent from nearly $83.1 billion in 2020 and nearly double the $68.2 billion sent to second-ranked Mexico. Remittances equal about 3 percent of India's GDP.