$135 billion: The power of Indians beyond borders

Did you know 3.43 crore Indians live outside India? That makes India home to the largest overseas community in the world.

An Economic Powerhouse

It’s not just about population. Overseas Indians are a huge economic force. In 2024–25 alone, they sent home over $135 billion in remittances, keeping India the world’s top recipient for more than a decade, according to the World Bank.

Who Are They? NRIs and PIOs

The population abroad is almost evenly split: half are Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and half are Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), as per a government reply in Lok Sabha cited by The Economic Times.

Where Do Most Indians Abroad Live?

Nearly half of all overseas Indians are concentrated in just ten countries.

• United States: 56.9 lakh

• UAE: 38.9 lakh

• Malaysia: 29.3 lakh

• Saudi Arabia: 27.5 lakh

The Gulf alone is home to more than 76 lakh Indians, mostly NRIs working in the region.

Indians in the West

PIOs are more visible in Western nations. The US, UK, and Canada together host about 66 lakh PIOs, nearly 40% of the global total.

Smaller Nations, Deep Roots

It’s not just big countries. Smaller nations host vibrant Indian communities that trace back generations.

• Mauritius: 8.9 lakh

• Fiji: 3.1 lakh

• Trinidad & Tobago: 5.4 lakh

• Guyana: 3.2 lakh

• Suriname: 1.8 lakh

These communities carry cultural and historical links that date back centuries.

The Indian Story Goes Global

From the Gulf to North America, and from the Caribbean to the Pacific, Indians abroad are not only shaping local societies but also strengthening India’s global ties—socially, culturally, and economically.