Indian-American population rises to 5.2 million in the US, now the second-largest Asian group

The Indian-origin population in the United States has reached an estimated 5.2 million in 2023, making Indian Americans the second-largest Asian origin group in the country. As reported by data analysis done by the Pew Research Centre using figures from the US Census Bureau and the American Community Survey (ACS) between 2021 and 2023, Indian Americans now make up approximately 21% of the total Asian population in the US. The rise reflects long-term migration trends and continued population growth over the past two decades.

Population growth and immigration trends
According to Pew’s analysis, around 4.9 million people in the US identify as Indian, either alone or in combination with other races or ethnic groups. This represents a 174% increase from the year 2000, when the Indian-origin population stood at 1.8 million. A major portion of this increase is attributed to immigration. While the share of immigrants among Indian Americans has declined from 73% in 2000 to 66% in 2023, the absolute number of Indian immigrants has more than doubled—from 1.3 million to 3.2 million. Among this immigrant population, 60% have lived in the US for over ten years, and 51% have naturalized to become US citizens.

Concentration and settlement patterns
Indian Americans are primarily concentrated in specific states and metropolitan areas. California has the highest concentration, with approximately 960,000 residents of Indian origin—nearly one in five Indian Americans. Texas follows with 570,000, then New Jersey (440,000), New York (390,000), and Illinois (270,000). Major metro areas include New York with 710,000, Dallas with 270,000, and San Francisco with 260,000, highlighting key urban hubs for Indian communities.

Age and nativity profile
The median age of Indian Americans is 34.2 years, closely matching the 34.7-year median for Asian Americans overall. Immigrant Indians have a higher median age of 40.9, while US-born Indian Americans are younger, at a median age of 13.4. Only 7% of Indian immigrants are under 18, and 13% are 65 or older. In contrast, 60% of US-born Indian Americans are under 18, and just 1% are 65 or older, as reported by Pew’s analysis.

Language proficiency
Among Indian Americans aged 5 and older, 84% report English proficiency. This includes 28% who speak only English at home and 56% who speak another language at home but say they speak English very well. By nativity, 79% of immigrants and 96% of US-born Indian Americans are proficient in English. Other languages spoken include Hindi (18%), Telugu (11%), Gujarati (10%), and Tamil (7%).

Education and economic profile
Education remains a strong suit for Indian Americans. About 77% of those aged 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 56% of the wider Asian American community. Both immigrant and US-born groups share similar rates (77% and 76%). The median household income for Indian-headed households was $151,200 in 2023. Immigrant households reported $156,000, while US-born household heads earned $120,200. Individual earnings averaged $85,300, with full-time, year-round workers earning a median of $106,400.

Family, homeownership and poverty
Seventy percent of Indian American adults are married, outpacing the 58% marriage rate of Asian Americans overall. Homeownership stands at 62% for Indian-headed households, equal to the broader Asian American rate; immigrant households report 63% ownership, compared with 54% for US-born households. The poverty rate among Indian Americans is 6%, lower than the 10% rate for Asian Americans overall, and it remains the same across immigrant and US-born groups.

Religious affiliation
Religious patterns among Indian Americans show that 48% of Indian-alone adults identify as Hindu. Christians and those unaffiliated with any religion each account for 15% of the population, compared with 11% of all Asian Americans identifying as Hindu.

The Indian American community continues to grow and evolve, marked by high educational and economic achievements, strong family and homeownership rates, and diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. As this population expands, it plays an increasingly important role in the social and economic fabric of the United States.