SRINAGAR: India’s diaspora, long regarded as one of the largest in the world, has once again been mapped in detail by the Ministry of External Affairs. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh placed the global count of overseas Indians, including Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), at well over 3.5 crore, spread across more than 200 countries and territories.
The figures underline India’s extraordinary global footprint, with countries like Canada, Malaysia, the United States, and the Gulf nations emerging as the biggest hubs of Indian origin communities.
According to the government’s latest estimates (as of January 2025), Canada is home to nearly 36.1 lakh Indians, comprising 18.6 lakh PIOs and 17.5 lakh NRIs. Malaysia follows with an estimated 29.3 lakh overseas Indians, dominated by 27.5 lakh PIOs who trace their lineage back to indentured migration during the colonial era.
Fiji, with its deep history of indentured labour migration, still has a vibrant Indian-origin population of over 3.16 lakh, while Guyana records 3.22 lakh, and Mauritius and Trinidad (not in this portion of the list but included in the annexure) have similarly significant communities.
In West Asia, where Indian workers have powered economies for decades, the diaspora remains robust. Kuwait hosts over 10.1 lakh Indians, with NRIs forming the overwhelming majority. Bahrain follows with 3.46 lakh, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — figures included in the full annexure — together account for millions more. The Gulf continues to be a critical economic partner through remittances, which remain India’s single largest source of foreign exchange inflows.
Australia now counts nearly 9.76 lakh overseas Indians, split between recent migrants (NRIs) and settled PIO communities. In Europe, Germany has 4.5 lakh, France (including its overseas territories like Réunion and Guadeloupe) totals over 4.3 lakh, while the United Kingdom remains one of the historic centres of the Indian diaspora with figures running into several lakhs.
The United States, not listed in the extracted portion but a top destination, is expected to remain among the largest bases of the global Indian community, with numbers exceeding 45 lakh.
The government also revealed that over 200 elected representatives of Indian origin are currently serving in foreign governments worldwide. These include lawmakers, cabinet ministers, and even heads of state or government in countries ranging from Ireland and Portugal to Canada, the Caribbean, and the Pacific islands. This global political influence, New Delhi said, has directly aided India’s image and strategic outreach.
Responding to the question on how India is leveraging its diaspora, the Ministry said its policy rests on four pillars: Care, Connect, Celebrate, and Contribute. Initiatives such as the biennial Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention, held most recently in January 2025 in Odisha, continue to serve as platforms for dialogue and investment. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards conferred during the event recognise the achievements of overseas Indians across fields.
For younger generations, the Know India Programme provides immersion tours that expose People of Indian Origin (PIO) youth to India’s economy, heritage, and opportunities. Meanwhile, the extension of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, cultural promotion under the Promotion of Cultural Ties with Diaspora (PCTD) scheme, and incentives for foreign direct investment are being used to keep Indians abroad linked to their roots.
To a specific question on whether new Indian Community Welfare Funds or outreach platforms had been created, the government said no new funds had been introduced. However, it stressed that embassies and missions abroad remain active in cultural, economic, and welfare engagements with communities.
The Ministry underlined that overseas Indians now occupy prominent roles in international organisations, politics, public administration, academia, and business, giving India “soft power” that translates into concrete gains in trade, investment, and diplomacy.
As India positions itself for Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047, officials said the role of the diaspora, whether through remittances, investments, or advocacy, would remain central to the country’s growth story.
