Nearly half of India’s diaspora lives in just 10 countries! US & UAE at the top of list; check where overseas Indians live

India’s diaspora population has expanded to 3.43 crore, making it the largest in the world, according to a government reply in Lok Sabha quoted in an ET report. It is evenly split between Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), each at 1.71 crore.India’s diaspora also plays a major role in the economy. Remittances touched a record $135.46 billion in 2024-25, up 14% from the previous year, according to RBI data cited in the report.India has remained the top global recipient of remittances for over a decade, the World Bank notes.Nearly half of India’s global diaspora resides in just ten countries. The United States leads with 56.9 lakh Indians, followed by the UAE (38.9 lakh), Malaysia (29.3 lakh), and Saudi Arabia (27.5 lakh), according to the ET report.(Data: ET)The Gulf continues to be a hub for NRIs, with 76.5 lakh Indians in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. In contrast, PIOs are concentrated in the West, with about 66 lakh in the US, UK, and Canada, forming nearly 40% of the global PIO population, the report said.Smaller countries also host notable Indian communities, including Mauritius (8.9 lakh), Fiji (3.1 lakh), Trinidad & Tobago (5.4 lakh), Guyana (3.2 lakh), Suriname (1.8 lakh), and Reunion Island (3 lakh).India has 38 Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) centres abroad, in cities including London, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Johannesburg, Berlin, Beijing, and Tokyo. However, the United States, despite hosting the largest Indian diaspora, has no ICCR centre. In such cases, embassy officers manage cultural activities, ET reported.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) operates 219 Missions and Posts worldwide and has signed migration and mobility partnership agreements with seven countries.Joint Working Groups with GCC countries meet regularly to address migrant worker welfare.External affairs minister S Jaishankar has in the past said, “To promote intellectual engagement, research grants are offered by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for NRI, PIO, and OCI scholars working in priority areas in India. Together, these initiatives underscore the government’s commitment to fostering a deeper, enduring connection between India and its global diaspora.”