The Indian diaspora is the world's largest, with 35.4 million people living abroad today.

Cultures · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanning from ancient merchant networks in Central Asia to the massive waves of indentured laborers under British colonial rule, the Indian diaspora is a global force. Today, 2.5 million Indians emigrate annually, shaping the economic, social, and political landscapes of nations across the world through their enduring influence.

The Indian diaspora comprises 35.4 million people, including non-resident Indians and those of Indian origin. This global community is not a recent phenomenon; historical evidence suggests an 'Indus periphery' population lived in Central Asia during the Bronze Age, trading via the Indus Valley Civilisation. By the mid-16th century, a robust merchant network of Hindu and Muslim traders from regions like Multan and Shikarpur was active across Safavid Iran and Central Asia, dealing in finance, textiles, and precious metals.

The scale of migration shifted dramatically during the British colonial era between 1612 and 1947. The Indian indenture system saw Bhojpuri and Awadhi-speaking workers transported to colonies such as Mauritius, Guyana, Fiji, and South Africa to labor on plantations. Simultaneously, Gujarati and Sindhi merchants expanded trade networks throughout the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa. These communities often became economic backbones, though they frequently faced severe discrimination, ranging from the 1972 expulsion of South Asians from Uganda to institutional marginalization in Fiji and Malaysia.

Modern governance of this diaspora is complex. The Indian government distinguishes between non-resident Indians—citizens living abroad—and people of Indian origin, who are foreign citizens with ancestral ties to India. While the Overseas Citizenship of India card offers a long-term visa, it is not a form of dual citizenship. Despite the lack of a unified national policy on emigration, the diaspora remains a potent political asset, as demonstrated by the lobbying efforts that supported the 2008 India–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement.

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