Indian Diaspora Tops 3M In US, Canada Rises As Europe Tightens Rules

The number of Indian-born residents in the United States reached 3.17 million in 2024, according to newly released data, while Canada's Indian-born population climbed to 1.02 million. Together, the two countries now host roughly one in four Indian migrants worldwide, a share that has grown steadily over the past three decades.

The US figure has increased more than sevenfold since 1990, when fewer than 450,000 Indian-born individuals lived there. Canada has seen a similar surge, driven by points-based immigration systems and expanding economic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa.

The rise in North America contrasts with tightening rules across Europe. Several European nations have introduced stricter visa caps and residency requirements, redirecting skilled Indian professionals toward US and Canadian labor markets.

Demographers attribute the shift to North America's larger tech sectors, established diaspora networks, and more predictable pathways to permanent residency. India remains the top source country for both US H-1B visas and Canadian permanent residents.

Analysts expect the North American share of Indian migrants to keep climbing, as Europe's restrictions take effect and both countries expand annual immigration targets. The trend underscores a broader rebalancing of global migration flows toward the Western hemisphere.