| According to a rough estimate, there are more than 20 | | | | Here are a few interesting facts and statistics about |
| million Indian people currently living abroad. This number | | | | the large immigrant population from India: |
| includes both the Non-resident ones (NRIs), as well as | | | | 1) In the United States, the largest number of Indians |
| those having their roots in this country. Unevenly | | | | can be found in California, New York, and New Jersey. |
| distributed in more than 24 countries across the globe, | | | | 2) A number of people from South India, especially |
| this Diaspora is very large and is ranked just next to | | | | from the State of Kerala, migrated to the gulf |
| the Chinese and the Jewish Diasporas in size. The | | | | countries in the wake of petro-dollars during the |
| population includes scientists, engineers, software/IT | | | | seventies. It is this population that not only helped fuel |
| professionals, skilled workers, semi-skilled workers, and | | | | growth in Kerala, but also made a significant |
| students. | | | | contribution to the country's foreign exchange |
| Emigration to different parts of the world is not new | | | | reserves. |
| for India. It dates back over 2,000 years, when monks | | | | 3) The entire NRI population is dominated by people |
| of the Asoka Empire traveled to Eastern and Central | | | | from the southern states. According to the most |
| Asia to establish cultural and commercial links with | | | | recent estimates, over 54% NRIs have their origin in |
| other countries. Also, during the British rule in the 19th | | | | South India, while only 23% are from the North, |
| century, migration of labor from India to other British | | | | followed by 19% from the West and just 5% from the |
| colonies occurred on a very large scale. In fact, the | | | | East. |
| families of these immigrants form a large part of the | | | | 4) With the exception of US, over 80% of the Indian |
| Indian population currently living abroad. On the other | | | | people abroad are staying on a temporary work visa. |
| hand, the NRIs mainly include highly educated or skilled | | | | 5) In the United States, on the other hand, over 50% |
| people who moved to developed countries for better | | | | Indians possess a green card or the US citizenship. |
| lifestyles and job opportunities. These people have | | | | While 26% people are having H1B work visas, the |
| made a significant contribution to the economic | | | | remaining 24% are on other visas, such as a |
| prosperity of the countries they reside in. | | | | dependent or a student visa. |