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Indians in the U.S. Fact Sheet

Indian population in the U.S., 2000-2019


YearPopulation
20001,900,000
20103,183,000
20153,982,000
20194,606,000

Note: Based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: 2000 and 2010 population estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, “The Asian Population: 2010” Census Brief, Table 6.

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English proficiency of Indian population in the U.S., 2019


% among those ages 5 and older who are English proficient

CategoryEnglish proficient
All82%
U.S. born96%
Foreign born77%
Adults80%
All Asians72%

Note: Proficient English speakers are those who speak only English at home, or if they speak a non-English language at home, they indicate they can speak English at least “very well.” Figures for Indians and all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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Length of time in the U.S. for Indian immigrants, 2000-2019


% of foreign-born population who have lived in the U.S. …

Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
200054%46%
201048%52%
201543%57%
201943%57%

Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2000 decennial census, 2008-2010, 2013-2015 and 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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% of foreign-born population who have lived in the U.S. …

Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
200044%56%
201036%64%
201534%66%
201934%66%

Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2000 decennial census, 2008-2010, 2013-2015 and 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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Educational attainment of Indian population in the U.S., 2019


% of those ages 25 and older, by educational attainment

CategoryHigh school or lessSome collegeBachelor’s degreePostgrad degree
All15%10%32%43%
U.S. born11%14%34%41%
Foreign born16%9%32%43%
All Asians27%19%30%24%
All Americans39%29%20%13%

Note: “High school” refers to those who have attained a high school diploma or its equivalent, such as a General Education Development (GED) certificate. “Some college” includes those with an associate degree and those who attended college but did not obtain a degree. Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Figures for Indians and all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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U.S. Indian population living in poverty, 2019


% living in poverty

GroupAll AmericansAll AsiansAll Indians
All13%10%6%
U.S. born13%9%7%
Foreign born14%11%6%

Note: Poverty status is determined for individuals in housing units and noninstitutional group quarters. It is unavailable for children younger than 15 who are not related to the householder, people living in institutional group quarters and people living in college dormitories or military barracks. Due to the way in which the IPUMS assigns poverty values, these data will differ from those provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Figures for Indians and all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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Top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas by Indian population, 2019


Top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas by Indian population, 2019
Metro areaIndian population
New York711,000
Chicago238,000
San Francisco234,000
Dallas208,000
Washington192,000
San Jose, CA189,000
Los Angeles171,000
Houston161,000
Atlanta137,000
Philadelphia137,000

Note: Based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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Demographic characteristics of U.S. Indian population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Indians in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN AGE (in years) 34 33 13 39
AGE
Younger than 5 7 7 21 1
5-17 17 17 42 6
18-29 18 17 20 16
30-39 17 22 10 28
40-49 14 16 5 21
50-64 16 12 2 17
65+ 11 8 1 12
NATIVITY
U.S. born 43 32
Foreign born 57 68
YEARS IN U.S. (among foreign born)
0-5 years 21 29
6-10 years 13 14
11-15 years 11 13
16-20 years 12 13
21+ years 44 31
CITIZENSHIP (among foreign born)
U.S. citizen 59 49
Not a U.S. citizen 41 51
MARITAL STATUS (18 and older)
Married 59 71 34 77
Divorced/Separated/Widowed 11 7 5 7
Never married 30 23 61 16
FERTILITY (among women ages 15 to 44)
Women who have given birth in the past 12 months 6 7 4 8
HOUSEHOLD TYPE, BY PERSONS
Married-couple household 71 82 83 82
Other family household 13 7 8 6
Non-family household 15 11 10 12
IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD
Multigenerational household 27 22 19 24

Note: Family households are those with a household head and one or more persons living in the household who are related to the household head by birth, marriage or adoption. Households with a household head and an unmarried partner are only considered family households if there are other persons in the household who are related to the household head by birth, marriage or adoption. Multigenerational households are households with two or more adult generations or one that includes grandparents and grandchildren. Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Figures for Indians and all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

Pew Research Center


Economic characteristics of U.S. Indian population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Indians in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $85,800 $119,000 $104,400 $120,000
MEDIAN ANNUAL PERSONAL EARNINGS (ages 16 and older with positive earnings)
All $40,000 $68,000 $42,000 $72,000
Full-time, year-round workers $60,000 $85,000 $71,000 $89,000
EMPLOYMENT STATUS (civilians ages 16 and older)
Employed 64 67 63 68
Not employed 3 3 3 2
Not in labor force 34 30 34 29
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (civilians ages 16 and older in the labor force) 4 4 5 4
LIVING IN POVERTY
All ages 10 6 7 6
Younger than 18 10 5 5 7
18-64 10 7 10 6
65 and older 12 8 9 8
HOMEOWNERSHIP (households)
Owner-occupied 59 57 52 58
Renter-occupied 41 43 48 42

Note: The household population excludes persons living in institutions, college dormitories and other group quarters. Households are classified by the race or detailed Asian group of the head. “Full-time, year-round workers” are defined as people ages 16 and older who usually worked at least 35 hours per week and at least 48 weeks in the past year. The share of the population ages 16 and older who are not employed differs from the unemployment rate because the share not employed is based on the total population, while the unemployment rate is based on those who are in the labor force (i.e. working or looking for work). Poverty status is determined for individuals in housing units and non-institutional group quarters. It is unavailable for children younger than 15 who are not related to the householder, people living in institutional group quarters and people living in college dormitories or military barracks. Due to the way in which the IPUMS assigns poverty values, these data will differ from those provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Figures for Indians and all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

Pew Research Center


Find out more

Explore fact sheets on other Asian groups in the U.S.

Read the methodology.