35.4M
Indian diaspora worldwide
2M+
People of Indian origin in Europe
1.9M
In the UK — Europe's largest
3rd
Largest diaspora region globally
Figures: Ministry of External Affairs (India), 2024; UK Census 2021. See sources below.
Europe's place in the Indian diaspora
The Indian diaspora is the largest in the world — about 35.4 million people of Indian origin and non-resident Indians as of 2024, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs. Most live in the Gulf states and North America, but Europe is the third-largest region, with well over 2 million people of Indian heritage spread across the continent.
That population is not evenly spread. The United Kingdom dominates — its Indian community is larger than every other European country combined. On the continent, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and France host the biggest communities, each shaped by a different history: colonial-era ties, post-war labour migration, and today's wave of engineers, IT professionals and students.
A note on the numbers: diaspora counts vary widely between sources because definitions differ — some count only Indian citizens, others include people of Indian origin (PIO) going back generations, such as the Surinamese-Hindustani community in the Netherlands or Tamil-origin populations in France. The figures below are given as ranges, with the source and year, rather than as false precision.
Indian population in Europe, by country
| Country | Est. Indian-origin population | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | ~1.9 million | Largest in Europe by far. 1,888,641 of Indian ethnicity (2021 Census). |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | ~240,000–400,000 | Largest on the continent. Includes the long-settled Surinamese-Hindustani community. |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | ~200,000–350,000 | Large Punjabi community in agriculture and dairy, concentrated in Lombardy. |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | ~300,000 | Fast-growing (2024). Indians are the largest group of international students. |
| 🇫🇷 France | ~110,000–400,000 | Estimates vary widely; some include Tamil-origin populations from former colonies. |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | Tens of thousands | Growing quickly, with historical ties through Goa. |
Ranges reflect differing definitions across sources (Indian citizens vs. people of Indian origin). Primary sources listed at the foot of this page.
The Marathi diaspora within the Indian story
Within that broad Indian presence sits a distinct thread: the Marathi diaspora — people from the Indian state of Maharashtra, whose mother tongue is Marathi. Unlike the older Punjabi and Surinamese-Hindustani communities that shaped earlier waves of migration, the Marathi community in Europe is largely a recent, skilled-migration story: software engineers, mechanical and automotive specialists, researchers and students who arrived from the 2000s onwards.
That's why the map of Marathi Europe tracks the map of industry. The community concentrates around Germany's automotive and tech centres (Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt), the Netherlands' Brainport region around Eindhoven, the technology corridors of the UK, and the pharma and finance hubs of Switzerland. Wherever a cluster forms, a Maharashtra Mandal follows — a volunteer-run cultural organization that celebrates Ganeshotsav, Gudhi Padwa, Diwali and Kojagiri Pournima, runs Marathi classes for children, and helps newcomers settle.
Maharashtra in Europe maps this community across 18 countries. Explore the in-depth guides to Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, or browse the full directory of Maharashtra Mandals across Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Indians live in Europe?
More than 2 million people of Indian origin live across Europe, making it the third-largest concentration of the Indian diaspora after the Gulf states and North America. The global Indian diaspora numbers about 35.4 million (Ministry of External Affairs, 2024).
Which European country has the most Indians?
The United Kingdom, by far — around 1.9 million people of Indian ethnicity (2021 Census). The Greater London Indian population alone exceeds the Indian communities of the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Portugal combined.
What is the Marathi diaspora?
The Marathi diaspora is the community of Marathi-speaking people from the Indian state of Maharashtra living outside India. In Europe they cluster around technology and engineering hubs — Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and Switzerland — and organize through Maharashtra Mandals.
How many Indians live in Germany?
Around 300,000 people of Indian descent live in Germany as of 2024, and Indians are the largest group of international students at German universities. The community is concentrated in Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin and the automotive regions.
Sources
- Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India — Population of Overseas Indians (2024)
- Office for National Statistics (UK) — Indian population in the UK (Census 2021)
- Wikipedia — Indians in Germany and Indian diaspora
- Indiaspora — The Netherlands: second-largest Indian diaspora in Europe
Figures are estimates and change over time. Last reviewed July 2026. Spotted an error or a better source? Let us know.
Are you part of the Marathi community in Europe? Find your local Maharashtra Mandal in the community directory, or join thousands of members in the Maharashtra in Europe WhatsApp community.