Top 5 Indian Languages Spoken In the USA

Have you ever wondered which are the Top 5 Indian Languages spoken in the USA? The population of Indians in the USA has increased tremendously over the last few decades.

As per the Census Bureau’s data from the American Community Survey (ACS) of 2018, the numbers increased from 1.75 million in 2010 to 2.65 million in 2017 ( source ). A 49% increase in just 8 years.

The major reason for such high numbers of Indians migrating to the USA in the recent past is the lucrative lifestyle and opportunities. The median household income for Asian Indians in the USA is $132,746 per annum.

According to data from the US government fact finder, more than 3.8 million people in the USA speak Indian languages.

The report is based on an internal survey conducted in the year of 2017. (Source)

The top 5 Indian languages spoken in the USA are :

1. Hindi
2. Gujarati
3. Telugu
4. Bengali
5. Tamil

The number of Native speakers in the USA as per 2018 data from the government of the USA :

Source: 

With more than 3 million Indians staying in the USA. However, some of India’s native languages have topped the list of fastest-growing foreign languages in the USA.

As per US Census Bureau data for 2017 :

Fastest growing foreign languages in the USA (Between 2010 and 2017) in percentage –

Source 

Growth of Indian languages in the USA

Tamil

Tamil is one of the top 5 Indian languages in the US. In other words, Tamilians ​​from India migrated to the United States as skilled professionals.

The population of Tamil Americansis 195,685 people. The North American Tamil Sangam Union serves as an umbrella organization for a growing community.

New York City and the Los Angeles metropolitan areas have the highest proportion of  Sri Lankan Americans.

Staten Island in New York City is estimated to be home to 5,000 Sri Lankan Americans. One of the largest populations outside of Sri Lanka, and a significant portion of them speak Tamil.

Community & Universities

The Tamil community in the United States is mostly bilingual. Language is taught in many Hindu temples and weekly classes by the American Tamil Academy in South Brunswick.

The written form of the language is very symbolic and very different from the spoken form.

Some universities, such as the University of Chicago and the University of California Berkeley, have language graduate programs.

Check Out: LANGUAGE INFOGRAPHIC GALLERY

Telugu 

As per the sources of Wikipedia, Telugu Bloom is the major reason for people from the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to migrate to the USA.

In other words, the bloom refers to the migration of these people in the late 80s and 90s.

Most Telugu Americans live in New York City, Long Island, Central New Jersey, and Central and Southern California.

Telugu society in the United States is mostly bilingual. A recent study of US-based immigration studies shows Telugu is the fastest-growing language in the US, an increase of 86% in the last seven years.

Also read: Top Languages Spoken In California

Bengali

The migration of Bengalis to the USA is not new. Similarly, it has been known since the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

They are of Bengali ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage and identity. Their ancestors are from the historic ethnolinguistic region of Bengal in South Asia.

In addition, Bengali Americans are sub-grouped as Bangladeshi Americans and Indian Americans.

Also read: 10 Interesting Facts About The Bengali Language

Gujarati

The New York City metropolitan area has the largest concentration of the Gujarati American population with a significant population of over 100,000 people.

Many of those who have seen the Gujarati trend for entrepreneurship and business have opened boutiques and motels.

Therefore, now they control over 40% of the United States hospitality industry in the 21st century.

Profession

Gujurati, in particular, is dominating fast-food restaurant chains such as Patidar Samaj, Subway, and Dunkin Donuts.

The descendants of the Gujarati migrant generation have also made great strides. In the professional field, including doctors, engineers, and politicians.

Check Out: GLOBAL LANGUAGE FACTS

Hindi 

Hindi is the 11th most popular foreign language in the US. It is the most spoken Indian language in the US with 810,000 people.

Many American universities offer programs and courses in Hindi. The University of Chicago offers a comprehensive Hindi program focusing on language, culture, and literature.

Also Read: 10 Big Brands with Hindi Taglines

The Department of Asian Languages ​​and Literature at the University of Washington offers a wide variety of courses. Including modern and medieval Hindi literature at undergraduate and graduate levels.

However many other universities offer Hindi programs, such as the University of California Berkeley, Texas, Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Harvard University, and Yale University.

Conclusion

Overall, with such deep connections for the immigration of Indians to the USA, there has been a noteworthy impact on the languages and their co-existence on US soil.

Businesses targeting Indian consumers in the US can develop better connections with them by translating their content into Indian languages.

Milestone Localization can help you adapt your content to resonate with Indians in different parts of the world. Contact us here.