Indian Population in Maryland: Cities, Jobs, Income, Students & Community Trends
Maryland's Indian community is established in the DC suburbs — Montgomery County, Rockville, and Gaithersburg — plus the Baltimore area, with a strong presence in medicine, biotech/NIH research, and IT. Exact counts vary by ACS/Census definition.
For the national picture, see our pillar guide on the Indian population in USA.
Last updated: July 21, 2026
Indian Population in Maryland — Quick Facts
- 2020 Census (Asian Indian alone)
- ≈104,617 (1.69% of Maryland's population)
- National rank by total count
- ≈14th — Maryland's own total count is more modest nationally than its 'high concentration' reputation suggests — it ranks behind Pennsylvania, Washington, Massachusetts, Michigan, and North Carolina by raw count. Its outsized profile comes from being one half of the combined Washington-DC metro (with Northern Virginia next door) and from a dense, high-income cluster around Montgomery County, not from Maryland alone having one of the largest state totals.
- Growth, 2010→2020 Census
- +32% (Asian Indian alone, same definition both years)
- Major Indian metro areas
- Montgomery County, Baltimore
- Common occupations
- IT, medicine, engineering, finance, business, academia
- Student / university hubs
- Montgomery County, Rockville, Gaithersburg area universities
- Community drivers
- Healthcare, tech, government, students
- Best-known Indian areas
- Montgomery County, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Baltimore suburbs
How many Indians live in Maryland?
The 2020 Census counted ≈104,617 people as “Asian Indian alone” in Maryland — 1.69% of the state's population, and ≈14th nationally by that measure, up +32% from the 2010 Census. Broader definitions (Indian-origin, including U.S.-born and mixed-heritage residents) would count higher. Maryland has a well-established Indian-origin community in the DC suburbs and Baltimore area.
Maryland Census snapshot — Asian Indian alone
2020 Census
≈104,617
1.69% of Maryland's population
2010 Census
≈79,051
Same definition, for comparison
Growth, 2010→2020
+32%
One consistent Census definition — not mixed with other measures
Approx. national rank
≈14th
Maryland's own total count is more modest nationally than its 'high concentration' reputation suggests — it ranks behind Pennsylvania, Washington, Massachusetts, Michigan, and North Carolina by raw count. Its outsized profile comes from being one half of the combined Washington-DC metro (with Northern Virginia next door) and from a dense, high-income cluster around Montgomery County, not from Maryland alone having one of the largest state totals.
Measure: Asian Indian alone (2020 and 2010 decennial Census, same definition both years). State figures use the Census Bureau's 'Asian Indian alone' detailed-race count from the 2020 Census, compared against the identical 'Asian Indian alone' count from the 2010 Census — one consistent definition, so the growth percentage is meaningful. National rank is approximate: it reflects a comparison across the ~20 largest states by this measure and is not a certified 1-to-50 ranking. These numbers intentionally are NOT combined with the broader Pew 'Indian-origin' (~4.9M) figure used elsewhere on this page — that is a different, broader definition. Verify an exact figure at data.census.gov before citing it as precise.
Where Indians live in Maryland
The largest Indian communities in Maryland cluster around these cities and suburbs:
Why Indians move to Maryland
- Medicine, biotech, and NIH research jobs
- Government and IT employment
- Strong Montgomery County schools
- Proximity to Washington DC
- Established professional community
Indian occupations in Maryland
Medicine, biotech/NIH research, IT, and government.
IT & software engineering
The single largest cluster — software, cloud, data/AI, and IT services.
Healthcare & medicine
Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and healthcare administrators.
Engineering
Semiconductors, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering.
Finance & accounting
Banking, analysis, accounting, and fintech roles.
Academia & research
University faculty, postdocs, and R&D scientists.
Small business & franchises
Hospitality, retail, franchises, and services — a deep entrepreneurial base.
Indian students in Maryland
The University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins enroll many Indian students, including a large medical and research cohort.
Student numbers use general patterns; check university and IIE Open Doors data for specific enrollment figures.
Visa and immigration patterns in Maryland
Long-settled citizens and green card holders plus H-1B professionals. Common statuses include H-1B and other work visas, F-1 students on OPT/STEM OPT, green card holders (many in the India employment-based backlog), family-sponsored immigrants, and naturalized or U.S.-born citizens.
Indian communities by region in Maryland
South Indian communities
Tamil, Telugu, and Malayali communities across the DC suburbs.
Gujarati communities
Business and professional families.
Punjabi communities
Established community in the Baltimore-DC corridor.
Community patterns are based on visible cultural associations, business communities, migration history, and metro-level settlement patterns, not official Indian-state-of-origin Census counts. U.S. Census/ACS typically tracks ancestry, race, language spoken at home, and country of birth — not always Indian state of origin. This section describes common community patterns, not exact official counts.
Indian economic contribution in Maryland
Maryland's Indian community is strong in medicine, research, and IT, contributing significantly to the local economy — though exact tax contribution by state is not published as a simple official number.
High-skilled labor
Deep representation in technology, medicine, engineering, and finance — fields central to U.S. competitiveness.
Founders & executives
Indian Americans lead and found companies across tech and services, including several of the largest U.S. firms.
Small business ownership
A dense base of hospitality, retail, franchise, and service businesses that employ locally.
University ecosystems
Indian international students pay significant tuition and sustain graduate programs and campus economies.
Essential services
Physicians, nurses, and pharmacists deliver frontline care in communities across the country.
Tax & local spending
High household incomes suggest significant federal, state, and local tax contributions, plus homeownership and local spending — an inference, not an official figure.
Indian Population in Maryland — FAQ
How many Indians live in Maryland?
The 2020 Census counted about 104,617 people as "Asian Indian alone" in Maryland (1.69% of the state's population), maryland's own total count is more modest nationally than its 'high concentration' reputation suggests — it ranks behind Pennsylvania, Washington, Massachusetts, Michigan, and North Carolina by raw count. Its outsized profile comes from being one half of the combined Washington-DC metro (with Northern Virginia next door) and from a dense, high-income cluster around Montgomery County, not from Maryland alone having one of the largest state totals. Broader definitions that include U.S.-born and mixed-heritage residents would show a higher number. Check the latest ACS tables at data.census.gov for the most current figure.
Which city in Maryland has the most Indians?
The largest Indian communities in Maryland are concentrated around Montgomery County, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Baltimore suburbs. These metros and suburbs have the densest Indian populations, businesses, temples, and cultural associations.
Where do most Indians live in Maryland?
Most Indians in Maryland live in and around Montgomery County, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Baltimore suburbs, clustered near major job markets, universities, and established immigrant neighborhoods rather than spread evenly across the state.
Why do Indians move to Maryland?
Indians move to Maryland mainly for medicine, biotech, and nih research jobs, government and it employment, strong montgomery county schools, plus established community and family networks. Maryland has a well-established Indian-origin community in the DC suburbs and Baltimore area.
Are there many Indian students in Maryland?
Yes. The University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins enroll many Indian students, including a large medical and research cohort.
What jobs do Indians do in Maryland?
Medicine, biotech/NIH research, IT, and government. Indian Americans here are highly represented in professional and technical fields, plus small business and hospitality.
Which Indian communities are common in Maryland?
Maryland has visible South Indian, Gujarati, Punjabi communities, among others. These patterns are based on cultural associations, business communities, and settlement history — not official Indian-state-of-origin Census counts.
Is the Indian population in Maryland growing?
Yes. Like the U.S. Indian-origin population overall — which grew about 174% from 2000 to 2023 — Maryland's Indian community has been growing, driven by work visas, students, and family immigration.
How does Maryland compare with the Indian population in USA?
Maryland has a well-established Indian-origin community in the DC suburbs and Baltimore area. Nationally, about 4.9 million people identify as Indian-origin. See the Indian population in USA pillar guide for the full state-by-state picture.
Sources & Methodology
Pew Research Center — Indian Americans fact sheet ↗
≈4.9M Indian-origin, a broader definition than the Census “Asian Indian alone” count (2021–2023 ACS/IPUMS).
U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Census Asian population ↗
Asian Indian alone: 4,397,737; up 50%+ since 2010.
U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey (ACS) ↗
Detailed race, ancestry, income, and geography tables.
Migration Policy Institute — Indian Immigrants in the U.S. ↗
≈3.2M Indian immigrants; one of the largest origin groups.
USCIS — H-1B data & characteristics reports ↗
Country-of-birth breakdown of H-1B approvals.
This page uses public demographic sources and rounded estimates. Definitions vary: Asian Indian alone, Indian alone or in combination, Indian-origin, Indian-born, Indian immigrant, and Indian American are not the same category. State and metro estimates should be checked against the latest ACS tables before citing as exact numbers. This page combines public demographic datasets and rounded estimates. Terms like Indian American, Asian Indian, Indian immigrant, Indian-born, Indian-origin, and 'Indian alone or in combination' can produce different totals, so figures are presented as estimates and ranges rather than exact counts. Always verify a specific number against the primary source before citing it.
State Census snapshot methodology: State figures use the Census Bureau's 'Asian Indian alone' detailed-race count from the 2020 Census, compared against the identical 'Asian Indian alone' count from the 2010 Census — one consistent definition, so the growth percentage is meaningful. National rank is approximate: it reflects a comparison across the ~20 largest states by this measure and is not a certified 1-to-50 ranking. These numbers intentionally are NOT combined with the broader Pew 'Indian-origin' (~4.9M) figure used elsewhere on this page — that is a different, broader definition. Verify an exact figure at data.census.gov before citing it as precise.
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Written / reviewed by Deepak Middha · CA, Series 65
Last updated: July 21, 2026