Indian Immigrants Contribute Most To US Economy, Finds New Study

Last Updated:October 24, 2025, 10:26 IST

Behind Indian immigrants are the Chinese, who reduce the debt by over $800,000 over 30 years. Next, Filipinos reduce the debt by over $600,000.

Indian immigrants are the most economically beneficial immigrant group in the US, a new study revealed.

Indian immigrants contribute more to the US economy and public finances than any other major immigrant group, a new study published by the Manhattan Institute showed.

As per the research, which measured immigrants’ long-term impact on taxes paid and government spending received, an average Indian immigrant and their descendants will save the US federal government $1.7 million over 30 years, the highest fiscal contribution among all major immigrant groups.

“The average Indian immigrant and his or her descendants will save the federal government $1.7 million over 30 years," the author Daniel Di Martino, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said.

Martino further condemned the recent criticism of Indian immigrants and said, Crazy people on X are bashing Indian immigrants, but my new research published today finds that Indians are the best major country of origin group of immigrants."

The findings are significant given the latest narrowing of the door for migrant workers, including the skilled ones moving to the US with H-1B visa, by the Donald Trump administration.

What Martino’s Study Reveals?

The study provided a detailed ranking of immigrants’ fiscal contributions by country of origin. Indian immigrants topped the list, reducing the national debt by more than $1.6 million per person over 30 years and boosting US GDP more than immigrants from any other nation.

They are followed by Chinese immigrants, who reduced the debt by over $800,000, and Filipinos, who reduced it by around $600,000. Colombians and Venezuelans also made significant contributions, cutting the debt by $500,000 and $400,000, respectively.

On the other hand, Salvadoran immigrants were found to be the most fiscally burdensome, increasing the national debt by over $50,000 per person, while Mexican immigrants, the largest foreign-born group in the US, were estimated to increase the debt by around $10,000 per person.

Martino, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, identified several key factors behind the fiscal impacts of immigrant groups. Education and age are the strongest predictors of fiscal contribution. Immigrants with bachelor’s or graduate degrees—especially those arriving before age 40—produced substantial fiscal surpluses over both 10- and 30-year periods.

Low-skilled immigration remained costly in both the short and long term, as immigrants with limited education tend to receive more in benefits than they pay in taxes.

Legal status is a major determinant. Employment-based immigrants generated the most positive fiscal impact, while parents of US citizens tend to have the most negative. On average, legal immigrants reduce the federal deficit and expand the economy, while unlawful immigrants still contribute to growth but increase national debt modestly.

He further emphasised that targeted immigration reforms could strengthen the US economy and federal budget.

The study recommended wage-ranking H-1B visas, redirecting visas toward high-skilled categories, and recapturing unused employment-based green cards to enhance productivity and reduce deficits.

According to the Manhattan Institute’s proposed high-skilled immigration reform plan, such measures could boost US GDP by 4.6% and reduce federal debt by nearly $20 trillion over 30 years—without increasing the overall share of immigrants in the population.

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

Read More

News world Indian Immigrants Contribute Most To US Economy, Finds New Study

Read More