Australian Bureau of Statistics’ latest census data (2021) reveals people born in India now rank at the top of the income scale among major migrant groups. India-born Australians report a median personal weekly income of about $1,015, a median family income of around $2,409, and a median household income of roughly $2,461.
These figures are higher than those for New Zealand-born, whose median household income is about $2,186, England-born (the single largest overseas‑born group), and the Australia-born population, whose national median household income is about $1,746. China-born residents also record significantly lower median incomes, around 40% lower in personal income and approximately 44% lower in household income compared to India-born residents.
This pattern closely mirrors outcomes in the United States. Indian Americans are the highest-earning ethnic group, with Indian-headed households reporting a median annual income of approximately $151,200 in 2023, according to the Pew Research Centre’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.
They make up roughly 1.5 percent of the U.S. population, yet their high earnings mean they contribute a disproportionately large share of U.S. income taxes, estimated at around 5 to 6 percent. This compares with a national median household income of roughly $75,000 and a median of around $112,000 for Asian Americans overall, reinforcing their position at the top of the U.S. income distribution.
Comparable trends are evident in Europe. In Germany, Indian nationals working full-time earn the highest median gross monthly wages among major nationality groups, at roughly €5,400, exceeding both German nationals and other high-income migrant groups. In the United Kingdom, Indian households are among the highest earners by ethnicity, with median household incomes typically above the national median and well ahead of most other minority groups.
Public commentators like Richard Hanania and Anatoly Karlin took to social media to highlight Indian success abroad, with Hanania calling the earnings data “awe-inspiring” and Karlin describing Indians as “a blessing unto the nations wherever they go,” underscoring admiration for their high contributions.
A large proportion of Indian migrants succeed and contribute significantly to their host countries because their approach is shaped by core Hindu philosophical concepts such as Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam — “the world is one family” — and Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti — “truth is one, sages call it by many names” — instilling a mindset of tolerance, pluralism, and universal outlook. Rooted in these values, Indians often embrace secularism, liberalism, meritocracy, and rational, evidence-based thinking, which enables them to integrate effectively, excel professionally, and strengthen the social, democratic, and economic institutions of the countries in which they live.
Taken together, figures from Australia, the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom point to a consistent global pattern. Across advanced economies, Indian-born and Indian-origin communities consistently rank among the top earners, often far exceeding national median incomes and the earnings of other migrant groups. The trend reflects high levels of education, concentration in skilled professions, and a values-driven, merit-based mindset that reinforces integration, economic contribution, and societal development across multiple countries.
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