Top Countries with the Largest Populations Living Abroad

Select Language:

Top Countries with the Largest Populations Living Outside Their Homeland

Brazil Leads with Diverse Diaspora Communities

Brazil hosts the most significant populations living abroad, especially of African descent, numbering approximately 110 million. This profound diaspora reflects Brazil’s deep historical ties to Africa through the transatlantic slave trade.
Italian immigrants and their descendants form a substantial community, totaling around 30 million, predominantly in the United States and South America.
Portuguese ancestry in Brazil accounts for about 25 million people, owing to historical colonization and ongoing cultural ties.
Japanese Brazilians, roughly 2 million strong, represent one of the largest Japanese communities outside Japan, mainly settled in São Paulo.
Lebanese descendants, numbering approximately 7 million, are part of a vibrant Lebanese-Brazilian community, contributing significantly to commerce and culture.

Image: Population outside home countries

United States: A Melting Pot of Ancestries

The U.S. boasts roughly 45 million individuals of German ancestry, making it the leading European-origin group.
Irish roots are prevalent among about 33 million Americans, many tracing their lineage back to early Irish immigrants.
Mexican Americans and their descendants form one of the largest immigrant groups, with around 38 million claiming Mexican heritage.
Poles contribute approximately 9 million people, with sizable communities in Chicago and New York.
Italian Americans, numbering 17 million, continue their cultural influence in regions across the country.
The Filipino community is home to about 4.5 million individuals, mainly settled in California and Hawaii.
Other notable groups include Vietnamese (2.2 million), Chinese (5.4 million), Koreans (2 million), Indians (4.8 million), Cubans (2.4 million), Dominicans (2.3 million), Jamaicans (1.5 million), Haitians (1.2 million), Greeks (1.3 million), and more.

Argentina’s Rich Immigration Heritage

Italy and Spain are the primary ancestral origins, with around 25 million Italian and 20 million Spanish descendants, shaping Argentina’s cultural landscape.
Germans and Lebanese/Syrians also have sizable communities, estimated at 3 million and 3.5 million respectively.

European Diasporas in France, Germany, and Beyond

France hosts large North African communities, particularly Algerian and Moroccan origins, totaling approximately 4-5 million and 3.5 million respectively.
Germans have significant Turkish (about 3 million) and Polish populations (around 2 million), reflecting historical labor migration.
Switzerland and Belgium also have Italian diaspora communities, each numbering roughly 0.6 million.

Canada’s Multicultural Demographics

Canada is home to over 1.4 million Ukrainians, 1.9 million Indians, and 1.7 million Chinese-Canadians, illustrating its diverse immigrant fabric.
Additionally, Italian, Filipino, and other ethnic groups contribute to Canada’s multicultural makeup with populations ranging from one to two million.

Australian Diversity: From British Roots to Asian Communities

Australia’s population includes approximately 18 million of British descent, alongside significant Asian communities: around 1.4 million Chinese, 1 million Italians, and 900,000 Indians.
Greek and other European ancestries also hold substantial presence in Australia.

Asian and Middle Eastern Diasporas

Indonesia and Malaysia each host Chinese minorities estimated at 8 million and 7 million respectively.
Singapore’s Chinese population is around 4 million, and Thailand’s Chinese-origin community approaches 9 million.
Iran’s Azeri population ranges between 15 to 18 million, reflecting the country’s ethnic diversity.
Turkey’s Kurdish population has grown to approximately 15 million, mainly residing within Turkey and neighboring regions.

Russian and European Migration Patterns

Russia’s Ukrainian heritage numbers roughly 3 million, with a Tatar population of about 5 million.
In Belgium and Switzerland, Italian descendants constitute about 0.6 million each.
The Netherlands’ Indonesian and Turkish communities number about 2 million and 400,000 respectively.

Latin American and Caribbean Diasporas

Mexican Americans and their ancestral roots in Spain dominate the demographic landscape, accompanied by Lebanese and Palestinian communities in Mexico and Central America.
Peru and Bolivia hold Japanese and German descendants, respectively, while Venezuela combines Spanish and Italian heritage.

Middle Eastern and North African Migration

Palestinian communities have established in Jordan (around 3 million) and Lebanon (about 0.5 million).
Saudi Arabia’s Yemeni-origin population reaches approximately 2 million.
The United Arab Emirates hosts over 3.5 million Indians, 1.5 million Pakistanis, and about a million Bangladeshis.
Qatar and Kuwait also reflect Indian and Egyptian migration, with populations of approximately 0.7 million and 600,000 respectively.

Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions

New Zealand’s British majority is complemented by a small but significant Samoan community of around 200,000.
Fiji’s Indian-origin population makes up roughly 40% of its total, demonstrating a mix of local and migrant identities.
Mauritius has a predominantly Indian-descended population, estimated at 70%.

Figures are approximate and reflect ancestry, ethnicity, or country of origin from 2025 statistics, subject to variation depending on sources and census updates.