Pew Survey: Indian Americans View India Positively; US Born Adults Would Not Move To India

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Indian Americans are more likely to have a favorable opinion of the United States than of any other place, a Pew Survey, posted on July 19 showed. Nearly nine-in-ten Indian adults say this, including 56% who have a very favorable view of the U.S.

Roughly three-quarters of Indian Americans also say their opinion of India is very or somewhat favorable, compared with 5% who offer unfavorable views of the country and 16% who have neither favorable nor unfavorable views. Indian Americans views of India are also substantially more positive than other Asians’ views: 76% vs. 23%.8.

Though similar shares of U.S.-born Indian adults and Indian immigrants have a favorable opinion of India, those born in the U.S. are more like than those born abroad to say they have a neutral view of the country (31% vs. 13%).

And among immigrants, those who are not U.S. citizens are more likely to have favorable views of India than those who are naturalized citizens (87% vs. 73%).

When asked whether they would ever move to India, 33% of Indian adults say they would, compared with 65% of Indian adults who say the opposite said authors Neil G. Ruiz, Carolyne Im, Christine Huang and Laura Silver.

Foreign-born Indian adults are more likely than those born in the U.S. to say they would move to India (36% vs. 14%). Immigrants who have been in the U.S. for less time are also particularly likely to be open to moving back relative to those who have been in the U.S. for longer.

Nearly all U.S.-born Indian adults say they would not move to India (85%).

Among the third of Indian adults who say they would move to India, about half say the main reason for the move is to be closer to loved ones. Smaller shares cite lower cost of living (12%), more familiarity with Indian culture (7%), more job opportunities (6%), and better elder care (6%) as the main reason they would move there.