Indian diaspora in France
| Total population | |
|---|---|
|
300,000 in overseas departements - 65,000 in metropolitan France | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Paris, DOM-TOMs | |
| Languages | |
| French, Tamil, Indian languages, English | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism, Islam, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin, Tamil, Desi |
The Indian diaspora in France includes expatriate residents of France from India, as well as people of Indian national origin. As of 2000, there were an estimated 65,000 Indians living in metropolitan France, in addition to 300,000 Indians in the French overseas departements of Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana.
History
A majority of the Indian community hails from Puducherry and Chandannagar, the former French colonies in India. Later arrivals to mainland France were mostly Gujaratis and Indians from Mauritius, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, the Seychelles, Réunion, and Madagascar.
A majority are engaged in small businesses. About 12,000 are in the French government service, while another 6,000 are in the police and armed forces.