Top 10 African Countries with the Highest Number of Indians

South Africa hosts the largest Indian diaspora in Africa at 1.7 million, followed by Mauritius with over 900,000 people of Indian origin shaping national identity.

Population Rankings Table

1. South Africa

South Africa dominates with 1.7 million Indians, primarily descendants of 19th-century indentured laborers on sugar plantations. Durban, dubbed the “largest Indian city outside India,” features curry houses, Diwali festivals, and Hindi signage rivaling Mumbai. This community produces political leaders like Pravin Gordhan and business tycoons controlling retail giants. Post-apartheid integration elevated their economic clout, with 2.7% of the population driving commerce in KwaZulu-Natal.

2. Mauritius

Mauritius ranks second with 900,000+ Indians comprising 70% of 1.3 million residents, roots tracing to British-era laborers. Indo-Mauritians dominate politics—Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth leads—while Hindu temples outnumber churches. The economy blends sugar exports with offshore finance, where Indian networks excel. Cultural fusion yields Sega music infused with Bhojpuri rhythms, making Mauritius a diaspora success story.

3. Kenya

Kenya’s 100,000 Indians, concentrated in Nairobi and Mombasa, built the Uganda Railway in colonial times. Today, they control 70% of retail trade via dukas (shops) and dominate manufacturing. Figures like Manu Chandaria (Comcraft billionaire) exemplify wealth, while Sikh gurdwaras and Swaminarayan temples dot skylines. Post-independence tensions eased, yielding stable prosperity.

4. Tanzania

Tanzania hosts 100,000 Indians in Dar es Salaam, traders since Arab dhow eras. They run textile firms, pharmacies, and hotels, contributing to 6% GDP growth. President Samia Suluhu Hassan engages this community for investment. Mosques, mandirs, and Bollywood screenings thrive, with Zanzibar retaining pockets from Omani rule.

5. Uganda

Uganda’s 90,000 Indians rebuilt after Idi Amin’s 1972 expulsion of 80,000. Kampala’s Park Yard neighborhood buzzes with samosa stalls and textile markets. They dominate real estate and manufacturing, with Ruparelia Group valued at $1B. Museveni’s policies restored citizenship, fueling a comeback.

6. Reunion

Reunion, a French island, counts 220,000 Indians (24% population) from 1840s plantations. Malbars blend Hinduism with Catholicism, celebrating Cavadee processions. Sugar and tourism employ them heavily; French passports enable EU mobility. Saint-Denis hosts the largest Tamoul temple outside India.

7. Nigeria

Nigeria’s 25,000-50,000 Indians cluster in Lagos’ Balogun Market, importing textiles and electronics. Gujarati traders dominate wholesale, while Bollywood fuels cultural ties. Economic powerhouses like Dangote Group partner with Indian firms in cement and refineries.

8. Zambia

Zambia’s 25,000 Indians in Lusaka run supermarkets and factories, arriving via British colonial trade. They form the Kitwe trading hub, exporting copper-linked goods. Economic influence persists despite 1990s liberalization challenges.

9. Madagascar

Madagascar’s 28,000 Indians (mostly Gujaratis) control vanilla exports from Antananarivo. Arriving in 1880s, they dominate retail and rice milling. Temples and festivals maintain ties to Gujarat.

10. Botswana

Botswana’s 10,000+ Indians in Gaborone thrive in diamonds and retail post-1966 independence. Punjabi diners and Hindu associations mark their footprint in this stable economy.

Historical Migration Waves

Indian presence spans centuries: ancient Axum trade, Portuguese Gujarat routes, Omani Zanzibar hubs. 19th-century British shipped 1.5M indentured to Natal, Reunion, Mauritius. Railways drew traders to East Africa; post-WWII professionals followed.

Economic Impact

Indians contribute disproportionately: South Africa’s community generates 10% GDP; Kenya’s holds 40% private wealth. Sectors include retail (dukas), manufacturing, pharma. Remittances to India exceed $1B annually from Africa.

Cultural Integration

Bollywood unites; Durban’s Mini India features idli shops beside shisa nyama. Mauritius holidays include Maha Shivaratri as national. Challenges: xenophobia (SA 2021 riots), but resilience prevails via chambers of commerce.

Modern Trends

2026 data shows growth via student visas (Nigeria, Ghana) and tech hubs (Kenya). OCI cards ease travel; AfCFTA opens intra-African trade. Intermarriage rises, blending identities—e.g., SA’s “Coloured Indians.”

Demographic Profiles

These communities number 3M+ continent-wide, wielding outsized influence through enterprise and culture.