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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 25,639 (2024)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Languages | |
| Religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Indo-Caribbeans,Indian Argentines andLuso-Indians |
There is a small community ofIndians in Brazil who are mainly immigrants and expatriates fromIndia. As of 2024, there are currently 25,639 people of Indian origin living in the country and a majority of them live inSão Paulo andRio de Janeiro. There are also a number of people of Indian origin (mainly from the former colony ofPortuguese Goa) who came to Brazil from both Britain's and Portugal's African colonies in the later half of the twentieth century.
The earliest Indians to arrive in Brazil were Indian seamen orLascars, known as "Lascarim" in Portuguese. They arrived between the sixteenth and mid-seventeenth century, when the most important parts of thePortuguese Empire were their colonies in Asia. These includedDiu,Daman,Bombay,Thana,Goa,Cochin and some smaller settlements inHugli River.
Later as the settlement of coastal Brazil developed, many governors, Catholic clerics, and soldiers who had formally served in Asia arrived with their Asian wives, concubines, servants and slaves. LaterLuso-Indian servants and clerics connected with the religious orders, such as theJesuits andFranciscans, and spice cultivators arrived in Brazil.[2]
In the eighteenth century there were Luso-Indians arriving in Brazil on ships of the EnglishEast India Company.[3]
There are as many as 1,500 PIOs and only 400 NRIs besides the descendants and only since foreign nationals can acquire local citizenship without any discrimination after 15 years of domicile in this country. Brazil has also no bar against dual citizenship, although India does ban its citizens from obtaining dual citizenship. But in recent years, it has been granting immigration visas only in high technology fields. The only exceptions are the Sindhis in Manaus and the immigrants and descendants inRio de Janeiro andSão Paulo.
Most of the Indians living in Brazil have not only been able to assimilate themselves in the Brazilian way of life but also maintain close cultural and economic connection with India.[4]
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