Telugu Surges To Become 11th Most Spoken Foreign Language In The US: Report

The surge in population places Telugu just behind Hindi and Gujarati as one of the most widely spoken Indian languages in the US.

California leads the states with the highest concentration of Telugu speakers, numbering close to 200,000.

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Telugu has achieved a remarkable milestone in the United States, now ranking as the 11th most-spoken foreign language after experiencing a significant population increase. According to recent data, the number of Telugu speakers has risen from 320,000 in 2016 to an impressive 1.23 million in 2024.

This surge places Telugu just behind Hindi and Gujarati as one of the most widely spoken Indian languages in the country. The Statistical Atlas of the US, using data from the US Census Bureau, highlights that Telugu speakers in America hail from diverse backgrounds, spanning fourth-generation immigrants to newly arrived students, according to a report on Times of India.

California leads the states with the highest concentration of Telugu speakers, numbering close to 200,000. Following closely are Texas and New Jersey, with significant populations also found in Illinois (83,000), Virginia (78,000), and Georgia (52,000).

Career preferences among Telugu speakers show a generational divide, with the younger demographic predominantly choosing careers in IT and finance, while entrepreneurship remains popular among older generations, as per the report.

One of the primary factors contributing to Telugu's rise in prominence is the influx of students and H-1B visa holders into the US. Reports indicate that approximately 60,000 to 70,000 students and 10,000 H-1B visa holders arrive annually, underscoring the language's growing influence.

With this, Telugu's ascent highlights its increasing presence and importance within the US linguistic landscape.

Meanwhile, the American Telugu Association has advocated for direct flights from Hyderabad to multiple cities in the US, citing the significant Telugu population. A delegation led by the association's president-elect, Jayanth Challa, met with Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India, along with representatives from Air India and the TATA Group in Washington DC on Tuesday (June 25). They submitted a memorandum urging for the introduction of these flights.