A new study by the Manhattan Institute reveals that Indian immigrants make the largest contribution to the US economy and public finances among all major immigrant groups. The research, which assessed the long-term balance of taxes paid versus government spending received, found that an average Indian immigrant and their descendants are projected to save the US federal government $1.7 million over 30 years, the highest fiscal benefit of any significant immigrant group.
“The average Indian immigrant and their descendants are projected to save the federal government $1.7 million over 30 years,” said Daniel Di Martino, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute.
Crazy people on X are bashing Indian immigrants, but my new research published today finds that Indians are the best major country of origin group of immigrants.
The average Indian immigrant and his or her descendants will save the federal government $1.7 million over 30 years. pic.twitter.com/I8YdTBtBvU
— Daniel Di Martino (@DanielDiMartino) October 23, 2025
Martino also criticised recent attacks on Indian immigrants, stating, “Some people on X are unfairly criticising Indian immigrants, but my new research shows that Indians are the top-performing major immigrant group.”
The findings are particularly noteworthy in light of recent restrictions on migrant workers, including skilled professionals entering the US on H-1B visas, implemented during the Donald Trump administration.
The study offered a detailed ranking of immigrants’ fiscal contributions by country of origin. Indian immigrants ranked first, lowering the national debt by over $1.6 million per person over 30 years and contributing more to the US GDP than any other immigrant group.
They were followed by Chinese immigrants, who reduced the debt by more than $800,000 per person, and Filipinos, who cut it by roughly $600,000. Colombians and Venezuelans also made notable contributions, reducing the debt by $500,000 and $400,000 per person, respectively. In contrast, Salvadoran immigrants were found to be the most fiscally burdensome, increasing the national debt by over $50,000 per person, while Mexican immigrants, the largest foreign-born group in the US, were estimated to raise the debt by about $10,000 per person.
Daniel Di Martino, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, highlighted several key factors driving the fiscal impact of different immigrant groups. Education and age emerged as the strongest predictors: immigrants with bachelor’s or graduate degrees, particularly those arriving before age 40, generated significant fiscal surpluses over both 10- and 30-year periods.
In contrast, low-skilled immigration proved costly in both the short and long term, as immigrants with limited education generally receive more in benefits than they pay in taxes.
Legal status also plays a crucial role. Employment-based immigrants contributed the most positively to public finances, whereas parents of US citizens tended to have the largest negative impact. Overall, legal immigrants help reduce the federal deficit and boost economic growth, while undocumented immigrants still contribute to the economy but slightly increase the national debt. Martino emphasised that targeted immigration reforms could further strengthen both the US economy and federal budget.
The study suggested implementing wage-based ranking for H-1B visas, prioritising visas for higher-skilled workers, and reclaiming unused employment-based green cards to improve productivity and lower deficits. According to the Manhattan Institute’s proposed high-skilled immigration reform, these steps could increase US GDP by 4.6% and cut federal debt by almost $20 trillion over 30 years, without raising the overall proportion of immigrants in the population.
