Significant Growth in Telugu-Speaking Population Across Major States

 Telugu has become the 11th most spoken foreign language in the USA, according to a recent report. It is now the third most spoken Indian language in the US, following Hindi and Gujarati. The Telugu-speaking population in the US has surged from 320,000 in 2016 to 1.23 million in 2024, marking nearly a four-fold increase. California hosts the largest Telugu-speaking community at 200,000, followed by Texas with 150,000 and New Jersey with 110,000. Other states like Illinois (83,000), Georgia (52,000), and Virginia (78,000) have also seen significant increases.

 A major factor contributing to Telugu's ranking as the 11th most spoken foreign language among 350 languages in the US is the influx of students. According to the report, around 60,000-70,000 students and 10,000 H1B visa holders arrive in the US annually.

 Ashok Kolla, former Secretary of the Telugu Association of North America, stated that 80% of new arrivals register with his organization, and about 75% settle in areas like Dallas, the Bay Area, North Carolina, New Jersey, Atlanta, Florida, and Nashville. While older generations are predominantly entrepreneurs, 80% of the younger population is involved in IT and finance.

The Indian Mobility Report of 2024 indicates that students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh form the largest group of Indian students in the US, accounting for 12.5% of the total Indian student population.