Birthplace & Cultural Center 

The term South Asia can refer either to India specifically or more broadly to the subregion that includes India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives, and sometimes Afghanistan.

An overwhelming 98% of the world’s 1.2 billion Hindus live in South Asia (using the more inclusive definition), with nearly 95% residing in India alone. Another 1% live in countries such as Indonesia (especially Bali), Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The remaining 1% are part of a widely dispersed Hindu diaspora across the globe.

For all Hindus, South Asia is considered the religious heartland of Hinduism—its birthplace and cultural center.

While the vast majority of South Asian Hindus have never met a Christian, many know someone who has migrated outside the region. Interestingly, it is often in these new countries that Hindus encounter the message of Jesus. Those who come to faith while abroad can become a powerful bridge to the gospel for their families and communities back home. In many cases, this may be the only way people in South Asia ever hear about Jesus.

The global Hindu diaspora can be roughly divided into three historical eras:

• Ancient Hindu Diaspora: This early movement spread Hindu culture and religion into Southeast Asia primarily through trade and cultural exchange.

• Old Hindu Diaspora: Occurring during the colonial period, this wave saw Hindus relocated—often forcibly—across the British Empire prior to India’s independence in 1947.

• New Hindu Diaspora: Emerging in the 75 years since independence, this most recent era has been driven largely by economic migration. Today, Hindus have settled in growing numbers across Europe, North America, the Gulf States, and beyond.