Nepali Americans

There are now more than 200,000 Nepalis studying, working and living in America, and over 60% of them went to the US after 2010, according to a survey by the Institute of Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) titled Nepali Migrant Dreams in the American Landscape.

The survey does not have a figure for undocumented Nepalis, and it is not clear if the total number includes them. There is uncertainty about their future after threats by president-elect Donald Trump of mass deportations of 11 million 'aliens' after his inauguration next month.

The IIDS Survey also showed that the Nepali diaspora in America sent home $1.28 billion annually, which is 11.6% of Nepal's total official income from the diaspora. The average amount they send home every year is $8,663, and this is up to twice as much as what Nepali workers in the Gulf or Malaysia remit annually. 

Most Nepalis surveyed said they had gone to America for career advancement (42%) while 38% said it was for a better quality of life for their families.