The China born population in the United States totals 5.2 million. Chinese students number 350000 in Australia and 112000 in the United Kingdom. Chinese emigrants sent 66 billion dollars in remittances.
Key Takeaways
- For China, international migrants abroad were 2.8% of the origin population in 2017 (UN DESA international migrant stock)
- China-origin diaspora in the United States was 5.1% of total US foreign-born population in 2022 (Migration Policy Institute tabulation of US Census/ACS)
- China-born population in the United States was 5.2 million in 2022 (Migration Policy Institute data hub using US Census/ACS)
- Chinese foreign-born population in Canada was 1.6 million in 2021 (Statistics Canada table 17-10-0005-01, via MPI data hub)
- In 2022, 41% of Chinese outward-investing firms reported difficulty recruiting international talent (OECD FDI Qualities indicators)
- Chinese students accounted for 37% of all international students in Singapore in 2023 (IMDA/Edu data on international students by nationality)
- China’s outward remittances increased from $59.1B in 2018 to $66.0B in 2020 (World Bank remittance outflows indicator BX.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT, values)
- Inward remittances to China were $30.1 billion in 2019 (World Bank indicator BF.TR.VAL.MN.CD)
- Remittances to China were about 0.3% of GDP in 2021 (World Bank ratio of remittance inflows to GDP)
- US$165.5 billion market size for international education services globally in 2023 (OECD/UNESCO global education services estimates)
- In 2023, Australia granted 84,000 student visas to Chinese nationals (Department of Home Affairs student visa statistics)
- In 2023, global immigration to the US from China increased by 8% compared with 2022 (US DHS yearbook of immigration statistics table for China)
- 304,000 Chinese students were enrolled in the United States in the 2023/24 academic year (Open Doors, Institute of International Education).
- 350,000 Chinese students were studying in Australia in 2023 (Australian Government Department of Education international student data by nationality).
- Chinese nationals were the largest source of international students in the UK in 2022/23 with 112,000 enrollments (UK Higher Education Statistics Agency: students by domicile).
Chinese migration is rising fast, with millions abroad, large student and remittance flows, and growing worldwide demand.
Related reading
01 · Category
Destination Profiles6 stats
01
China-origin diaspora in the United States was 5.1% of total US foreign-born population in 2022 (Migration Policy Institute tabulation of US Census/ACS)
02
China-born population in the United States was 5.2 million in 2022 (Migration Policy Institute data hub using US Census/ACS)
03
Chinese foreign-born population in Canada was 1.6 million in 2021 (Statistics Canada table 17-10-0005-01, via MPI data hub)
04
Chinese citizens in France were 94,000 in 2023 (INSEE foreign nationals by nationality)
05
Chinese citizens in Singapore were 1.6 million in 2023 (Singapore Department of Statistics population by nationality)
06
Chinese citizens in New Zealand were 34,400 in 2023 (Statistics New Zealand international migration/immigration by nationality)
Interpretation
Destination Profiles Interpretation
From a destination-profiles perspective, Chinese emigration is heavily concentrated in major hubs, with the China-origin diaspora making up 5.1% of the US foreign-born population in 2022 and the US Chinese-born population reaching 5.2 million, while other destinations such as Canada (1.6 million Chinese foreign-born in 2021) and Singapore (1.6 million Chinese citizens in 2023) also show large but comparatively smaller concentrations.
02 · Category
Remittances6 stats
01
China’s outward remittances increased from $59.1B in 2018 to $66.0B in 2020 (World Bank remittance outflows indicator BX.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT, values)
02
Inward remittances to China were $30.1 billion in 2019 (World Bank indicator BF.TR.VAL.MN.CD)
03
Remittances to China were about 0.3% of GDP in 2021 (World Bank ratio of remittance inflows to GDP)
04
Global remittance flows were $669 billion for 2019 (World Bank Migration and Remittances Brief 2020)
05
Global remittance flows were $702 billion for 2020 (World Bank Migration and Development Brief 34, reflecting COVID-19 impacts)
06
Emigrants from China remitted US$66.0B in 2020 (World Bank remittance outflows indicator BX.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT, value).
Interpretation
Remittances Interpretation
Remittances linked to Chinese emigration were rising as outward remittances grew from $59.1 billion in 2018 to $66.0 billion in 2020, showing stronger outward transfer activity even though inward remittances were much smaller at $30.1 billion in 2019.
03 · Category
Diaspora & Migration Stocks4 stats
01
China-origin migrants in OECD countries numbered 3.9 million in 2019 (OECD International Migration Database, China-born population in OECD).
02
China-born residents in the Netherlands were 105,000 in 2023 (Statistics Netherlands StatLine: population; migration background and country of birth).
03
In 2022, China’s emigration route via Hong Kong saw 2.2 million departures to other destinations (Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department: emigration by destination category).
04
In 2021, Hong Kong recorded 252,000 resident departures overall to mainland China and overseas (Hong Kong emigration statistics; Census and Statistics Department).
Interpretation
Diaspora & Migration Stocks Interpretation
For the Diaspora and Migration Stocks lens, the numbers show China’s overseas footprint is substantial and still moving with 3.9 million China-origin migrants in OECD countries in 2019 and a strong flow out through Hong Kong with 2.2 million departures in 2022, alongside large recorded movements in Hong Kong in 2021 with 252,000 resident departures.
04 · Category
Student Mobility3 stats
01
304,000 Chinese students were enrolled in the United States in the 2023/24 academic year (Open Doors, Institute of International Education).
02
350,000 Chinese students were studying in Australia in 2023 (Australian Government Department of Education international student data by nationality).
03
Chinese nationals were the largest source of international students in the UK in 2022/23 with 112,000 enrollments (UK Higher Education Statistics Agency: students by domicile).
Interpretation
Student Mobility Interpretation
Student mobility is clearly being driven by very large Chinese enrollments abroad, with 304,000 Chinese students in the United States in 2023/24, 350,000 in Australia in 2023, and 112,000 in the UK in 2022/23, showing sustained and high-volume cross border study movement to multiple destinations.
05 · Category
Human Capital2 stats
01
In 2022, 41% of Chinese outward-investing firms reported difficulty recruiting international talent (OECD FDI Qualities indicators)
02
Chinese students accounted for 37% of all international students in Singapore in 2023 (IMDA/Edu data on international students by nationality)
Interpretation
Human Capital Interpretation
From a human capital perspective, China’s talent flows appear both inward and externally constrained, with 41% of outward-investing firms in 2022 reporting difficulty recruiting international talent and Chinese students making up 37% of Singapore’s international student population in 2023.
06 · Category
Industry Overview6 stats
01
In 2023, the US had 427,000 employment-based immigrant visa applications from China with priority dates (USCIS/State Department workload data; Department of State Visa Bulletin demand).
02
In 2023, the UK granted 87,000 student visas to Chinese nationals (UK Home Office immigration statistics: visa grants by nationality and visa type).
03
For China, international migrants abroad were 2.8% of the origin population in 2017 (UN DESA international migrant stock)
04
US$165.5 billion market size for international education services globally in 2023 (OECD/UNESCO global education services estimates)
05
In 2023, Australia granted 84,000 student visas to Chinese nationals (Department of Home Affairs student visa statistics)
06
In 2023, global immigration to the US from China increased by 8% compared with 2022 (US DHS yearbook of immigration statistics table for China)
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
From an industry overview perspective, Chinese migration demand is strongly shaped by education and work pathways, with 2023 seeing 87,000 UK student visas and 84,000 in Australia alongside 427,000 US employment-based immigrant visa applications and a notable 8% rise in US immigration from China versus 2022.
report visual · Key figures
Where Chinese migrants and students are concentrated
Chinese nationals form large communities and student cohorts across major destination countries, from the United States to Singapore, Australia, and the UK.
5.2
China-born population in the United States was 5.2 million in 2022 (Migration Policy Institute data hub using US Census/
1.6
Chinese foreign-born population in Canada was 1.6 million in 2021 (Statistics Canada table 17-10-0005-01, via MPI data h
94,000
Chinese citizens in France were 94,000 in 2023 (INSEE foreign nationals by nationality)
1.6
Chinese citizens in Singapore were 1.6 million in 2023 (Singapore Department of Statistics population by nationality)
34,400
Chinese citizens in New Zealand were 34,400 in 2023 (Statistics New Zealand international migration/immigration by natio
304,000
304,000 Chinese students were enrolled in the United States in the 2023/24 academic year (Open Doors, Institute of Inter
source-verifiedmigrationpolicy.org · insee.fr · singstat.gov.sg · stats.govt.nz · opendoorsdata.org2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Chinese Emigration Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/chinese-emigration-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Chinese Emigration Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/chinese-emigration-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Chinese Emigration Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/chinese-emigration-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+8 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)