Total number of international immigrants in China
China: Total number of international immigrants was 1.64 million immigrants in 2024. ▲ Rising
Total number of international immigrants in China, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in immigrants.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total number of international immigrants in China is 1.64 million immigrants, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 37.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total number of international immigrants in China peaked at 1.64 million immigrants in 2024 and was at its lowest, 518,395 immigrants, in 1990.
That places China 44th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Total number of international immigrants in China, year by year
| Year | immigrants | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 518,395 immigrants | — |
| 1995 | 610,608 immigrants | +17.8% |
| 2000 | 720,915 immigrants | +18.1% |
| 2005 | 853,360 immigrants | +18.4% |
| 2010 | 1.01 million immigrants | +18.4% |
| 2015 | 1.20 million immigrants | +18.4% |
| 2020 | 1.42 million immigrants | +18.3% |
| 2024 | 1.64 million immigrants | +15.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.64 million immigrants is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 184,522 immigrants, 8.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 1.64 million immigrants is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51,446 immigrants, 31.9× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 564,502 immigrants | 518,395 immigrants | 610,608 immigrants | 2 |
| 2000s | 787,138 immigrants | 720,915 immigrants | 853,360 immigrants | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.10 million immigrants | 1.01 million immigrants | 1.20 million immigrants | 2 |
| 2020s | 1.53 million immigrants | 1.42 million immigrants | 1.64 million immigrants | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
More population data for China
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -12.97 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.31 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1671 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3489 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -1.7% (2100)
- Population density 67.46 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 15.54 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total number of international immigrants in China?
- Total number of international immigrants in China was 1.64 million immigrants in 2024, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total number of international immigrants recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.64 million immigrants in 2024.
- What is the lowest total number of international immigrants recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 518,395 immigrants in 1990.
- How does China rank for total number of international immigrants?
- China ranks 44th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total number of international immigrants rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Total number of international immigrants. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People living in a given country who were born in another country.