Net migration in China
China: Net migration was -268,126 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in China, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in China is -268,126, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 15.9% on the previous year and up 58.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in China peaked at 1.25 million in 1967 and was at its lowest, -1.25 million, in 1964.
That places China 211th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -16,927 | — |
| 1961 | -25,578 | +51.1% |
| 1962 | -31,305 | +22.4% |
| 1963 | -31,383 | +0.2% |
| 1964 | -1.25 million | +3884.5% |
| 1965 | -130,900 | -89.5% |
| 1966 | 4,165 | -103.2% |
| 1967 | 1.25 million | +29831.6% |
| 1968 | -37,290 | -103.0% |
| 1969 | -72,836 | +95.3% |
| 1970 | -126,510 | +73.7% |
| 1971 | -180,153 | +42.4% |
| 1972 | -215,650 | +19.7% |
| 1973 | -214,997 | -0.3% |
| 1974 | -175,239 | -18.5% |
| 1975 | -115,173 | -34.3% |
| 1976 | -55,109 | -52.2% |
| 1977 | -15,323 | -72.2% |
| 1978 | -9,916 | -35.3% |
| 1979 | -13,704 | +38.2% |
| 1980 | -20,129 | +46.9% |
| 1981 | -28,016 | +39.2% |
| 1982 | -36,181 | +29.1% |
| 1983 | -43,756 | +20.9% |
| 1984 | -51,961 | +18.8% |
| 1985 | -60,929 | +17.3% |
| 1986 | -79,190 | +30.0% |
| 1987 | -169,170 | +113.6% |
| 1988 | -282,194 | +66.8% |
| 1989 | -313,476 | +11.1% |
| 1990 | -11,187 | -96.4% |
| 1991 | -544,650 | +4768.6% |
| 1992 | -142,985 | -73.7% |
| 1993 | -373,316 | +161.1% |
| 1994 | -723,641 | +93.8% |
| 1995 | -365,986 | -49.4% |
| 1996 | -250,750 | -31.5% |
| 1997 | -279,251 | +11.4% |
| 1998 | -40,472 | -85.5% |
| 1999 | -96,102 | +137.5% |
| 2000 | -62,622 | -34.8% |
| 2001 | -176,419 | +181.7% |
| 2002 | -761,291 | +331.5% |
| 2003 | -613,223 | -19.4% |
| 2004 | -770,977 | +25.7% |
| 2005 | -103,701 | -86.5% |
| 2006 | -759,559 | +632.5% |
| 2007 | -1.04 million | +37.2% |
| 2008 | -764,370 | -26.6% |
| 2009 | -177,135 | -76.8% |
| 2010 | -184,144 | +4.0% |
| 2011 | -416,189 | +126.0% |
| 2012 | -58,864 | -85.9% |
| 2013 | -188,951 | +221.0% |
| 2014 | -371,108 | +96.4% |
| 2015 | -646,941 | +74.3% |
| 2016 | -153,056 | -76.3% |
| 2017 | -94,625 | -38.2% |
| 2018 | -198,206 | +109.5% |
| 2019 | -656,091 | +231.0% |
| 2020 | -91,577 | -86.0% |
| 2021 | -379,749 | +314.7% |
| 2022 | -293,846 | -22.6% |
| 2023 | -567,724 | +93.2% |
| 2024 | -318,992 | -43.8% |
| 2025 | -268,126 | -15.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's -268,126 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2,815, 95.2× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- China's -268,126 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -462, 580.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | +29831.6% | 4,165 | 1.25 million |
| 1991 | -4768.6% | -11,187 | -544,650 |
| 1964 | -3884.5% | -31,383 | -1.25 million |
| 2006 | -632.5% | -103,701 | -759,559 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -34,584 | -1.25 million | 1.25 million | 10 |
| 1970s | -112,177 | -215,650 | -9,916 | 10 |
| 1980s | -108,500 | -313,476 | -20,129 | 10 |
| 1990s | -282,834 | -723,641 | -11,187 | 10 |
| 2000s | -523,132 | -1.04 million | -62,622 | 10 |
| 2010s | -296,818 | -656,091 | -58,864 | 10 |
| 2020s | -320,002 | -567,724 | -91,577 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More financial sector data for China
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 14.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 7.95 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 9.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 5.8 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 14.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 7.95 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 9.09 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in China?
- Net migration in China was -268,126 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.25 million in 1967.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.25 million in 1964.
- How does China rank for net migration?
- China ranks 211th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.