China has become the fourth largest source of immigrants to the United States, ranking behind Mexico, the Philippines, and India. In 2008, there were approximately 1.6 million people born in China living in the United States. The majority of China-born individuals obtained their green cards through family sponsorship.
A report by the Migration Policy Institute, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, indicates that Chinese immigration to the United States has grown rapidly. China was the seventh largest source of immigrants to the U.S. in 1990 and rose to the third largest by 2000, though it was later surpassed by India. The report states that in 2008, there were over 1.57 million people born in China living in the U.S., accounting for 4.1% of the total 38 million immigrant population, making it the fourth largest source of immigrants after Mexico, the Philippines, and India.
The report notes that immigrants born in China have higher levels of education and lower poverty rates compared to other immigrant groups. Nearly half of China-born immigrants hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Furthermore, the homeownership rate among China-born immigrants is higher than that of immigrants from other countries. However, one in every six China-born immigrants lacks health insurance, and three out of every five have limited English proficiency. Additionally, more than one-third of U.S.-born Chinese individuals speak Chinese at home.
The assimilation rate of Chinese immigrants is higher than that of other countries. 56.8% of China-born immigrants have naturalized as U.S. citizens, whereas the naturalization rate for all U.S. immigrants is only 43%. According to 2008 data, female Chinese immigrants (54%) outnumber males (46%), while the total U.S. immigrant population consists of 49.8% females and 50.2% males. The report shows that more than half of the China-born individuals who obtained green cards in 2009 did so through family-based immigration. The number of unauthorized immigrants born in China in 2009 decreased by 37% compared to 2000.
The report indicates that more than two-thirds of China-born immigrants arrived in the United States in or after 2000; 30% arrived between 1990 and 1999; 20.1% arrived between 1980 and 1989; 9.3% arrived between 1970 and 1979; and 7.9% arrived before 1970.
The report points out that in 2008, about half of the China-born immigrants resided on the East and West Coasts of the United States. California was home to over 490,000, accounting for 31.8% of China-born immigrants, while New York State hosted over 340,000, accounting for 22.2%. These were followed by Texas, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Illinois.
China-born immigrants account for 8.2% of the immigrant population in New York State, 7.9% in Hawaii, 7.3% in Massachusetts, and 6.4% in Pennsylvania and Vermont.
