China now the fourth largest source of global immigrants

BEIJING - China has become the fourth-largest source of global immigrants, with five million Chinese residents relocating in other countries over the last 23 years. The number of global immigrants totalled 232 million in 2013, up 18 million from three years ago, and accounted for 4.2% of the world's population, according to a report by the Center for China & Globalization (CCG).

The report says the total number of Chinese immigrants hit 9.34 million at the end of last year, compared with 4.08 million back in 1990. The wealthiest Chinese, with more than RMB6 million worth of individual investable assets, are moving their assets overseas, transferring RMB2.8 trillion of assets overseas in 2011 (accounting for roughly 3% of China’s GDP that year).

Hong Kong, the US, and Canada are among their favorite countries or regions, followed by Switzerland, Singapore and Australia. 70% of Chinese respondents said that environment and healthcare concerns are among the most important reasons behind the wave of Chinese immigration