Chinese Immigration to France

Abstract

While still marginal across France as a whole, in terms of both stocks and flows, immigration from China has increased 6 times faster than that from other countries since the 1980s. This article aims to fill the quantitative knowledge gap on Chinese immigration. It begins by analysing census data to describe the main sociodemographic characteristics of Chinese immigrants with respect to those from other origins. Then, it uses administrative data to describe the inflows that have contributed to Chinese population increase in France, and to estimate outflows. These analyses produce two main findings: first, a strong residential concentration in the Paris region (Île-de-France) and in the most urbanized areas; and second, large student inflows gradually modifying the general sociodemographic profile of Chinese migrants in France.