In financial year 2023, it was estimated that 64.32 thousand more Chinese migrated to Australia than emigrated. This marked a significant increase in Chinese net migration compared to 14.72 thousand people in the previous financial year.

The Chinese community in Australia

Chinese migration to Australia dates back to the Australian gold rush of the 1850s and 60s, however, exclusionary migration policies up until the 1970’s restricted migration from China for some time. Since then, immigration from China has increased steadily and Chinese migrants now represent Australia’s third largest migrant group after the UK and India. The 2016 Australian census showed that Mandarin was the second most common language spoken at home in Australia, and Cantonese came in fourth. The Australian Chinese community also includes a significant proportion of the international students from China choosing to study in Australia.

Chinese investment in Australia

Although foreign investment in Australia still comes primarily from its traditional trade partners, the United States and the United Kingdom, Chinese investment has been increasing in recent years. The bulk of Chinese investment in Australia goes toward commercial real estate and agribusiness. In New South Wales alone, real estate investment from China totaled almost 1.25 billion Australian dollars, which accounted for around a half of all Chinese real estate investment in the country. By comparison, in 2019 the import value of Australian food products to China displayed yet another year on year increase, totaling more than two billion U.S. dollars.

Among countries with the highest number of overseas Chinese on each continent, the largest Chinese diaspora community is living in Indonesia, numbering more than ten million people. Most of these people are descendants from migrants born in China, who have moved to Indonesia a long time ago. On the contrary, a large part of overseas Chinese living in Canada and Australia have arrived in these countries only during the last two decades. China as an emigration country Many Chinese people have emigrated from their home country in search of better living conditions and educational chances. The increasing number of Chinese emigrants has benefited from loosened migration policies. On the one hand, the attitude of the Chinese government towards emigration has changed significantly. Overseas Chinese are considered to be strong supporters for the overall strength of Chinese culture and international influence. On the other hand, migration policies in the United States and Canada are changing with time, expanding migration opportunities for non-European immigrants. As a result, China has become one of the world’s largest emigration countries as well as the country with the highest outflows of high net worth individuals. However, the mass emigration is causing a severe loss of homegrown talents and assets. The problem of talent and wealth outflow has raised pressing questions to the Chinese government, and a solution to this issue is yet to be determined. Popular destinations among Chinese emigrants Over the last decades, English speaking developed countries have been popular destinations for Chinese emigrants. In 2022 alone, the number of people from China naturalized as U.S. citizens had amounted to over 27,000 people, while nearly 68,000 had obtained legal permanent resident status as “green card” recipients. Among other popular immigration destinations for Chinese riches are Canada, Australia, Europe, and Singapore.

In the year ending December 2024, around 891,550 visitors from China arrived in Australia. While this was still less than in pre-pandemic times, when around 1.4 million people from China visited Australia annually, this marked a significant recovery from 2021 and 2022 figures.

More than 1.2 million people of Chinese heritage live in Australia today. Their experiences are as diverse as their views; many were born in Australia, with lineages that span generations of Australian history. Others have migrated more recently from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Chinese-Australian communities have flourished and contributed to many aspects of Australian life. The Lowy Institute’s Multiculturalism, Identity and Influence Project conducted its second nationally representative poll of Chinese-Australians at the end of 2021. Respondents were asked about their perspectives on life in Australia, and views on a wide range of issues — from foreign influence and relationships with China, to systems of government and pride in Australian life and culture. There is both continuity and divergence when these sentiments are compared to the broader Australian population, and the views of those of other diaspora communities.

According to a survey conducted in September and October 2021, around 40 percent of Australian residents with a Chinese ancestry said Australia is more to blame for tensions in the Australia-China relationship. In contrast, only four percent of representative respondents from the total Australian population thought Australia is more to blame for the tensions.

Key information about Australia Total Exports to China

• Australia Total Exports to China recorded 10.619 USD bn in Dec 2024, compared with 9.053 USD bn in the previous month
• Australia Total Exports to China data is updated monthly, available from Apr 1969 to Dec 2024, with an averaged value of 221.116 USD mn
• The data reached an all-time high of 14.506 USD bn in Jun 2021 and a record low of 0.200 USD mn in May 1971

Australia Exports to China was US$102.63 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Australia Exports to China - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on June of 2025.

China Exports to Australia was US$70.75 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. China Exports to Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on June of 2025.

China Imports from Australia of Cotton was US$583.29 Million during 2023, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. China Imports from Australia of Cotton - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on June of 2025.

In 2020, the office sector accounted for an overwhelming 91.4 percent of Chinese investment in the real estate industry in Australia. According to the source, around 93.5 percent of the total Chinese investment in 2020 in Australian real estate was in Sydney, reflecting an increase from 50 percent in 2019.

Exchange Rate: RBA: Chinese Renminbi to Australian Dollar data was reported at 4.661 AUD/RMB in Apr 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.555 AUD/RMB for Mar 2025. Exchange Rate: RBA: Chinese Renminbi to Australian Dollar data is updated monthly, averaging 4.907 AUD/RMB from Nov 1983 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 498 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.075 AUD/RMB in Apr 2011 and a record low of 1.787 AUD/RMB in Dec 1983. Exchange Rate: RBA: Chinese Renminbi to Australian Dollar data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Reserve Bank of Australia. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.M009: Exchange Rate.

China Imports from Australia was US$140.79 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. China Imports from Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on June of 2025.

China Exports of tea to Australia was US$3 Million during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. China Exports of tea to Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on June of 2025.

Australia Funds Inflow: China: Direct Investment data was reported at 873.000 AUD mn in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of -3,385.000 AUD mn for 2022. Australia Funds Inflow: China: Direct Investment data is updated yearly, averaging 2,626.000 AUD mn from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2023, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,855.000 AUD mn in 2014 and a record low of -3,385.000 AUD mn in 2022. Australia Funds Inflow: China: Direct Investment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.O016: Foreign Investment in Australia: BPM6.

Australian avocado exporters are on the brink of gaining better access to the Chinese market, thanks to improved trade relations and ongoing negotiations.

Between 2006 and 2023, China attributed 51 percent of its investment in Australia to the mining and energy sector. In second place came the commercial real estate sector with a share of 20 percent of the overall investment in Australia.

China Total Operated Flight: Flight of Chinese Mainland to and from Other Countries: Australia(AU) data was reported at 36.000 Unit in 02 May 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 36.000 Unit for 01 May 2025. China Total Operated Flight: Flight of Chinese Mainland to and from Other Countries: Australia(AU) data is updated daily, averaging 18.000 Unit from Jan 2019 (Median) to 02 May 2025, with 2202 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 64.000 Unit in 20 Feb 2019 and a record low of 0.000 Unit in 12 Dec 2022. China Total Operated Flight: Flight of Chinese Mainland to and from Other Countries: Australia(AU) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Transportation and Storage Sector – Table CN.TM: VariFlight Flight Statistics: Flight of Chinese Mainland to and from Other Countries: Total Operated Flight.

Prices for CNYAUD Chinese Yuan Australian Dollar including live quotes, historical charts and news. CNYAUD Chinese Yuan Australian Dollar was last updated by Trading Economics this June 28 of 2025.

China Total Cancellation Rate: Flight of Chinese Mainland to and from Other Countries: Australia(AU) data was reported at 2.630 % in 17 May 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.710 % for 15 May 2025. China Total Cancellation Rate: Flight of Chinese Mainland to and from Other Countries: Australia(AU) data is updated daily, averaging 7.690 % from Jan 2019 (Median) to 17 May 2025, with 2215 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 100.000 % in 12 Dec 2022 and a record low of 0.000 % in 11 May 2025. China Total Cancellation Rate: Flight of Chinese Mainland to and from Other Countries: Australia(AU) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by VariFlight. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Transportation and Storage Sector – Table CN.TM: VariFlight Flight Statistics: Flight of Chinese Mainland to and from Other Countries: Total Cancellation Rate.

Australia Imports from China was US$75.7 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Australia Imports from China - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on June of 2025.