Chinese Immigrants

With about 1.4 billion people, China is the most populated nation in the world. However, overpopulation is only one of the country's many pressing issues. China's communist government has initiated economic reforms in recent decades, yet it still enforces oppressive measures on its people. Many Chinese seek to resettle in North America, where they may find better economic opportunities and are assured basic rights like freedom of expression and religion. Today, Chinese immigrants make up the third-largest foreign-born group in the United States, numbering over 2 million people. Chinese immigrants are the second-largest foreign-born group in Canada, at over 600,000. Although at one time Chinese immigrants were met with discrimination and prejudice, changing attitudes in North America have led to greater recognition and acceptance of this immigrant group's contributions to American and Canadian societies.