Study: There are now more Chinese migrants than Dominicans in New York City

Changes in New York City’s Immigrant Demographics

For the first time, the count of Chinese immigrants surpasses that of Dominican-born residents in New York City, as noted in a recent report.

The city’s Department of City Planning revealed that there are now over 397,000 Chinese-born residents, marking a 5 percent increase since 2013. This group makes up 12.8 percent of New York City’s immigrant population. In contrast, the number of Dominican-born residents has decreased by 6 percent during the same period, now totaling around 390,000, which represents 12.6 percent of the immigrant population. The findings are part of the “Latest New Yorkers” report.

Dominicans held the title of the largest immigrant population in the city since 1990, according to Gothamist.

The evolving immigrant landscape illustrates significant shifts since the 1800s, when European immigrants flooded cities. By the 1980s, it was primarily Latin American nations contributing large numbers of newcomers to New York City. Now, in the 2020s, Asian countries have emerged at the forefront of immigration for the first time.

Queens remains the borough with the largest immigrant population, followed closely by Brooklyn. However, immigration has declined across all boroughs except Staten Island.

Gothamist highlighted that areas like Astoria, Queens, and Jackson Heights have seen significant drops in their immigrant figures—11,000 and 4,000 fewer immigrants, respectively, over the last decade. Other historically established immigrant neighborhoods, such as Washington Heights, Sunset Park, and East Flatbush, have also experienced losses in their foreign-born populations.

Diana Cava, who serves as vice president of community and economic development for the Hispanic Federation, pointed out that the rising cost of living is a significant factor pushing Dominicans and other Hispanic groups to leave the city. “It’s getting harder and harder to survive in the city,” she remarked.

Conversely, the growing demographic of Chinese residents tends to have higher incomes, which may allow them to better cope with increasing living costs.