Waves of
Chinese emigration (also known as the
Chinese diaspora) have happened throughout history. The mass emigration known as the Chinese diaspora, which occurred from the 19th century to 1949, was mainly caused by wars and starvation in
mainland China, invasion from various foreign countries, as well as the problems resulting from political corruption. Most immigrants were illiterate peasants and manual labourers, called "
coolies" by analogy to the same pattern of immigration from India, who emigrated to work in countries such as the
Americas,
Australia,
South Africa and
Southeast Asia.