Some data from Ethnologue:
JAPANESE [JPN] 121,050,000 in Japan (1985); 380,000 in Brazil; 804,000 in USA including Hawaii (1975 government report); 20,000 in Germany; 43,000 in Canada; 32,000 in Argentina; 35,000 in Mexico; 12,000 in Paraguay; 109,000 in Peru; 10,000 in Taiwan (1993); 20,000 in Singapore (1993); 7,000 or more in Paraguay (1981); 12,000 in United Kingdom; 12,000 from Hong Kong; 1,300 in United Arab Emirates; 1,500 in Dominican Republic; 1,200 in Panama; 125,000,000 in all countries (1995 WA). Also in Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand.(these data aren't entirely satisfying... but a good starting place in the absence of anything else)KOREAN [KKN] 670,000 in Japan
KOREAN (CHAOXIAN) [KKN] 20,000,000 in North Korea (1986); 42,000,000 in South Korea (1986); 1,920,597 in China (1990); 670,000 in Japan; 389,000 in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan (1979 census); 249,000 in USA (1975 government report); 5,200 in Singapore (1985); 75,000,000 in all countries (1995 WA). Also in Thailand, Guam, Paraguay.
KOREAN (CHAOXIAN) [KKN] 42,000,000 in South Korea (1986); 20,000,000 in North Korea (1986); 1,920,597 in China (1990); 670,000 in Japan; 6,000 in Paraguay; 183,000 in Uzbekistan; 107,000 in Russia (1993); 103,000 in Kazakhstan; 18,000 in Kyrghyzstan; 66,000 in Saudi Arabia; 29,000 in Canada; 14,000 in Germany; 13,000 in Tajikistan; 3,493 in Turkmenistan; 800,000 in USA including 50,000 in Hawaii (1995), 5,200 in Singapore (1985); 75,000,000 in all countries (1995 WA). Also in Bahrain, Brunei, Guam, Mauritania, Mongolia, Panama, Philippines, Thailand.
CHINESE, HAKKA (HAKKA, HOKKA, KEJIA, KECHIA, KE, XINMINHUA, MAJIAHUA, TU GUANGDONGHUA) [HAK] 25,725,000 in mainland China, 2.5% of the population (1984); 2,000,000 in Taiwan (1991); 985,635 in Malaysia; 640,000 in Indonesia (1982); 69,000 in Singapore (1980); 58,800 in Thailand (1984); 19,200 in French Polynesia (1987); 6,000 in Surinam; 6,000 in Panama (1981); 3,000 in Brunei (1979); 34,000,000 in all countries(1995 WA).
CHINESE, MIN NAN (SOUTHERN MIN, MINNAN) [CFR] 25,725,000 in mainland China (1984); 2.5% of the population; 14,177,800 in Taiwan; 1,948,581 in Malaysia; 1,170,000 in Singapore; 1,081,920 in Thailand; 700,000 in Indonesia; 540,000 in Hongkong; 493,500 in Philippines; 10,000 in Brunei; 49,000,000 in all countries (1991 WA)
CHINESE, YUE (CANTONESE, YUE, YUEH, YUEYU, BAIHUA) [YUH] 46,305,000 in mainland China, 4.5% of the population (1984); 5,292,000 in Hong Kong; 314,000 in Singapore; 498,000 in Macau; 748,010 in Malaysia, 500,000 in Viet Nam, 180,000 in Indonesia; 180,000 in San Francisco, USA; 70,000 in Netherlands; 29,400 in Thailand; 20,000 in New Zealand; 6,000 to 7,200 in Philippines; 4,500 in Costa Rica; 3,500 in Brunei; several hundred in Nauru; several hundred thousand in Canada; 66,000,000 in all countries (1995 WA).
from Cambridge Survey of World Migration (1995):
The period of the coolie trade extends from approximately the early 1840s to the 1920s. The idea behind the coolie trade was a somple one. It sought to extract labour from China and to bring it to locations where it was in short supply through a system of indenture...Some web links:The coolie trade was driven and funded by the overpowering demands of the economic opportunities created by the European colonial expansions of earlier decades... (pg. 51)
Chinese Diaspora ("...a discussion of the Chinese migration history and articles that describe their social experience in various countries around the globe. ") ...see Background and Analysis of the Chinese Diaspora
Chinese Diaspora Home Page (mentions "Hancouver")
Boston Chinatown Heritage Trail THE HISTORICAL TIMELINE