Stats NZ

Net migration gain driven by non-New Zealand citizens

There was a provisional net migration gain of 65,400 in the March 2023 year, according to estimates released by Stats NZ. This reverses a net migration loss of 19,300 in the March 2022 year.

The net migration gain of 65,400 in the March 2023 year was made up of a net gain of 88,900 non-New Zealand citizens, and a net loss of 23,500 New Zealand citizens. Net migration is the difference between the number of migrant arrivals and migrant departures.

“For non-New Zealand citizens, 88,900 was provisionally a record annual net migration gain, exceeding the previous peak in the March 2020 year,” population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberSee metadata tab for more information about this graph.Annual net migration, by citizenship, March 1979–2023Non-NZ citizensNZ citizensTotal net migration197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023-50k050k100kStats NZ

Annual net migration, by citizenship, March 1979–2023

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberAnnual net migration, by citizenship, March 1979–2023Non-NZ citizensNZ citizensTotal net migration197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023-50k050k100kStats NZ
Year ended MarchNon-NZ citizensNZ citizensTotal net migration
1979-2,776-37,424-40,200
19802,603-37,020-34,417
19814,985-29,810-24,825
19828,689-20,171-11,482
198310,685-7,5053,180
19848,276-1,7186,558
19856,648-14,732-8,084
19866,420-28,033-21,613
198711,453-25,722-14,269
198812,353-27,978-15,625
198912,477-37,185-24,708
199014,624-18,642-4,018
199115,555-3,93911,616
199212,289-8,0024,287
199315,570-8,7226,848
199423,706-8,11915,587
199533,756-12,05921,697
199644,952-15,12029,832
199740,303-19,35520,948
199824,669-21,9622,707
199920,110-30,309-10,199
200022,887-31,874-8,987
200129,728-42,328-12,600
200267,166-20,37846,788
200371,633-12,21759,416
200445,588-13,36732,221
200532,520-21,53810,982
200638,034-24,25513,779
200745,847-29,96615,881
200848,504-37,93710,567
200948,430-34,38714,043
201030,176-15,54414,632
201126,117-31,600-5,483
201228,240-43,924-15,684
201330,940-36,751-5,811
201442,534-15,74926,785
201557,271-6,00551,266
201666,722-3,56763,155
201764,008-2,65961,349
201856,768-5,83650,932
201956,776-7,09149,685
202080,35311,32791,680
2021-17,71115,941-1,770
2022-14,600-4,738-19,339
202388,908-23,46865,440

Annual net migration, by citizenship, March 1979–2023

Intentions-based permanent and long-term (PLT) migration (1979-2001) and outcomes-based migration estimates (2002-2023). Estimates from December 2021 are provisional and subject to revision.

“The rebound of non-New Zealand citizen migration follows the progressive relaxation of COVID-19-related border restrictions from early 2022, as well as changes to immigration settings.”

Citizens of India, Philippines, China, and South Africa drove net migration gains in the March 2023 year.

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberSee metadata tab for more information about this graph.Estimated net migration, by selected citizenships, year ended March 2019 and 202320192023IndiaPhilippinesChinaSouth AfricaFijiSri LankaAustraliaSamoaMalaysiaUnited KingdomNew Zealand-25k-22.5k-20k-17.5k-15k-12.5k-10k-7.5k-5k-2.5k02.5k5k7.5k10k12.5k15k17.5kStats NZ

Estimated net migration, by selected citizenships, year ended March 2019 and 2023

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberEstimated net migration, by selected citizenships, year ended March 2019 and 202320192023IndiaPhilippinesChinaSouth AfricaFijiSri LankaAustraliaSamoaMalaysiaUnited KingdomNew Zealand-25k-22.5k-20k-17.5k-15k-12.5k-10k-7.5k-5k-2.5k02.5k5k7.5k10k12.5k15k17.5kStats NZ
Country of citizenship20192023
India8,83116,913
Philippines7,97116,289
China6,98011,917
South Africa7,8866,777
Fiji1,8844,840
Sri Lanka1,2752,989
Australia2,2851,986
Samoa2,3451,959
Malaysia4241,763
United Kingdom2,358702
New Zealand-7,091-23,468

Estimated net migration, by selected citizenships, year ended March 2019 and 2023

Estimates for year ended March 2023 are provisional and subject to revision. Country of citizenship is the nationality of passport used to arrive in or depart from New Zealand, and is not necessarily the country of previous or next residence.

Most migrants arrived on temporary visas

There were 133,500 migrant arrivals of non-New Zealand citizens in the March 2023 year. Of these, 63 percent arrived on work or visitor visas, and 14 percent on residence visas. Some migrants who arrive on temporary visas extend their visa, transition to other visa types, or gain permanent residency.

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberEstimates from December 2021 are provisional and subject to revision.Estimated migrant arrivals by visa on arrival, rolling year ended, June 2004–March 2023ResidenceStudentVisitorWorkNZ/AU citizensOtherJun-2004Oct-2004Feb-2005Jun-2005Oct-2005Feb-2006Jun-2006Oct-2006Feb-2007Jun-2007Oct-2007Feb-2008Jun-2008Oct-2008Feb-2009Jun-2009Oct-2009Feb-2010Jun-2010Oct-2010Feb-2011Jun-2011Oct-2011Feb-2012Jun-2012Oct-2012Feb-2013Jun-2013Oct-2013Feb-2014Jun-2014Oct-2014Feb-2015Jun-2015Oct-2015Feb-2016Jun-2016Oct-2016Feb-2017Jun-2017Oct-2017Feb-2018Jun-2018Oct-2018Feb-2019Jun-2019Oct-2019Feb-2020Jun-2020Oct-2020Feb-2021Jun-2021Oct-2021Feb-2022Jun-2022Oct-2022Feb-2023020k40k60kStats NZ

Estimated migrant arrivals by visa on arrival, rolling year ended, June 2004–March 2023

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberEstimated migrant arrivals by visa on arrival, rolling year ended, June 2004–March 2023ResidenceStudentVisitorWorkNZ/AU citizensOtherJun-2004Oct-2004Feb-2005Jun-2005Oct-2005Feb-2006Jun-2006Oct-2006Feb-2007Jun-2007Oct-2007Feb-2008Jun-2008Oct-2008Feb-2009Jun-2009Oct-2009Feb-2010Jun-2010Oct-2010Feb-2011Jun-2011Oct-2011Feb-2012Jun-2012Oct-2012Feb-2013Jun-2013Oct-2013Feb-2014Jun-2014Oct-2014Feb-2015Jun-2015Oct-2015Feb-2016Jun-2016Oct-2016Feb-2017Jun-2017Oct-2017Feb-2018Jun-2018Oct-2018Feb-2019Jun-2019Oct-2019Feb-2020Jun-2020Oct-2020Feb-2021Jun-2021Oct-2021Feb-2022Jun-2022Oct-2022Feb-2023020k40k60kStats NZ
Year endedResidenceStudentVisitorWorkNZ/AU citizensOther
Jun-200419,47511,10328,0269,75639,6771,294
Jul-200419,03010,29027,6929,90139,5741,263
Aug-200418,3179,89627,6409,99539,4001,201
Sep-200417,9799,53327,50210,24439,1461,187
Oct-200417,3979,34327,39910,42138,8871,172
Nov-200416,9189,17527,43810,57038,5041,172
Dec-200416,6779,09227,65110,66938,2871,120
Jan-200516,4228,75127,68110,71137,9991,144
Feb-200516,1558,49427,78610,80237,8781,173
Mar-200516,2228,45028,14910,70937,7051,169
Apr-200516,6038,24428,41310,88737,7081,195
May-200516,8048,23128,67010,97337,5161,237
Jun-200517,0058,14628,80511,03237,3921,259
Jul-200517,0588,00228,88810,91737,2371,248
Aug-200517,3748,03429,02810,96237,0531,241
Sep-200517,7038,02629,13910,99236,9451,195
Oct-200517,9897,98829,09511,05736,9071,186
Nov-200518,3137,97528,76611,13336,6361,158
Dec-200518,4578,05828,60911,22136,4781,159
Jan-200618,6257,91828,31011,47736,4321,151
Feb-200618,6208,22028,54511,68136,3781,123
Mar-200618,8148,32028,52711,94436,4531,117
Apr-200618,6448,37028,63212,05736,3881,112
May-200618,6178,40128,46212,08336,3271,118
Jun-200618,7998,49128,63012,22036,1761,082
Jul-200618,9548,82428,82512,45936,1931,103
Aug-200619,2048,86229,01612,71636,1431,119
Sep-200619,3748,99529,18812,99236,2231,160
Oct-200619,5159,16129,40713,25136,1661,181
Nov-200619,4829,38829,97613,60236,5001,223
Dec-200619,3679,53430,49813,88236,1771,229
Jan-200719,3219,80530,79813,96436,0211,213
Feb-200719,30010,15230,86514,07236,0031,230
Mar-200719,14210,42931,38014,37435,9421,209
Apr-200718,85910,65331,59214,55535,8171,235
May-200718,51410,75631,90714,86635,8391,222
Jun-200718,26911,06832,00315,16235,8221,208
Jul-200717,94811,34231,97715,28635,5301,193
Aug-200717,76511,70132,19715,63535,5431,174
Sep-200717,39511,96432,32615,81835,3671,194
Oct-200717,17512,19532,27315,79935,4141,151
Nov-200716,90412,38732,33415,77435,3461,128
Dec-200716,75812,56332,11815,90034,9821,129
Jan-200816,45312,89731,92116,00934,7861,126
Feb-200816,39313,56032,29316,43134,7661,165
Mar-200816,29613,77932,28416,59334,6661,199
Apr-200816,42213,90432,55016,78034,6271,229
May-200816,55914,40132,93316,99034,7061,263
Jun-200816,51314,57633,38217,09934,7601,329
Jul-200816,37315,37633,69717,27834,8831,404
Aug-200816,21015,69033,78317,40134,8421,456
Sep-200816,15215,85733,74717,29834,7731,459
Oct-200816,04616,10733,88017,44934,8831,497
Nov-200816,02116,21133,61817,54634,8451,516
Dec-200815,96516,21433,62017,45135,2371,507
Jan-200916,03116,33233,59317,46335,5361,498
Feb-200915,87116,71032,96217,23235,7271,501
Mar-200915,82516,84432,21717,03235,8981,546
Apr-200915,69917,01331,26816,82936,0591,520
May-200915,58116,88930,31716,59236,1971,544
Jun-200915,45616,75529,29916,31036,3601,543
Jul-200915,45216,69328,43916,04936,6021,536
Aug-200915,25816,45727,44215,67036,8661,550
Sep-200915,17316,52626,62115,45536,9911,589
Oct-200914,95016,47225,64715,19437,1541,607
Nov-200914,81116,29624,85614,93937,2591,546
Dec-200914,81816,11423,73114,73137,3491,522
Jan-201014,58816,11922,90014,30437,3871,521
Feb-201014,33215,70522,30114,04637,2291,494
Mar-201014,26415,53221,92313,80237,2951,434
Apr-201014,20915,39921,59213,53637,3341,397
May-201014,13615,26621,31513,28237,1691,328
Jun-201013,99215,35420,98713,06637,0891,268
Jul-201013,84215,50620,76712,89337,0361,213
Aug-201013,92115,94920,64412,78836,8601,148
Sep-201013,76516,24420,38112,84636,8181,077
Oct-201013,77116,59620,39413,07136,3581,048
Nov-201013,67016,86420,05113,27635,9811,070
Dec-201013,53517,01519,84013,40635,6131,090
Jan-201113,38717,10919,62413,55835,3991,072
Feb-201113,52017,42219,65413,75535,1881,056
Mar-201113,56917,59119,58213,96934,9251,066
Apr-201113,57617,71819,53414,19434,8221,058
May-201113,63617,80519,43014,48134,6531,046
Jun-201113,74117,78019,33114,64534,3381,050
Jul-201113,78817,78519,42614,87834,1991,074
Aug-201113,67217,49719,44015,21334,2551,082
Sep-201113,56917,21419,64615,42334,0981,089
Oct-201113,61316,84219,58815,39533,9021,076
Nov-201113,69316,86219,70615,53633,7181,096
Dec-201113,78416,77419,68915,60333,2611,095
Jan-201213,79316,78519,81715,68332,8221,139
Feb-201213,74616,97019,52716,02932,7371,175
Mar-201213,82017,34519,36916,23032,7611,196
Apr-201213,77417,13619,15016,24732,5561,200
May-201213,87917,08019,15016,33732,4011,214
Jun-201213,96317,00019,24716,65132,6391,234
Jul-201213,75316,78118,89116,70032,6541,203
Aug-201213,83116,51818,79316,76632,6741,209
Sep-201213,80116,39218,53517,10332,9961,207
Oct-201213,81216,41218,42717,36933,2931,241
Nov-201213,88216,19318,22717,59533,7891,255
Dec-201213,85216,14518,09217,70534,6851,283
Jan-201313,86416,08617,91017,95835,2981,278
Feb-201313,83915,41117,74618,05535,6381,282
Mar-201313,81315,13817,68418,29636,0241,249
Apr-201313,92615,12817,78318,69136,5501,239
May-201313,73115,35417,77918,84937,1071,242
Jun-201313,53315,39717,63919,07537,4821,242
Jul-201313,64215,42017,72419,32038,2361,260
Aug-201313,49015,73117,61819,58638,7001,281
Sep-201313,57915,74717,58919,56239,0511,311
Oct-201313,48616,02917,67519,86739,5871,323
Nov-201313,41316,27017,94920,09839,8551,367
Dec-201313,50816,44418,10220,31740,5201,391
Jan-201413,44416,84918,22620,46240,7881,425
Feb-201413,61017,60618,62420,72341,3231,472
Mar-201413,70618,02818,95220,93441,5311,495
Apr-201413,71618,54919,18220,97441,8361,504
May-201413,76519,01419,51121,04642,0301,493
Jun-201414,03419,74419,79321,06942,1531,481
Jul-201414,01421,19620,15421,15142,2811,469
Aug-201414,23322,32920,74421,27042,4711,505
Sep-201414,24923,61721,05921,64042,7281,488
Oct-201414,48724,29321,15421,89342,9611,512
Nov-201414,63825,14921,12722,00043,1821,506
Dec-201414,51125,32321,26922,02643,5721,479
Jan-201514,55826,35921,55922,33644,1121,474
Feb-201514,48927,36921,34422,20443,9731,462
Mar-201514,45827,84721,52522,45544,2781,477
Apr-201514,41028,04621,72722,67744,3171,488
May-201514,63427,91921,74722,94144,6431,504
Jun-201514,59228,02021,91123,08044,7741,540
Jul-201514,62028,89921,94323,30144,8701,551
Aug-201514,61328,94022,22423,55145,0471,484
Sep-201514,67829,15122,50123,86945,1151,472
Oct-201514,74629,62422,84224,20945,3031,467
Nov-201514,72229,94723,12824,60645,3251,439
Dec-201514,98230,06223,54524,92645,1651,445
Jan-201615,04129,96223,81225,09245,4191,407
Feb-201615,39430,10924,56425,48045,6821,353
Mar-201615,72629,71624,83525,36945,7831,348
Apr-201615,99829,64025,00125,50245,7891,329
May-201616,10329,77825,37925,55245,6641,326
Jun-201616,21229,54125,76825,58345,7761,302
Jul-201616,55628,81926,20425,67245,8221,285
Aug-201616,61228,02626,14625,59045,9241,280
Sep-201616,84627,28826,37625,73146,0281,268
Oct-201617,03126,53826,59425,88145,9121,192
Nov-201617,16725,91726,89125,94745,9921,197
Dec-201617,16125,86626,81426,11145,9961,176
Jan-201717,27625,64626,81226,50545,9261,168
Feb-201717,24225,32626,58826,80945,8301,148
Mar-201717,05925,26526,45127,20245,4721,139
Apr-201716,92625,17126,25427,27745,3801,157
May-201716,89724,99926,14027,47945,3131,117
Jun-201716,89625,22425,98227,82945,2421,084
Jul-201716,82425,25725,91228,10845,0091,056
Aug-201716,77325,35325,92728,47644,6971,059
Sep-201716,45325,23025,81228,63644,3751,063
Oct-201716,11325,16325,80928,83044,1261,083
Nov-201715,83225,13125,50829,20943,8581,070
Dec-201715,60125,21025,51629,18343,5131,079
Jan-201815,57725,17825,54029,57743,0661,093
Feb-201815,05825,10525,43329,49542,6511,115
Mar-201814,82325,07725,62229,69442,6621,125
Apr-201814,58025,00025,67229,82842,4571,092
May-201814,43624,97325,79630,03242,3151,100
Jun-201814,08324,89625,90830,10141,9801,087
Jul-201813,81324,92125,97030,35541,8721,101
Aug-201813,63824,90726,25730,82741,8401,096
Sep-201813,45924,94126,49031,23841,7881,088
Oct-201813,38624,83726,58131,39241,7321,081
Nov-201813,27224,61126,75531,54641,7151,062
Dec-201813,26824,66426,84331,86641,3441,031
Jan-201913,06624,56126,85632,08141,3191,039
Feb-201913,09324,30626,84732,56641,2841,111
Mar-201913,12524,26126,62832,73741,1831,102
Apr-201913,01524,21126,56832,87841,2021,115
May-201912,92324,22426,68833,52541,4181,125
Jun-201913,17824,36426,71434,24441,8631,154
Jul-201913,24424,62027,06934,51742,3171,153
Aug-201913,36025,02727,40335,21242,9551,151
Sep-201913,68425,25127,93536,00143,7571,268
Oct-201913,87025,96728,92537,32844,7542,087
Nov-201914,23226,58230,73438,60846,1283,145
Dec-201914,49926,74432,99239,74248,4613,304
Jan-202014,62027,81035,00241,12449,4943,587
Feb-202014,90428,97237,09442,49751,0225,011
Mar-202014,69628,63238,68142,42854,1906,257
Apr-202013,98627,29837,09040,28652,4576,200
May-202013,04626,01735,02737,45350,7496,140
Jun-202012,17424,24933,19534,64649,3346,099
Jul-202011,55019,92430,93932,13948,5506,071
Aug-202010,84817,84428,68028,67148,1676,035
Sep-202010,04515,92426,47524,88147,6845,884
Oct-20209,41813,72223,82920,61746,5315,010
Nov-20208,54611,76620,42316,26244,8623,893
Dec-20207,65010,56816,33512,95940,2453,687
Jan-20216,8866,77812,6188,40838,0543,828
Feb-20216,2561,6749,0654,28736,2033,039
Mar-20215,9603936,2441,75932,9051,924
Apr-20216,6254556,9121,86335,8611,947
May-20217,2564967,4091,93938,4581,987
Jun-20217,7227827,8831,96739,5692,009
Jul-20218,0469268,4182,00740,2832,217
Aug-20218,0221,0158,7312,04837,7472,346
Sep-20217,8911,0739,1472,01234,8502,326
Oct-20217,7351,1429,4272,03833,2942,528
Nov-20217,8361,2229,7452,14431,6462,854
Dec-20217,9741,34510,0782,27530,7243,063
Jan-20227,8571,40110,1562,32229,6172,646
Feb-20227,5591,46610,2722,24028,2432,119
Mar-20227,9191,60510,7632,20029,5712,097
Apr-20228,4941,83311,1803,05728,8132,243
May-20228,8842,01712,9813,67627,4952,308
Jun-20229,2902,30815,1024,33326,9122,321
Jul-20229,7634,08518,2945,16625,9922,125
Aug-202210,7224,76220,5936,96727,4742,024
Sep-202211,9275,99322,26610,60729,1212,117
Oct-202212,6677,35824,44814,41229,9462,281
Nov-202213,9488,81228,70020,29431,4822,858
Dec-202214,91310,04633,18324,73033,3912,857
Jan-202315,87712,22335,95528,78134,9962,910
Feb-202317,44616,86438,64534,88136,5513,319
Mar-202319,05018,81342,25442,43535,2194,144

Net migration loss of New Zealand citizens

There was a provisional net migration loss of 23,500 New Zealand citizens in the March 2023 year. This is the largest annual net migration loss of New Zealand citizens since the October 2013 year.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand usually had an annual net migration loss of New Zealand citizens. Annual net migration losses of New Zealand citizens peaked at 44,400 in the February 2012 year. 

Text alternative for diagram International migration estimates (provisional), year ended March 2023.

For information about trans-Tasman migration see Migration with Australia – year ended September 2022.

Migration affects population growth in New Zealand – see National population estimates: At 31 March 2023, to be published on 18 May 2023.

Text alternative for diagram International migration estimates (provisional), year ended March 2023

Diagram shows outcomes-based (provisional) estimates of migration, by citizenship (New Zealand or non-New Zealand) for the year ended March 2023. Overall, net migration is 65,400, made up of a net loss of 23,500 NZ citizens (based on 28,500 migrant arrivals, a 9 percent increase on the year ended March 2022, and 51,900 migrant departures, a 68 percent increase) and a net gain of 88,900 non-NZ citizens (based on 133,500 migrant arrivals, a 376 percent increase on the year ended March 2022, and 44,500 migrant departures, a 5 percent increase). Estimates are provisional as of 12 May 2023. Percentage changes are indicative of the March 2023 year compared with the March 2022 year.

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