Stats NZ

Net migration loss to Australia in 2023

There was a net migration loss of 27,000 people from New Zealand to Australia in 2023, according to provisional estimates released by Stats NZ today.

“The net migration loss from New Zealand to Australia in 2023 was larger than the loss of 14,600 in 2022,” population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.

“However, it should be noted that this is below the record loss of 43,700 in the March 2012 year.”

Traditionally, there has been a net migration loss from New Zealand to Australia. This averaged about 30,000 a year during 2004–2013, and 3,000 a year during 2014–2019.

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberSee metadata tab for more information about this graphEstimated migration between New Zealand and Australia, rolling year ended September 2004–December 2023Migrant arrivals (from Australia to New Zealand, estimated from Stats NZ data)Migrant departures (from New Zealand to Australia, estimated from ABS data)Net migration (from New Zealand to Australia)Sep-2004Mar-2005Sep-2005Mar-2006Sep-2006Mar-2007Sep-2007Mar-2008Sep-2008Mar-2009Sep-2009Mar-2010Sep-2010Mar-2011Sep-2011Mar-2012Sep-2012Mar-2013Sep-2013Mar-2014Sep-2014Mar-2015Sep-2015Mar-2016Sep-2016Mar-2017Sep-2017Mar-2018Sep-2018Mar-2019Sep-2019Mar-2020Sep-2020Mar-2021Sep-2021Mar-2022Sep-2022Mar-2023Sep-2023-25k025k50k75kStats NZ

Estimated migration between New Zealand and Australia, rolling year ended September 2004–December 2023

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberEstimated migration between New Zealand and Australia, rolling year ended September 2004–December 2023Migrant arrivals (from Australia to New Zealand, estimated from Stats NZ data)Migrant departures (from New Zealand to Australia, estimated from ABS data)Net migration (from New Zealand to Australia)Sep-2004Mar-2005Sep-2005Mar-2006Sep-2006Mar-2007Sep-2007Mar-2008Sep-2008Mar-2009Sep-2009Mar-2010Sep-2010Mar-2011Sep-2011Mar-2012Sep-2012Mar-2013Sep-2013Mar-2014Sep-2014Mar-2015Sep-2015Mar-2016Sep-2016Mar-2017Sep-2017Mar-2018Sep-2018Mar-2019Sep-2019Mar-2020Sep-2020Mar-2021Sep-2021Mar-2022Sep-2022Mar-2023Sep-2023-25k025k50k75kStats NZ
Year endedMigrant arrivals (from Australia to New Zealand, estimated from Stats NZ data)Migrant departures (from New Zealand to Australia, estimated from ABS data)Net migration (from New Zealand to Australia)
Sep-200420,91142,57821,667
Dec-200420,24340,08019,837
Mar-200519,63340,52220,889
Jun-200519,16541,92222,757
Sep-200518,89442,81923,925
Dec-200518,66443,54524,881
Mar-200618,49743,30524,808
Jun-200618,29943,53425,235
Sep-200618,40844,38825,980
Dec-200618,55845,69327,135
Mar-200718,61047,64229,032
Jun-200718,73749,89531,158
Sep-200718,71350,98532,272
Dec-200718,53852,47433,936
Mar-200818,30254,43236,130
Jun-200818,11455,77337,659
Sep-200817,88157,38539,504
Dec-200817,98557,93339,948
Mar-200918,18555,69037,505
Jun-200918,74550,96932,224
Sep-200919,48446,27226,788
Dec-200920,14942,48622,337
Mar-201020,71141,28120,570
Jun-201020,97342,90621,933
Sep-201021,07445,97224,898
Dec-201020,80949,19328,384
Mar-201120,54753,71933,172
Jun-201119,91657,57137,655
Sep-201119,38560,07540,690
Dec-201119,13161,83042,699
Mar-201218,94162,68843,747
Jun-201219,08962,83243,743
Sep-201219,69462,57942,885
Dec-201220,93461,78540,851
Mar-201322,20159,15636,955
Jun-201323,70055,35731,657
Sep-201325,56851,15925,591
Dec-201327,61546,96219,347
Mar-201429,08942,23313,144
Jun-201429,95638,9659,009
Sep-201430,55736,9256,368
Dec-201431,36835,3273,959
Mar-201531,81634,4192,603
Jun-201532,28233,8571,575
Sep-201532,68233,571889
Dec-201533,02033,718698
Mar-201633,46734,439972
Jun-201633,23535,8252,590
Sep-201632,91037,0394,129
Dec-201632,48137,0814,600
Mar-201731,69535,8924,197
Jun-201731,33934,4593,120
Sep-201730,57433,2362,662
Dec-201729,59532,3922,797
Mar-201828,82732,0633,236
Jun-201828,21531,8453,630
Sep-201828,00231,7493,747
Dec-201827,36631,7184,352
Mar-201927,17831,6154,437
Jun-201927,61731,8474,230
Sep-201928,50932,1483,639
Dec-201930,70433,3842,680
Mar-202032,77232,097-675
Jun-202028,60525,292-3,313
Sep-202026,70518,623-8,082
Dec-202021,22213,882-7,340
Mar-202116,60812,937-3,671
Jun-202121,68520,306-1,379
Sep-202118,71522,5713,856
Dec-202116,65622,0435,387
Mar-202216,96722,8745,907
Jun-202215,61723,3147,697
Sep-202217,86328,87011,007
Dec-202220,24034,82914,589
Mar-202320,80439,46018,656
Jun-202318,57041,40822,838
Sep-202317,87942,71824,839
Dec-202317,52344,53427,011

Estimated migration between New Zealand and Australia, rolling year ended September 2004–December 2023

Stats NZ estimates from the February 2023 month, and Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates from the March 2023 quarter, are provisional and subject to revision.

The country of last previous residence (CLPR) of migrants arriving in New Zealand and Australia is not always known.

To estimate net migration using the two series ‘Estimated migrant arrivals to Australia … (quarterly)’ and ‘Estimated migrant arrivals by citizenship, visa type and CLPR, 12/16-month rule (quarterly)…’, an allowance for non-response to the CLPR question on both New Zealand and Australian arrival cards has been made.

For ‘Estimated migrant arrivals by citizenship, visa type and CLPR…’ non-response to CLPR is prorated based on the distribution of those with a CLPR by citizenship (‘NZ’, ‘non-NZ’). These estimates will differ from the Infoshare series, which makes no adjustment for CLPR non-response.

For ‘Estimated migrant arrivals to Australia…’ the proration is based on a combination of birthplace (‘NZ’, ‘non-NZ’) and citizenship (‘NZ’, ‘non-NZ’).

The net migration loss in 2023 was made up of 44,500 migrant departures to Australia, and 17,500 migrant arrivals from Australia.

“The annual record for migrant departures to Australia was 62,800 in the June 2012 year,” Islam said.

These estimates use data from Stats NZ and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, whose data is currently available up to December 2023).

New Zealand citizens drive trans-Tasman migration

New Zealand citizens were the main driver of trans-Tasman migration flows in 2023, reflecting a long-standing historical pattern.

In 2023, New Zealand citizens – people travelling on New Zealand passports – made up 84 percent of the 44,500 migrant departures to Australia, and 61 percent of the 17,500 migrant arrivals from Australia.

Australia the main destination for New Zealand citizen migrants

Of the 69,900 migrant departures of New Zealand citizens to all countries in 2023, 53 percent were to Australia. Based on available data from 1979, this share has fluctuated between 41 percent in 1991 and 77 percent in 2012.

Overseas-born New Zealand citizens migrating to Australia

Since the early 2000s, people who were born outside New Zealand have made up a growing proportion of New Zealand citizens migrating to Australia.

Of New Zealand citizens who migrated to Australia in 2023, 36 percent were born outside New Zealand. This compares with an average of 33 percent in 2016–2019 (before COVID-19) and 22 percent in 2004–2011.

This is slightly higher than the overseas-born share of New Zealand’s population, which increased from 19.5 percent in 2001 to 27.4 percent in 2018 (see 2018 Census totals by topic – national highlights (updated)). The equivalent 2023 Census figure will be published on 3 October 2024.

However, migrants are generally concentrated in young adult ages, where the overseas-born percentage is higher. Of the 69,900 migrant departures of New Zealand citizens to all countries in 2023, 52 percent were aged 20–39 years. The overseas-born percentage of the New Zealand population aged 20–39 years in the 2018 Census was 38 percent.

Migration to Australia via New Zealand (published June 2017) has historical context relating to this release.

Record net migration gain from the rest of the world

There was a provisional net migration gain of 155,800 to New Zealand from the rest of the world (excluding Australia) in 2023. This was a record for a calendar year and more than offset the net migration loss to Australia. Aside from Australia, Stats NZ has no data on the destination of migrants departing New Zealand.

In the 16 years from 2004 to 2019, net migration gains from the rest of the world averaged 46,100 a year.

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberSee metadata tab for more information about this graph.Implied migration between New Zealand and rest of the world (excluding Australia), rolling year ended September 2004–December 2023Migration from rest of the world (excluding Australia) to New ZealandMigration from New Zealand to rest of world (excluding Australia)Net migration from rest of the world (excluding Australia) to New ZealandSep-2004Mar-2005Sep-2005Mar-2006Sep-2006Mar-2007Sep-2007Mar-2008Sep-2008Mar-2009Sep-2009Mar-2010Sep-2010Mar-2011Sep-2011Mar-2012Sep-2012Mar-2013Sep-2013Mar-2014Sep-2014Mar-2015Sep-2015Mar-2016Sep-2016Mar-2017Sep-2017Mar-2018Sep-2018Mar-2019Sep-2019Mar-2020Sep-2020Mar-2021Sep-2021Mar-2022Sep-2022Mar-2023Sep-2023-100k0100k200k300kStats NZ

Implied migration between New Zealand and rest of the world (excluding Australia), rolling year ended September 2004–December 2023

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberImplied migration between New Zealand and rest of the world (excluding Australia), rolling year ended September 2004–December 2023Migration from rest of the world (excluding Australia) to New ZealandMigration from New Zealand to rest of world (excluding Australia)Net migration from rest of the world (excluding Australia) to New ZealandSep-2004Mar-2005Sep-2005Mar-2006Sep-2006Mar-2007Sep-2007Mar-2008Sep-2008Mar-2009Sep-2009Mar-2010Sep-2010Mar-2011Sep-2011Mar-2012Sep-2012Mar-2013Sep-2013Mar-2014Sep-2014Mar-2015Sep-2015Mar-2016Sep-2016Mar-2017Sep-2017Mar-2018Sep-2018Mar-2019Sep-2019Mar-2020Sep-2020Mar-2021Sep-2021Mar-2022Sep-2022Mar-2023Sep-2023-100k0100k200k300kStats NZ
Year endedMigration from rest of the world (excluding Australia) to New ZealandMigration from New Zealand to rest of world (excluding Australia)Net migration from rest of the world (excluding Australia) to New Zealand
Sep-200484,68044,43140,249
Dec-200483,25349,27633,977
Mar-200582,77150,90031,871
Jun-200584,47450,61833,856
Sep-200585,10650,66534,441
Dec-200585,31849,17136,147
Mar-200686,67848,09138,587
Jun-200687,09948,39338,706
Sep-200689,52448,23641,288
Dec-200692,12948,28143,848
Mar-200793,86648,95344,913
Jun-200794,79549,11845,677
Sep-200795,35149,80045,551
Dec-200794,91249,93944,973
Mar-200896,51549,81846,697
Jun-200899,54549,84649,699
Sep-2008101,40549,49851,907
Dec-2008102,00949,79052,219
Mar-2009101,17749,62951,548
Jun-200996,97848,48648,492
Sep-200992,87148,17744,694
Dec-200988,11647,51040,606
Mar-201083,53948,33735,202
Jun-201080,78349,88130,902
Sep-201080,05750,47929,578
Dec-201079,69051,58328,107
Mar-201180,15552,46627,689
Jun-201180,96952,71828,251
Sep-201181,65453,58428,070
Dec-201181,07554,52026,555
Mar-201281,78053,71728,063
Jun-201281,64552,88528,760
Sep-201280,34051,64628,694
Dec-201280,82850,38530,443
Mar-201380,00348,85931,144
Jun-201380,66848,20232,466
Sep-201381,27147,56333,708
Dec-201382,66746,02936,638
Mar-201485,55745,62839,929
Jun-201488,31845,84742,471
Sep-201494,22445,58748,637
Dec-201496,81245,44051,372
Mar-2015100,22446,35553,869
Jun-2015101,63546,63355,002
Sep-2015104,10446,71857,386
Dec-2015107,10546,59860,507
Mar-2016109,31045,18364,127
Jun-2016110,94743,74467,203
Sep-2016110,62742,62268,005
Dec-2016110,64343,15467,489
Mar-2017110,89345,34765,546
Jun-2017110,91848,26562,653
Sep-2017110,99551,79759,198
Dec-2017110,50754,43056,077
Mar-2018110,17656,00854,168
Jun-2018109,84057,21552,625
Sep-2018111,00257,82753,175
Dec-2018111,64857,72953,919
Mar-2019111,85757,73654,121
Jun-2019113,90057,56956,331
Sep-2019119,38756,62162,766
Dec-2019135,03859,77075,268
Mar-2020152,11261,10791,005
Jun-2020131,09249,56981,523
Sep-2020104,18847,28956,899
Dec-202070,22240,71829,504
Mar-202132,58138,034-5,453
Jun-202138,24346,207-7,964
Sep-202138,56945,534-6,965
Dec-202138,80348,366-9,563
Mar-202237,20450,755-13,551
Jun-202245,70855,703-9,995
Sep-202266,05660,2185,838
Dec-202299,20059,71139,489
Mar-2023151,28258,09793,185
Jun-2023189,16057,433131,726
Sep-2023216,72558,409158,317
Dec-2023219,46063,676155,784

Implied migration between New Zealand and rest of the world (excluding Australia), rolling year ended September 2004–December 2023

Stats NZ estimates from the February 2023 month, and Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates from the March 2023 quarter, are provisional and subject to revision.

The country of last previous residence (CLPR) of migrants arriving in New Zealand and Australia is not always known.

To estimate net migration using the two series ‘Estimated migrant arrivals to Australia … (quarterly)’ and ‘Estimated migrant arrivals by citizenship, visa type and CLPR, 12/16-month rule (quarterly)…’, an allowance for non-response to the CLPR question on both New Zealand and Australian arrival cards has been made.

For ‘Estimated migrant arrivals by citizenship, visa type and CLPR…’ non-response to CLPR is prorated based on the distribution of those with a CLPR by citizenship (‘NZ’, ‘non-NZ’). These estimates will differ from the Infoshare series, which makes no adjustment for CLPR non-response.

The implied migrant flows with the rest of the world, excluding Australia, can be derived by subtracting the trans-Tasman flows from New Zealand’s total migrant flows.

Changes in migration are typically due to a combination of factors. These include relative economic and labour market conditions between New Zealand and the rest of the world, and immigration policy in New Zealand and other countries.

A migrant is someone changing their country of residence, irrespective of their citizenship or visa type. Migrants include both New Zealand and non-New Zealand citizens, as both affect the population living in New Zealand. A 12-month threshold is generally used internationally to differentiate migrants from short-term travellers (see New Zealand’s 12/16-month rule for more information).

The latest monthly International migration release contains the most recent Stats NZ migration estimates, including revisions to previous estimates.

Flow chart, Estimated migration, year ended December 2023. See link to text alternative under image.

Text alternative for diagram Estimated migration, Year ended December 2023

Diagram shows estimates of migration between New Zealand and Australia, and New Zealand and the rest of the world for the year ended December 2023. Overall, net migration is 128,800, made up of a net loss with Australia of 27,000 (based on 17,500 migrant arrivals, a 13 percent decrease on 2022, and 44,500 migrant departures, a 28 percent increase) and a net gain of 155,800 with the rest of the world (excluding Australia) (based on 219,500 migrant arrivals, a 121 percent increase on 2022, and 63,700 migrant departures, a 7 percent increase). All estimates are provisional as of 10 July 2024, and include adjustments for non-response to country of last permanent residence. Source: Stats NZ.

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