Annual net migration gain of 86,800

There was a provisional net migration gain of 86,800 in the June 2023 year, reversing a net migration loss of 17,600 in the June 2022 year, according to estimates released by Stats NZ today.

New Zealand's highest annual net migration gain was 91,700 in the March 2020 year.

The net migration gain of 86,800 in the June 2023 year was made up of a net gain of 121,600 non-New Zealand citizens and a net migration loss of 34,800 New Zealand citizens.

"Arrivals of non-New Zealand citizens continued to be the main driver of New Zealand's net migration gain in the June 2023 year," population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.

"Months since November 2022 have averaged net migration gains of about 12,000 non-New Zealand citizens a month, which is high by historical standards."

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

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

The June 2023 year saw provisional annual records for:

• total migrant arrivals of 195,200, eclipsing 184,900 in the March 2020 year
• migrant arrivals of non-New Zealand citizens, with 168,900
• net migration gain of non-New Zealand citizens, of 121,600. Before the 2023 record levels, the previous record was 80,400 in the March 2020 year.

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

Net migration loss of New Zealand citizens

There was a provisional net migration loss of 34,800 New Zealand citizens in the June 2023 year. This is the largest net migration loss of New Zealand citizens since the April 2013 year.

The largest annual net migration loss of New Zealand citizens was 44,400 in the February 2012 year.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand usually had an annual net migration loss of New Zealand citizens.

In the December 2022 year, about half of the net migration loss of New Zealand citizens was to Australia. See International migration: June 2023 for more information on trans-Tasman migration.

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

Adults under 40 drive migration

New Zealand citizens aged 18-30 years accounted for half (17,500) of the provisional net migration loss of 34,800 New Zealand citizens in the June 2023 year.

The same age group had a net loss of 5,700 in the June 2019 year, relative to an overall net migration loss of 5,600 New Zealand citizens.

Non-New Zealand citizens aged 18-40 years made up 65 percent (78,500) of the net migration gain of 121,600 non-New Zealand citizens in the June 2023 year.

The same age group made up 58 percent (33,500) of the net gain of 57,700 non-New Zealand citizens in the June 2019 year.

Migration contributes to population change in New Zealand - see National population estimates: At 30 June 2023, to be published on 16 August 2023.

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

Diagram shows outcomes-based (provisional) estimates of migration, by citizenship (New Zealand or non-New Zealand) for the year ended June 2023. Overall, net migration is 86,800, made up of a net loss of 34,800 New Zealand citizens (based on 26,300 migrant arrivals, a 10 percent increase on the year ended June 2022, and 61,200 migrant departures, a 68 percent increase) and a net gain of 121,600 non-New Zealand citizens (based on 168,900 migrant arrivals, a 353 percent increase on the year ended June 2022, and 47,200 migrant departures, an 11 percent increase). Estimates are provisional as of 14 August 2023. Percentage changes are indicative of the June 2023 year compared with the June 2022 year.