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.

Year ended MarchNon-NZ citizensNZ citizensTotal net migration
1979-2776-37424-40200
19802603-37020-34417
19814985-29810-24825
19828689-20171-11482
198310685-75053180
19848276-17186558
19856648-14732-8084
19866420-28033-21613
198711453-25722-14269
198812353-27978-15625
198912477-37185-24708
199014624-18642-4018
199115555-393911616
199212289-80024287
199315570-87226848
199423706-811915587
199533756-1205921697
199644952-1512029832
199740303-1935520948
199824669-219622707
199920110-30309-10199
200022887-31874-8987
200129728-42328-12600
200267166-2037846788
200371633-1221759416
200445588-1336732221
200532520-2153810982
200638034-2425513779
200745847-2996615881
200848504-3793710567
200948430-3438714043
201030176-1554414632
201126117-31600-5483
201228240-43924-15684
201330940-36751-5811
201442534-1574926785
201557271-600551266
201666722-356763155
201764008-265961349
201856768-583650932
201956776-709149685
2020803531132791680
2021-1771115941-1770
2022-14600-4738-19339
202388908-2346865440

"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.

Country of citizenship20192023
India883116913
Philippines797116289
China698011917
South Africa78866777
Fiji18844840
Sri Lanka12752989
Australia22851986
Samoa23451959
Malaysia4241763
United Kingdom2358702
New Zealand-7091-23468

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.

"Year ended""Residence""Student""Visitor""Work""NZ/AU citizens""Other"
"Jun-2004"1947511103280269756396771294
"Jul-2004"1903010290276929901395741263
"Aug-2004"183179896276409995394001201
"Sep-2004"1797995332750210244391461187
"Oct-2004"1739793432739910421388871172
"Nov-2004"1691891752743810570385041172
"Dec-2004"1667790922765110669382871120
"Jan-2005"1642287512768110711379991144
"Feb-2005"1615584942778610802378781173
"Mar-2005"1622284502814910709377051169
"Apr-2005"1660382442841310887377081195
"May-2005"1680482312867010973375161237
"Jun-2005"1700581462880511032373921259
"Jul-2005"1705880022888810917372371248
"Aug-2005"1737480342902810962370531241
"Sep-2005"1770380262913910992369451195
"Oct-2005"1798979882909511057369071186
"Nov-2005"1831379752876611133366361158
"Dec-2005"1845780582860911221364781159
"Jan-2006"1862579182831011477364321151
"Feb-2006"1862082202854511681363781123
"Mar-2006"1881483202852711944364531117
"Apr-2006"1864483702863212057363881112
"May-2006"1861784012846212083363271118
"Jun-2006"1879984912863012220361761082
"Jul-2006"1895488242882512459361931103
"Aug-2006"1920488622901612716361431119
"Sep-2006"1937489952918812992362231160
"Oct-2006"1951591612940713251361661181
"Nov-2006"1948293882997613602365001223
"Dec-2006"1936795343049813882361771229
"Jan-2007"1932198053079813964360211213
"Feb-2007"19300101523086514072360031230
"Mar-2007"19142104293138014374359421209
"Apr-2007"18859106533159214555358171235
"May-2007"18514107563190714866358391222
"Jun-2007"18269110683200315162358221208
"Jul-2007"17948113423197715286355301193
"Aug-2007"17765117013219715635355431174
"Sep-2007"17395119643232615818353671194
"Oct-2007"17175121953227315799354141151
"Nov-2007"16904123873233415774353461128
"Dec-2007"16758125633211815900349821129
"Jan-2008"16453128973192116009347861126
"Feb-2008"16393135603229316431347661165
"Mar-2008"16296137793228416593346661199
"Apr-2008"16422139043255016780346271229
"May-2008"16559144013293316990347061263
"Jun-2008"16513145763338217099347601329
"Jul-2008"16373153763369717278348831404
"Aug-2008"16210156903378317401348421456
"Sep-2008"16152158573374717298347731459
"Oct-2008"16046161073388017449348831497
"Nov-2008"16021162113361817546348451516
"Dec-2008"15965162143362017451352371507
"Jan-2009"16031163323359317463355361498
"Feb-2009"15871167103296217232357271501
"Mar-2009"15825168443221717032358981546
"Apr-2009"15699170133126816829360591520
"May-2009"15581168893031716592361971544
"Jun-2009"15456167552929916310363601543
"Jul-2009"15452166932843916049366021536
"Aug-2009"15258164572744215670368661550
"Sep-2009"15173165262662115455369911589
"Oct-2009"14950164722564715194371541607
"Nov-2009"14811162962485614939372591546
"Dec-2009"14818161142373114731373491522
"Jan-2010"14588161192290014304373871521
"Feb-2010"14332157052230114046372291494
"Mar-2010"14264155322192313802372951434
"Apr-2010"14209153992159213536373341397
"May-2010"14136152662131513282371691328
"Jun-2010"13992153542098713066370891268
"Jul-2010"13842155062076712893370361213
"Aug-2010"13921159492064412788368601148
"Sep-2010"13765162442038112846368181077
"Oct-2010"13771165962039413071363581048
"Nov-2010"13670168642005113276359811070
"Dec-2010"13535170151984013406356131090
"Jan-2011"13387171091962413558353991072
"Feb-2011"13520174221965413755351881056
"Mar-2011"13569175911958213969349251066
"Apr-2011"13576177181953414194348221058
"May-2011"13636178051943014481346531046
"Jun-2011"13741177801933114645343381050
"Jul-2011"13788177851942614878341991074
"Aug-2011"13672174971944015213342551082
"Sep-2011"13569172141964615423340981089
"Oct-2011"13613168421958815395339021076
"Nov-2011"13693168621970615536337181096
"Dec-2011"13784167741968915603332611095
"Jan-2012"13793167851981715683328221139
"Feb-2012"13746169701952716029327371175
"Mar-2012"13820173451936916230327611196
"Apr-2012"13774171361915016247325561200
"May-2012"13879170801915016337324011214
"Jun-2012"13963170001924716651326391234
"Jul-2012"13753167811889116700326541203
"Aug-2012"13831165181879316766326741209
"Sep-2012"13801163921853517103329961207
"Oct-2012"13812164121842717369332931241
"Nov-2012"13882161931822717595337891255
"Dec-2012"13852161451809217705346851283
"Jan-2013"13864160861791017958352981278
"Feb-2013"13839154111774618055356381282
"Mar-2013"13813151381768418296360241249
"Apr-2013"13926151281778318691365501239
"May-2013"13731153541777918849371071242
"Jun-2013"13533153971763919075374821242
"Jul-2013"13642154201772419320382361260
"Aug-2013"13490157311761819586387001281
"Sep-2013"13579157471758919562390511311
"Oct-2013"13486160291767519867395871323
"Nov-2013"13413162701794920098398551367
"Dec-2013"13508164441810220317405201391
"Jan-2014"13444168491822620462407881425
"Feb-2014"13610176061862420723413231472
"Mar-2014"13706180281895220934415311495
"Apr-2014"13716185491918220974418361504
"May-2014"13765190141951121046420301493
"Jun-2014"14034197441979321069421531481
"Jul-2014"14014211962015421151422811469
"Aug-2014"14233223292074421270424711505
"Sep-2014"14249236172105921640427281488
"Oct-2014"14487242932115421893429611512
"Nov-2014"14638251492112722000431821506
"Dec-2014"14511253232126922026435721479
"Jan-2015"14558263592155922336441121474
"Feb-2015"14489273692134422204439731462
"Mar-2015"14458278472152522455442781477
"Apr-2015"14410280462172722677443171488
"May-2015"14634279192174722941446431504
"Jun-2015"14592280202191123080447741540
"Jul-2015"14620288992194323301448701551
"Aug-2015"14613289402222423551450471484
"Sep-2015"14678291512250123869451151472
"Oct-2015"14746296242284224209453031467
"Nov-2015"14722299472312824606453251439
"Dec-2015"14982300622354524926451651445
"Jan-2016"15041299622381225092454191407
"Feb-2016"15394301092456425480456821353
"Mar-2016"15726297162483525369457831348
"Apr-2016"15998296402500125502457891329
"May-2016"16103297782537925552456641326
"Jun-2016"16212295412576825583457761302
"Jul-2016"16556288192620425672458221285
"Aug-2016"16612280262614625590459241280
"Sep-2016"16846272882637625731460281268
"Oct-2016"17031265382659425881459121192
"Nov-2016"17167259172689125947459921197
"Dec-2016"17161258662681426111459961176
"Jan-2017"17276256462681226505459261168
"Feb-2017"17242253262658826809458301148
"Mar-2017"17059252652645127202454721139
"Apr-2017"16926251712625427277453801157
"May-2017"16897249992614027479453131117
"Jun-2017"16896252242598227829452421084
"Jul-2017"16824252572591228108450091056
"Aug-2017"16773253532592728476446971059
"Sep-2017"16453252302581228636443751063
"Oct-2017"16113251632580928830441261083
"Nov-2017"15832251312550829209438581070
"Dec-2017"15601252102551629183435131079
"Jan-2018"15577251782554029577430661093
"Feb-2018"15058251052543329495426511115
"Mar-2018"14823250772562229694426621125
"Apr-2018"14580250002567229828424571092
"May-2018"14436249732579630032423151100
"Jun-2018"14083248962590830101419801087
"Jul-2018"13813249212597030355418721101
"Aug-2018"13638249072625730827418401096
"Sep-2018"13459249412649031238417881088
"Oct-2018"13386248372658131392417321081
"Nov-2018"13272246112675531546417151062
"Dec-2018"13268246642684331866413441031
"Jan-2019"13066245612685632081413191039
"Feb-2019"13093243062684732566412841111
"Mar-2019"13125242612662832737411831102
"Apr-2019"13015242112656832878412021115
"May-2019"12923242242668833525414181125
"Jun-2019"13178243642671434244418631154
"Jul-2019"13244246202706934517423171153
"Aug-2019"13360250272740335212429551151
"Sep-2019"13684252512793536001437571268
"Oct-2019"13870259672892537328447542087
"Nov-2019"14232265823073438608461283145
"Dec-2019"14499267443299239742484613304
"Jan-2020"14620278103500241124494943587
"Feb-2020"14904289723709442497510225011
"Mar-2020"14696286323868142428541906257
"Apr-2020"13986272983709040286524576200
"May-2020"13046260173502737453507496140
"Jun-2020"12174242493319534646493346099
"Jul-2020"11550199243093932139485506071
"Aug-2020"10848178442868028671481676035
"Sep-2020"10045159242647524881476845884
"Oct-2020"9418137222382920617465315010
"Nov-2020"8546117662042316262448623893
"Dec-2020"7650105681633512959402453687
"Jan-2021"68866778126188408380543828
"Feb-2021"6256167490654287362033039
"Mar-2021"596039362441759329051924
"Apr-2021"662545569121863358611947
"May-2021"725649674091939384581987
"Jun-2021"772278278831967395692009
"Jul-2021"804692684182007402832217
"Aug-2021"8022101587312048377472346
"Sep-2021"7891107391472012348502326
"Oct-2021"7735114294272038332942528
"Nov-2021"7836122297452144316462854
"Dec-2021"79741345100782275307243063
"Jan-2022"78571401101562322296172646
"Feb-2022"75591466102722240282432119
"Mar-2022"79191605107632200295712097
"Apr-2022"84941833111803057288132243
"May-2022"88842017129813676274952308
"Jun-2022"92902308151024333269122321
"Jul-2022"97634085182945166259922125
"Aug-2022"107224762205936967274742024
"Sep-2022"1192759932226610607291212117
"Oct-2022"1266773582444814412299462281
"Nov-2022"1394888122870020294314822858
"Dec-2022"14913100463318324730333912857
"Jan-2023"15877122233595528781349962910
"Feb-2023"17446168643864534881365513319
"Mar-2023"19050188134225442435352194144

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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