Net migration loss to Australia in 2022

There was a provisional net migration loss of 13,400 people from New Zealand to Australia in 2022, according to estimates released by Stats NZ today.

This compares with a net migration loss of 5,400 in 2021. These estimates use data from Stats NZ and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, whose data is currently available up to December 2022).

"The net migration loss to Australia in 2022 is the largest for a calendar year since 2013, but well below the largest net loss of 43,700 in the March 2012 year," population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.

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.

The net migration loss in 2022 was made up of 33,900 migrant departures to Australia, and 20,400 migrant arrivals from Australia.

"Migrant departures to Australia have increased to levels last seen in 2014−2019," Islam said.

"Migrant arrivals from Australia are about two-thirds of the 2014−2019 levels."

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.

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.

New Zealand citizens drive trans-Tasman migration

New Zealand citizens remained the main driver of trans-Tasman migration flows in 2022, reflecting a long-standing historical pattern.

In 2022, New Zealand citizens - people travelling on New Zealand passports - made up 80 percent of the 33,900 migrant departures to Australia, and 72 percent of the 20,400 migrant arrivals from Australia.

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 2022, 36 percent were born outside of 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 .

Migration to Australia via New Zealand has historical context relating to this release.

Net migration gain with the rest of the world

There was a provisional net migration gain of 34,300 to New Zealand from the rest of the world (excluding Australia) in 2022. This more than offset the net migration loss to Australia.

In the five years from 2015 to 2019, net migration gains from the rest of the world averaged 62,700 a year, more than offsetting net migration losses to Australia that averaged 3,000 a year over the same period.

International migration: May 2023 has more recent Stats NZ migration data up to May 2023, for example by citizenship.