Net Migration Loss To Australia In 2024

There was a net migration loss of 30,000 people from New Zealand to Australia in the December 2024 year, according to provisional estimates released by Stats NZ today.

"The net migration loss from New Zealand to Australia in 2024 was similar to the loss of 29,400 in 2023," international migration statistics spokesperson Sarah Drake said.

"The loss in 2024 is the largest for a calendar year since 2012, but 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 to 2013, and 3,000 a year during 2014 to 2019.

The net migration loss in 2024 was made up of 47,300 migrant departures to Australia and 17,300 migrant arrivals from Australia. This compared with 46,000 migrant departures to Australia and 16,600 migrant arrivals from Australia in 2023.

"The annual record for migrant departures to Australia was 62,800 in the June 2012 year," Drake said.

These estimates use data from Stats NZ and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, whose data is currently available up to December 2024).

New Zealand citizens drive trans-Tasman migration

New Zealand citizens were the main driver of trans-Tasman migration flows in 2024, reflecting a long-standing historical pattern.

In 2024, New Zealand citizens - people travelling on New Zealand passports - made up 85 percent of the 47,300 migrant departures to Australia, and 67 percent of the 17,300 migrant arrivals from Australia. In 2023, these proportions were 84 percent and 61 percent, respectively.

Australia the main destination for New Zealand-citizen migrants

Of the 69,300 migrant departures of New Zealand citizens to all countries in 2024, 58 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 2024, 35 percent were born outside New Zealand.

This is higher than the overseas-born proportion of New Zealand's population, which was 29 percent in 2023 - for more information, see 'Almost 30 percent of usual residents born overseas' in 2023 Census population, dwelling, and housing highlights.

Among New Zealand's population aged 20 to 39 years in 2023, 37 percent were born overseas.

The young-adult ages are also where migrants are generally concentrated. Migrants aged 20 to 39 years made up 51 percent of the 69,300 migrant departures of New Zealand citizens to all countries in 2024.

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

Net migration gain from the rest of the world

There was a provisional net migration gain of 54,100 to New Zealand from the rest of the world (excluding Australia) in 2024. This was well down on the net gain of 157,300 in 2023, which was a record for a calendar year.

The net migration gain from the rest of the world in 2024 more than offset the net migration loss of 30,000 to Australia.

Data on the destination of migrants departing New Zealand is only available for Australia.

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

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 .

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

Text alternative for diagram Estimated migration between New Zealand and Australia, and the rest of the world, year ended December 2024

Diagram shows estimates of migration between New Zealand and Australia, and between New Zealand and the rest of the world, for the year ended December 2024. Overall, net migration is 24,200, made up of a net loss with Australia of 30,000 (based on 17,300 migrant arrivals, a 4 percent increase on 2023, and 47,300 migrant departures, a 3 percent increase) and a net gain of 54,100 with the rest of the world (excluding Australia) (based on 128,100 migrant arrivals, a 40 percent decrease on 2023, and 74,000 migrant departures, a 32 percent increase). All estimates are provisional as of 10 July 2025 and include adjustments for non-response to country of last permanent residence. Source: Stats NZ.