Net migration remains near record level

There was an annual net migration gain of 126,000 in the December 2023 year, according to provisional estimates released by Stats NZ today.

The net migration gain is the largest for a calendar year and compares with the provisional annual record of 134,400 in the October 2023 year.

“The net migration gain in 2023 is similar to the population of the Taranaki region,” population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.

The annual net migration gain in 2023 was made up of a net gain of 173,000 non-New Zealand citizens and a net loss of 47,000 New Zealand citizens in 2023.

“In 2023 a near-record net migration gain of non-New Zealand citizens more than offset a record net migration loss of New Zealand citizens.”

“The net migration gain of non-New Zealand citizens averaged 474 a day in 2023, and the net migration loss of New Zealand citizens averaged 129 a day,” Islam said.

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.

Non-New Zealand citizens drive net migration gain

The annual net migration gain of 173,000 non-New Zealand citizens in 2023 is just below the provisional record of 177,700 in the October 2023 year.

Net migration gains of non-New Zealand citizens averaged about 60,000 a year from 2014-2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The net migration gain in 2023 was mainly driven by citizens of India, the Philippines, China, Fiji, and South Africa. This follows a progressive relaxation of COVID-19-related border restrictions from early 2022, as well as changes to immigration settings.

Record net loss of New Zealand citizens

The provisional annual net migration loss of 47,000 New Zealand citizens in 2023 is a new annual record.

New Zealand has usually had an annual net migration loss of New Zealand citizens, which averaged 26,600 a year in 2002-2013, and 4,000 a year in 2014-2019.

Based on latest estimates, 53 percent of New Zealand citizen migrant departures were to Australia.

Adults under 45 drive migration

“Young adults are driving migration into and out of New Zealand,” Islam said.

Migrants aged 18-44 years made up 66 percent (150,100) of the 226,900 migrant arrivals of non-New Zealand citizens in 2023.

Migrants aged 18-30 years accounted for 39 percent (29,300) of the 74,800 migrant departures of New Zealand citizens in 2023.

Migrants are people changing their country of residence, regardless of their country of citizenship or visa status. A 12-month threshold is used to classify migrants from non-migrants, aligned with international guidelines on measuring migration.

‘Country of citizenship’ is the nationality of passport used to arrive in or depart from New Zealand and is not necessarily the country of previous or next residence.

Migration is a key contributor to population change in New Zealand – for provisional estimates see: 

• National population estimates: At 30 September 2023 (published 16 November 2023)
• Subnational population estimates: At 30 June 2023 (published 25 October 2023). 

National population estimates: At 31 December 2023 will be published on 16 February 2024.

Text alternative for diagram International migration estimates (provisional), year ended December 2023: Diagram shows outcomes-based (provisional) estimates of migration, by citizenship (New Zealand or non-New Zealand) for the year ended December 2023. Overall, net migration is 126,000, made up of a net loss of 47,000 NZ citizens (based on 27,800 migrant arrivals, a 4 percent increase on the year ended December 2022, and 74,800 migrant departures, a 44 percent increase) and a net gain of 173,000 non-NZ citizens (based on 226,900 migrant arrivals, a 146 percent increase on the year ended December 2022, and 53,900 migrant departures, a 27 percent increase). Estimates are provisional as of 15 February 2024.