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Migration levels steady

There was a slight increase in net migration in the year ended February 2019, with annual net migration provisionally estimated at 53,200, according to Stats NZ's latest figures.
Posted on 12 September, 2019
Migration levels steady

Annual net migration was provisionally estimated at 53,200 in the year ended February 2019 compared with 51,500 in the previous year, according to Stats NZ's latest figures.

“Increases for both migrant arrivals and migrant departures meant that there was a slight increase in net migration in the year ended February 2019,” population indicators manager Tehseen Islam says.

“Annual net migration has fluctuated between 49,000 and 55,000 since the year ended October 2017.”

Migrant arrivals are overseas residents, including New Zealand citizens, who cumulatively spend 12 of the next 16 months in New Zealand after arriving.

Migrant departures are New Zealand residents, including non-New Zealand citizens, who cumulatively spend 12 of the next 16 months out of New Zealand after departing.

Provisional migrant arrivals were up 8,300 to 147,300 in the year ended February 2019. The top source countries for arrivals were Australia, China and India.

Migrant arrivals by age and visa

Migrants who arrive in New Zealand are typically younger than the general population. In the year ended February 2019, over two-thirds of migrant arrivals were aged under 35 years. By comparison, less than half of the New Zealand population is aged under 35 years.

Work visas were the most common visa type on arrival for overseas migrants, with 32,000 in the February 2019 year.

There were also an additional 43,300 migrant arrivals of New Zealand and Australian citizens in the year ended February 2019. These people do not require a visa to enter New Zealand but are still an important part of overall migrant flows.