New Zealand’s net migration gains drop

WELLINGTON, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) — New Zealand’s net migration rate of 13 per 1,000 in 2024, while down from 2023, remains high by international standards, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Wednesday.
International migration increased New Zealand’s population by 13 more people for every 1,000 residents in the July 2024 year, down from a rate of 26 per 1,000 in the October 2023 year, according to Stats NZ.
High net migration rates in 2023 mainly reflect the large number of migrant arrivals to New Zealand following the easing of pandemic-related restrictions to international travel and migration, Stats NZ population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.
“New Zealand’s net migration rate in 2023 was the highest since the late 1870s, when New Zealand’s population was under one million,” Islam said, adding the rate was also high in the early 1900s, early 2000s, and mid-2010s.
The easing of pandemic-related restrictions, changes to immigration policies, and increased migrant flows linked to international conflicts have contributed to net migration gains.
Compared with Australia, driven by student visa holders, Australia’s net migration rate of 20 per 1,000 in 2023 was well above the 14 per 1,000 in 2009 and pre-COVID average of 9 per 1,000, statistics show.
There was a net migration gain of 67,200 in the July 2024 year, made up of 200,800 migrant arrivals and 133,600 migrant departures, Stats NZ said, adding this has been falling from the peak of 136,700 in the October 2023 year. ■