New Zealand: immigration

How many migrants arrive in New Zealand each year?

An estimated 134,600 migrants arrived in New Zealand in the year ended August 2026, up 6% on the year before, according to provisional estimates from Stats NZ, released on 14 October 2026. Annual arrivals peaked at 232,900 in the year ended October 2023.

The largest groups of arrivals were citizens of New Zealand (26,600), China (19,000), India (17,200) and the Philippines (10,900). A migrant is someone who arrives for 12 months or more out of the following 16 months. The estimates are provisional and are revised as travel patterns become known.

Official sources: Stats NZ: International migration, August 2026

How many people leave New Zealand each year?

An estimated 114,100 migrants left New Zealand in the year ended August 2026, down 3% on the year before, according to Stats NZ. Annual departures peaked at 120,500 in the year ended March 2025.

64,800 of those leaving were New Zealand citizens, followed by citizens of China (7,400), India (5,400) and the United Kingdom (4,700). Net migration was a gain of 20,500, made up of a net gain of 58,800 non-New Zealand citizens and a net loss of 38,200 New Zealand citizens.

Official sources: Stats NZ: International migration, August 2026

How many New Zealanders move to Australia?

New Zealand had a provisional net migration loss of 27,900 people to Australia in the year ended March 2026, according to Stats NZ. 47,900 migrants left New Zealand for Australia and 19,900 arrived from Australia.

The net loss to Australia averaged about 30,000 a year from 2004 to 2013 and about 3,000 a year from 2014 to 2019. The figures combine Stats NZ and Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates and are provisional.

Official sources: Stats NZ: International migration, August 2026

Where do migrants to New Zealand come from?

Citizens of India, China, the Philippines and Sri Lanka drove New Zealand's net migration gain in the year ended August 2026, according to Stats NZ. Migrant arrivals included 19,000 Chinese citizens, 17,200 Indian citizens, 10,900 Filipino citizens and 4,400 Sri Lankan citizens.

Stats NZ classifies migrants by the passport they travel on, which is not necessarily the country they lived in before. New Zealand citizens were the largest single group of arrivals, at 26,600, but more New Zealanders left than returned.

Official sources: Stats NZ: International migration, August 2026

Is net migration to New Zealand rising again?

New Zealand's provisional net migration gain was 20,500 in the year ended August 2026, up from 9,200 a year earlier, according to Stats NZ. Annual net migration peaked at a gain of 133,700 in the year ended October 2023.

The rise reflects more arrivals (up 6%) and fewer departures (down 3%). Recent months are provisional and are usually revised, so Stats NZ publishes a margin of error with each estimate: ±1,500 for the August 2026 year.

Official sources: Stats NZ: International migration, August 2026

What share of New Zealand's population are immigrants?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 28.2%. It was 24.5% in 2015. East Asia & Pacific median: 2.1%; New Zealand is 4th highest of 30. Worldwide: 18th of 193.

How many people move to New Zealand each year?

The UN Population Division puts net migration in New Zealand at 17,403 in 2025. The peak was 75,512 in 2016 and the low -14,944 in 2021. It is 6th highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is -373. World rank, highest first: 34th of 193.

How many refugees are in New Zealand?

2,148: that is the number of refugees in the country in New Zealand for 2025, according to UNHCR. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 5,298; its low point was 2015, at 1,313. East Asia & Pacific median: 631; New Zealand is 8th highest of 18. Of 169 countries with 2025 data, 116th highest.

How many refugees have fled New Zealand?

According to UNHCR, the number of refugees from the country living abroad in New Zealand was 58 in 2025. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 73, and New Zealand placed 17th highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 160th of 189.

How big are remittances in New Zealand's economy?

The World Bank puts personal remittances received in New Zealand at 0.2% of GDP in 2022. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 20th highest of 24 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 2.1% of GDP. Worldwide: 148th of 166.