Net migration metrics in Australia
Australia: Net migration metrics was 140,232 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
140,232
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
19th
of 236 countries
All-time high
275,773
in 2008
All-time low
23,833
in 1993
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Net migration metrics in Australia, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Australia recorded 140,232 for net migration metrics in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 35.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration metrics in Australia peaked at 275,773 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 23,833, in 1993.
That places Australia 19th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration metrics in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 144,875 | — |
| 1951 | 117,380 | -19.0% |
| 1952 | 76,498 | -34.8% |
| 1953 | 52,743 | -31.1% |
| 1954 | 72,256 | +37.0% |
| 1955 | 94,986 | +31.5% |
| 1956 | 94,085 | -0.9% |
| 1957 | 75,373 | -19.9% |
| 1958 | 71,921 | -4.6% |
| 1959 | 80,537 | +12.0% |
| 1960 | 85,707 | +6.4% |
| 1961 | 64,495 | -24.7% |
| 1962 | 58,315 | -9.6% |
| 1963 | 73,237 | +25.6% |
| 1964 | 91,588 | +25.1% |
| 1965 | 118,891 | +29.8% |
| 1966 | 110,864 | -6.8% |
| 1967 | 80,904 | -27.0% |
| 1968 | 100,963 | +24.8% |
| 1969 | 108,770 | +7.7% |
| 1970 | 256,295 | +135.6% |
| 1971 | 223,991 | -12.6% |
| 1972 | 54,895 | -75.5% |
| 1973 | 62,928 | +14.6% |
| 1974 | 56,167 | -10.7% |
| 1975 | 25,336 | -54.9% |
| 1976 | 32,792 | +29.4% |
| 1977 | 44,946 | +37.1% |
| 1978 | 45,832 | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 52,137 | +13.8% |
| 1980 | 89,189 | +71.1% |
| 1981 | 121,921 | +36.7% |
| 1982 | 111,722 | -8.4% |
| 1983 | 73,251 | -34.4% |
| 1984 | 79,617 | +8.7% |
| 1985 | 98,327 | +23.5% |
| 1986 | 113,061 | +15.0% |
| 1987 | 136,421 | +20.7% |
| 1988 | 153,330 | +12.4% |
| 1989 | 144,042 | -6.1% |
| 1990 | 100,093 | -30.5% |
| 1991 | 68,847 | -31.2% |
| 1992 | 40,767 | -40.8% |
| 1993 | 23,833 | -41.5% |
| 1994 | 51,941 | +117.9% |
| 1995 | 80,456 | +54.9% |
| 1996 | 82,965 | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 67,661 | -18.4% |
| 1998 | 81,310 | +20.2% |
| 1999 | 92,900 | +14.3% |
| 2000 | 111,186 | +19.7% |
| 2001 | 117,552 | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 108,852 | -7.4% |
| 2003 | 104,437 | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 110,072 | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 131,371 | +19.4% |
| 2006 | 191,985 | +46.1% |
| 2007 | 249,873 | +30.2% |
| 2008 | 275,773 | +10.4% |
| 2009 | 235,628 | -14.6% |
| 2010 | 166,752 | -29.2% |
| 2011 | 197,657 | +18.5% |
| 2012 | 235,776 | +19.3% |
| 2013 | 215,823 | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 200,177 | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 212,350 | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 254,648 | +19.9% |
| 2017 | 255,023 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 226,412 | -11.2% |
| 2019 | 207,142 | -8.5% |
| 2020 | 44,447 | -78.5% |
| 2021 | 116,768 | +162.7% |
| 2022 | 140,972 | +20.7% |
| 2023 | 140,232 | -0.5% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 140,232 is above the median for high income countries, which is 5,173, 27.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Australia's 140,232 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -787. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration metrics in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +162.7% | 44,447 | 116,768 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 88,065 | 52,743 | 144,875 | 10 |
| 1960s | 89,373 | 58,315 | 118,891 | 10 |
| 1970s | 85,532 | 25,336 | 256,295 | 10 |
| 1980s | 112,088 | 73,251 | 153,330 | 10 |
| 1990s | 69,077 | 23,833 | 100,093 | 10 |
| 2000s | 163,673 | 104,437 | 275,773 | 10 |
| 2010s | 217,176 | 166,752 | 255,023 | 10 |
| 2020s | 110,605 | 44,447 | 140,972 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More population data for Australia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.5755 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2553 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 32,193 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8589 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.2773 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.503 (2100)
- Population density 5.61 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.09 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration metrics in Australia?
- Net migration metrics in Australia was 140,232 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net migration metrics recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 275,773 in 2008.
- What is the lowest net migration metrics recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,833 in 1993.
- How does Australia rank for net migration metrics?
- Australia ranks 19th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net migration metrics rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Net migration metrics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).